Our philosophy is founded upon core principles.
We incorporate these principles into each and every product.

We conduct modeling and policy analysis for water resource systems.
We utilize interdisciplinary aproaches that incorporate techniques from systems engineering, ecology, and public policy in order to understand complex social-ecological water systems related to supply, flood management, environmental requirements, and urban systems, especially urban storwater runoff and water quality issues.
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Our teaching, research, and travels throughout the world have given us a deep appreciation of other cultures and ecosystems, but most of all those within Africa. Referring to the African continent as a monolithic entity is a common but elementary mistake, which masks the incredible diversity of culture, people, and affluence found in its many regions.
Although we have traveled in many regions of the continent, our greatest familiarity and affinity lies in East African sphere, where we take a supreme interest in promoting education and entrepreneurship amongst the talented populations of the region. We are happy to point you to either a bookshelf of reading to better understand the continent's many regions, or just a top-notch safari guide.
We have available a paper on the Geology of Tanzania, which is available through a Creative Commons License.

We conducted collaborative research in coordination with the Institute for Social Medicine at the University of Vienna Medical School on numerous topics related to travelers' health issues and Tick-borne Encephalitis (TBE). TBE is one amongst many diseases that can be contracted by tourists who originate in areas without the disease, but travel to an area where the disease is endemic. In some instances, such as TBE or Yellow Fever, vaccines exist that can protect travelers. In others, however, perhaps only prophylactics are available, such as Malaria. Determining how many travelers from outside of a country travel to the country and then put themselves at risk is quite difficult. This is the problem we strove to tackle.

As a small business with sustainable practices built into our core mission, one of the most significant steps we can make is to eradicate energy impacts across all of our activities.
To that end, we use 100% certified green hosting from Host Papa, which uses only renewable energy sources to power its servers. We believe a compilation of small measures can lead to big impact. Even better, they are far and away the most reliable hosting company we have ever used, which proves another point: sustainable practices do not have to compromise quality.

While in East Africa, we became fascinated with the vibrant trade in used clothes. Upon returning to North America and doing more research, we published an issue paper entitled, “Old Socks for Start-Ups: How Second-Hand Clothes Markets Exemplify Undervalued Entrepreneurship in Poorer Nations and Consumption-Dependent Growth." The paper discusses the promise of entrepreneurship, the ambition of entrepreneurs throughout the globe, and the reality of the global second-hand clothes trade. The issue paper, based on empirical evidence in East Africa and beyond, delves into the sticky economic, international development, and equity issues that are inherent within common biases over free trade and capacity for achievement in lesser-industrialized nations.
The Sustainability NEXUS
We are co-founders of The Sustainability NEXUS, a Philadelphia-based not-for-profit corporation dedicated to synthesizing disparate communities of entrepreneurs and professionals in order to promote economic, technological, and cultural viability for sustainable practices. The startup is currently working to build a NEXUS center in Philadelphia, which will house a unique collection of activities to promote regional economic development, including a co-working center, a charrette and meeting center, and a sustainability resource center, all within a cutting-edge regenerative design building.
Urban Stormwater Modeling Software
We are currently developing software to provide advanced modeling capabilities for issues of urban stormwater runoff. Of particular focus, we want to drastically improve the suite of tools available to urban planners and water managers related to green infrastructure technologies by identifying best practices for tradeoffs between infrastructure costs, environmental performance, and public health.
Venture Strategy and Technical Writing
We assist in technical writing, fund-raising and grant research for ventures and not-for-profit organizations, including government, foundation, and private sector sources of capital. We also specialize in consulting and assessing innovative sustainable business models for non-profits and socially-responsible businesses.
Charsey Cole Porse, PhD, specializes in epidemiology, infectious disease, and public health. She currently works as a contractor in the Vector-Borne Disease section of the California Department of Public Health. Previously, Charsey conducted public health teaching and research as a faculty leader of the Earlham College East Africa program in Tanzania and research fellow at the Institute for Social Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna. Charsey has wide experience in biotech R&D, health policy analysis, and regulatory affairs. She holds a Ph.D. in Biodefense and Infectious Disease from George Mason University, a Master's Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from George Washington University, and is currently pursuing a Masters of Public Health at the University of British Columbia.
Erik Porse meshes the fields of water resources engineering, energy policy, resource sustainability, and urban analysis through his work. Erik is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering for water resources at the University of California, Davis, conducting analysis and modeling for integrated management of engineering and ecological systems related to urban water. He also consults with small businesses and start-up ventures in the U.S. and abroad regarding strategy, policy analysis, and technical writing. He has worked in numerous interdisciplinary roles, including faculty leader of the Earlham College East Africa program in Tanzania, systems engineer for the U.N. in Austria, technology and international affairs analyst for the U.S. government, and adjunct professor in Politics and Government at George Mason University. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Policy with a concentration in Science and Technology Policy from George Mason University, and a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering and Music from the University of Hartford. His current research includes technological and sociological innovations for environmental systems, urban stormwater runoff, and socially-responsible entrepreneurship.