Water & Fire technology • Innovation for the UN 🇺🇳 Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs @unleashlab • Professor 👨🏫@DepaulU • @VeeFriends HODLer
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Articles by Kevin Sofen
NextGen Tech Summit at FDIC 2026
The NextGen Tech Summit at FDIC 2026 consisted of two days in a room full of chiefs, operators, and technologists who take this work seriously. Here is what stood out. The 2026 NextGen Fire Rescue Tech Summit ran a consistent thread across both days: Artificial intelligence. Real-time analytics. Data-driven decision making on the fireground. These topics were paired with hands-on time on robotics, drones, and VR/AR.
AI for Today’s Fire Service: What Worries Firefighters & What Fire Chiefs Can Do About It
In early 2020, I was helping departments test virtual reality training platforms and drone systems. Then COVID hit, and within three weeks, the entire fire service did things that we never believed would happen: emergency operations centers went virtual overnight; chiefs ran incident command from home; and training moved online. Technology departments had been “considering” these things for years. All of a sudden, they got deployed in days.
Enhancing fireground communications
By Kevin Sofen for FireRescue1 BrandFocus There’s a moment every firefighter or dispatcher remembers; a call drops, a tone doesn’t go through or a responder in trouble can’t get out on the radio. It’s the gut-punch reminder that even the most experienced teams are only as effective as their ability to communicate. Rebecca Gregory, a radio system manager in Orlando with over four decades of public safety experience, knows firsthand how the tech behind the scenes affects real fireground operations.
Harnessing Technology to Enhance Fire Service Operations
Since its start, the fire service has been about effective operations, grit, and teamwork. That's not going to change. However, today's challenges are nothing like those from five years ago, let alone 1736. Fires burn hotter and spread faster, and new hazards like lithium-ion batteries and solar panels demand fresh strategies. At the same time, we're seeing this wave of new technology - drones, mapping tools, virtual reality training - that promises to make firefighters safer and faster on the job.
Kevin Sofen talks navigating the known and unknown challenges ahead
While emerging technologies promise a better future, the fire service often overlooks today’s tools that can empower our operations. The perfect solutions may not exist yet, but effective options are already at our fingertips. As we face resource shortages and evolving challenges, it is imperative that we do not remain passive regarding new technology adoption. A proactive and courageous change management strategy is essential.
Integrating Smart Command Vehicles for Enhanced Connectivity and Efficiency
By Kirk McKinzie and Kevin Sofen In the rapidly evolving landscape of emergency services, integrating advanced technological solutions stands at the forefront of transforming operations and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of fire, rescue, and emergency medical service (EMS) teams.
Firefighting evolution: How wearables can enhance safety and efficiency
Editor’s note: Kevin Sofen will speak about “Wearable Technologies for the Fire Service” on Aug. 16 at Fire-Rescue International in Dallas. Learn more and register for the event. By Kevin Sofen Trying to do anything new, especially in the high-stakes world of firefighting, can be difficult. Yet, the fire service is on the brink of a technological evolution that promises to make our jobs safer and more efficient.
Catherine Flowers by SDG Talks
SDG 11 | Grassroots Projects & Community Advocacy in Houston, TX | Catherine Flowers Is compromise good or bad when trying to accomplish a more equitable community for everyone? Welcome back SDG Talkers!! Thanks for joining us for another episode of highlighting change makers and their inspirational work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! IN THIS EPISODE: - Why is Houston a microcosm for the world?
Radhika Thakkar by SDG Talks
SDG 7 | Greenlight Planet's Solar Home Systems, Microfinancing Solutions & the Grassroots Energy Transition | Radhika Thakkar Welcome back to another episode of SDG Talks where we highlight change makers and their inspirational work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! Do you know what is being done to help off-grid communities gain access to electricity? IN THIS EPISODE: - What is the importance of mobile phone penetration in driving electrification?
Atmospheric circulation, Teleconnections and Climate Models with Grantham Professor Ted Shepherd by SDG Talks
SDG 13 | Atmospheric circulation, Teleconnections and Climate Models with Grantham Professor Ted Shepherd Welcome back to another episode of SDG Talks where we highlight change makers and their inspirational work towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)! What do you know about climate models? IN THIS EPISODE: Climate scientists need to find ways to make their knowledge meaningful at the local scale.
World Events, Infrastructure & Innovation in Brazil with Kleber Santos by SDG Talks
SDG #9 - World Events, Infrastructure & Innovation in Brazil with Kleber Santos In this episode, you will hear Kleber's passion for infrastructure and education. We discuss the everlasting impacts of the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, the challenges of infrastructure, and technology development across Brazil. Kleber Santos works at the Brazilian Center for Research in Energy and Materials (CNPEM) as an Innovation Analyst.
