Stanford Engineering
03 October 2025
Rishee Jain is an engineer and an expert in the built environment – the manmade structures of modern life. The future, Jain says, will be a place where everyone has a safe, comfortable place to live and work, and the built environment adapts in real time to our needs. Jain is now exploring cool roofs that reflect heat to lower indoor temperatures and improve occupants’ well-being. We once believed that humans bent infrastructure to our needs, but now we understand how infrastructure changes us, too, Jain tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’sThe Future of Everything podcast. Have a question for Russ? Send it our way in writing or via voice memo, and it might be featured on an upcoming episode. Please introduce yourself, let us know where you're listening from, and share your question. You can send questions to thefutureofeverything@stanford.edu. Episode Reference Links: Stanford Profile: Rishee JainConnect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything WebsiteConnect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / MastodonConnect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / FacebookChapters: (00:00:00) Introduction Russ Altman introduces guest Rishee Jain, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. (00:03:50) Focus on Built Urban Environments Rishee Jain shares how early hands-on projects inspired his career. (00:04:51) The Social Dimension Why infrastructure must account for human behavior and social needs. (00:07:03) How Infrastructure Shapes Us Examples of sidewalks, bike lanes, and design choices influencing wellbeing. (00:09:11) Defining Urban Form Defining urban form as design across buildings, neighborhoods, and cities. (00:10:58) Decision-Makers at Every Level How policymakers, communities, and building owners shape design. (00:13:38) Dynamic Infrastructure The shift from static infrastructure to adaptable, responsive systems. (00:15:19) Levers of Change Using thermal and lighting design as key factors for wellbeing. (00:19:36) Climate & Extreme Heat The impact of extreme heat on building design and vulnerable communities. (00:23:25) Measuring Impact Studies using wearables to track the benefits of infrastructure interventions. (00:24:25) Community Feedback The optimistic research results on infrastructure interventions. (00:26:18) Retrofitting Old Buildings Challenges in adapting existing infrastructure with minimal disruption. (00:31:12) Future in a Minute Rapid-fire Q&A: hope, infrastructure, research needs, and lessons from history. (00:33:01) Conclusion Connect With Us: Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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