| January 2020
Zahraa Saiyed invited to NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, to discuss the architectural history, localized design contexts of Karachi and greater Pakistan, and the balance of preservation and growth in planning.
2019 Structural Engineers Association of California Convention
| August 2019
Zahraa Saiyed (Scyma) and Hayley Dickson (Forell/Elsesser) from the Structural Engineer's Association of Northern California present the 2018 Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity (SE3) national survey results at the SEAOC Convention in Squaw Creek.
Learn more about the NCSEA SE3 Committee here.
Seismic Roundtable in Sacramento
| July 2019
Zahraa @Scyma joined a Seismic Roundtable at the California State Capitol in Sacramento to to discuss the development of a nationally applicable approach to seismic functional recovery for new construction. Brought to us by ICC and CALBO.
Read more about the outcome of the roundtable discussion here.
©Natural Hazards Workshop
2019 Natural Hazards Workshop
| July 2019
Presenting on behalf of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute, Scyma shared concepts of citizen advocacy and learned from researchers and practitioners the needs of science-to-policy capacity building at the 44th Annual Natural Hazards Workshop.
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Citizen Advocacy: Creating Seismic Safety Public Policy Champions
The theme for this year’s Workshop is Convergence: Coming Together to Improve Hazards and Disaster Research, Practice, and Policy. Click here to learn more about Convergence.
©Natural Hazards Workshop
DRR Pathways Canada
| July 2019
With Sage on Earth Consulting located in B.C., we kicked off a week of resilience and risk reduction discussions for B.C. and greater Canada supporting the DRR Pathways Project.
Disaster Risk Reduction Pathways | Incentives for Mitigation and Adaptation Investments
Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Safety and Security Program (CSSP)
Building disaster resilience in BC and Canada by enhancing understanding systemic risk and evidence-based disaster risk management including the socio-economic value of investing in mitigation and adaptation measures for managing earthquake and flood risk.
Learn more about DRR Pathways here.
Structural Engineering Equity and Engagement Symposium
| May 2019
The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California and the Structural Engineering Equity and Engagement (SE3) Committee hosted its second symposium on May 10, 2019. The focus of the #ChangeXSE3 event was on A Changing Workplace. SE3 has published an event synopsis here for those that could not join in person or just want to relive the day!
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute Public Policy Panel
| April 2019
Kevin Moore of the Structural Engineers Association of California, Danielle Mieler of the EERI California Policy Committee and Zahraa Saiyed of the EERI National Policy Committee were invited panelists to the EERI Northern California April monthly meeting to discuss recent legislative efforts by both professional organizations. Thank you to the NorCal chapter for hosting the panelists and local chapter students as well!
Click here to read more about the event.
SCYMA visiting Congress with the American Society of Civil Engineers
| March 2019
Zahraa Saiyed, co-founder of Scyma Consulting, joined fellow engineers on The Hill with the American Society of Civil Engineers discussing infrastructure deficits, NEHRP authorization levels and effective advocacy on a federal level. Kudos to ASCE Region 9 (California) for ASCE’s Advocate of the Year Award! Check out the ASCE Legislative Fly-In for more information.
SCYMA @ EERI 2019 Annual Meeting, Vancouver BC
| March 2019
Zahraa Saiyed of Scyma Consulting presented on a panel focused on Recent Legislative Policy Outcomes in Support of Earthquake Risk Reduction, along with Emellia Zamani, the Legislative Director for Assmblymember Nazarian (CA-46), David Bonowitz, SE, and Chris Poland, SE. Learn more about the Annual Meeting and our panel here. Zahraa also led a discussion on identity and values at the Women in Structural Engineering Happy Hour and launched a new initiative through the Public Policy and Advocacy Committee of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute entitled, “EERI Citizen Advocate.” Stay tuned for more information on the program!
Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity 2019 Symposium: Save the Date
| March 2019
The Structural Engineering Engagement and Equity Project Chaired by Scyma founder Zahraa Saiyed is proud to announce its second half-day Symposium themed A Changing Workplace: How to Engage, Retain and Secure the Future of Our Profession held on Friday May 10, 2019. Save the date and check out SE3’s website for more details! [www.se3project.org]
AIA University presents Resilience Education Education Series
| December 2018
Do you want to integrate resilience into the design services your firm offers? The Resilience and Adaptation series is your answer. This exclusive multi-course series covers mitigation, resilience and adaptation, technical design application, and design process application. Take all courses in the series to learn best practices for mitigating risk for hazards, shocks, and stresses and adapting to changing conditions. Perfect for midcareer architects. Anyone completing all courses in the AIA Resilience and Adaptation series will receive a certificate acknowledging their completion of all courses in the program, in addition to the individual course certificates available for each course.
For a limited time, click the red button below to purchase all nine courses and get 25% off the series!
The AIA Resilience and Adaptation Online Series is developed by the AIA as part of the resilience and adaptation initiative.
https://aiau.aia.org/aia-resilience-and-adaptation-online-series
Quoted from the American Institute of Architects
National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program Reauthorized Signed into Law
| December 2018
Founder Zahraa Saiyed has worked with members of the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Public Policy and Advocacy Committee that she Co-Chairs with member Chris Poland on the Reauthorization of critical legislation for earthquake hazard risk reduction which impacts millions of Americans. The bill was signed into law on December 11, 2018.
Sustainability and Disaster Risk Reduction: Scyma @ Berkeley
| September 2018
Founder Zahraa Saiyed presents to undergraduate City Planning students on the intersection of sustainable design and designing for disaster risk mitigation.
Scyma Consulting @ 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering
| June 2018
Zahraa Saiyed of Scyma Consulting will be presenting at the 11th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering in Los Angeles this June, discussing the SE3 Project, moderating a panel on Seismic Isolation, Energy Dissipation and Control Systems, as well as discussing policy related to Earthquake Early Warning systems as part of the Public Policy and Advocacy group. Check out the newly released Legislative Action Center on the EERI National website!
Scyma Presenting at IBPSA-SF
| May 2017
Scyma had the pleasure of presenting Building Systems for Resilience on Passive Survivability at the International Building Performance Simulation Association - San Francisco USA chapter's May meeting. We had a fantastic discussion about a topic that many building science firms are excited to implement. Read up on ScymaSpeaks about Passive Survivability and Thermal Autonomy.
Islamic Center of Fremont New Campus Design
| May 2017
The Islamic Center of Fremont has opened its new site to the community! Scyma had the honor of working on this community space, which includes a K-8 school, prayer area, community gathering space and much more. More development to come!
Finishing touches in the main prayer hall.
Native American Storytelling and Building Design
| May 2017
Zahraa Saiyed of Scyma and Paul Irwin of the North Folk Rancheria Indian Housing Authority have collaborated on a paper discussing the overlap of Native American storytelling with how we view sustainable design today. Published in the Energy Research and Social Science Journal, May 2017.
Scyma @ EERI Annual Meeting in Portland, Oregon
| March 2017
Scyma presenting a proposal for child-centered disaster risk reduction using art therapy and visual media.
Rebuild x Design: It Takes a Town
| February 2017
Scyma working with Rebuild x Design, Oakland on the third workshop for community engagement design processes intended for mitigating and preparing for Sea Level Rise in West Oakland. Summaries from the past two workshops can be found below:
http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/news-and-events/events/resilient-oakland-workshop-iii
http://www.rebuildbydesign.org/news-and-events/updates/oakland-february-2017-update
AIA Resilience Education Working Group
| December 2016
Zahraa Saiyed of Scyma Consulting will be joining AIA National's Resilience Education Working Group, developing resilience curriculum for design professionals.
https://www.aia.org/press-releases/12026-architects-to-create-resilience-curriculum-f