SDG #11- A Voice of the Homeless Community with Theo Parisi by SDG Talks
SDG #11- A Voice of the Homeless Community with Theo Parisi SDG Talks presents a mini-series collaborating with UNLEASH Hacks USA around homelessness. In this first episode, we discuss homelessness from a unique perspective; from the eyes of a man that was once homeless. Theo Parisi gives us a glimpse into what it means to be homeless and how society currently treats the homeless population.
Empower the youth with Yasmin Morais by SDG Talks
SDG #17 - Empower the youth with Yasmin Morais The youth can change the world! Since a very young age, Yasmin has been involved in social impact and worked along other young people in issues ranging from homelessness and human trafficking to the refugee crisis and human rights education. She deeply believes in the power of youth to create change and believes with the right tools; the youth can play a significant role in changing the world.
SDG #2 & 4 - Access to food, water and self-empowerment in Kenya with Sammy Mwajna by SDG Talks
SDG #2 & 4 - Access to food, water and self-empowerment in Kenya with Sammy Mwajna How can we provide increased access to food, education, and safe spaces for marginalized communities? Sammy Mwanja, the founder and Director of Tumaini Hand Mision, knows that you can't just have food to provide success. It requires addressing all the SDGs to provide sustainable development for the marginalized communities in Kenya.
Water Management and Artificial Intelligence with Camilo Huneeus Guzmán by SDG Talks
SDG #6 - Water Management and Artificial Intelligence with Camilo Huneeus Guzmán Camilo Huneeus Guzmán is an industrial Chemical Engineer with international experience in engineering, public policy and emergency response. Camilo currently works at United Nations Development Program within water management and focuses on water innovation and transboundary water management.
Wastewater Awareness and Progress with Abishek Dutta by SDG Talks
SDG #6 - Wastewater Awareness and Progress with Abishek Dutta Abishek Dutta is currently a PhD student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He is Pursuing a PhD in Environmental Engineering Thesis work in the Water-Energy Nexus, with a main focus on energy and resource recovery from wastewater to make wastewater treatment cyclic in nature. His past experiences include water and wastewater treatment, biofuel industry, microbiology, river restoration and cell biology.
Deforestation, Orangutans & Wildlife Conservation with Deya Ward by SDG Talks
SDG #15 - Deforestation, Orangutans & Wildlife Conservation with Deya Ward Deya Ward is a zoologist, filmmaker and speaker who is passionate about the natural world and conservation of natural ecosystems. Having completed her masters degree in wildlife filmmaking two years ago, Deya has worked at the BBC on David Attenborough's landmark series Seven World's One Planet and is now working with another production company on a wildlife series produced for Netflix.
SDG #2- Sustainable Farming with George Chapman by SDG Talks
SDG #2- Sustainable Farming with George Chapman Sustainable Farming is not a myth. In fact, we have the capacity to grow more, eat healthier and live in harmony with mother earth... if we are willing to change our practices. In this SDG Talks, you will hear from sustainable agricultural specialist George Chapman on a range of topics around sustainable farming. George is a 24 year old Australian that grew up on a Tea Tree farm and developed an interest in agriculture at a young age.
Diet, nutrition and the importance of your poop with Simran Nanwani by SDG Talks
SDG #3 - Diet, nutrition and the importance of your poop with Simran Nanwani In this episode of SDGTalks, Simran Nanwani talks about her own experimentation with fad diets and the need for understanding the needs of your body on a deeper level to ensure you are giving it what it needs.
Children leading the way for Global Change by SDG Talks
SDG #4 - Children leading the way for Global Change Avinash Jhangiani (Avi) is a senior, award-winning digital transformation and innovations leader with more than 20 years of experience with large enterprises and consulting firms in the US and India, such as Deloitte, Reliance and Omnicom Group in India. Avi left his fast-growing, cushy corporate career at the age of 42 to find his true calling, which is to make our children and younger generation as future ready as possible.
SDG #14: Protecting the Ocean with Data, NFT's and the Human Spirit with Jeremy McKane
SDG #14: Protecting the Ocean with Data, NFT's and the Human Spirit with Jeremy McKane Jeremy McKane is an artist who has passion for the environment with a direct focus on ocean issues, particularly in the past several years. He is an active Explorers Club Member and the CEO of OCN.ai, an autonomous network of marine robots that automate enforcement at sea.
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