Photo of Esther Obonyo

Esther Obonyo

Professor
Director, Global Building Network

Affiliation(s):

  • School of Engineering Design and Innovation
  • Engineering Design
  • Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Law, Policy, and Engineering

219A Engineering Design and Innovation Building

eao4@psu.edu

814-863-1530

Research Website

Google Scholar Profile

Research Areas:

Building Construction; Engineering Design; LPE Academic Working Group; LPE Research Working Group

 
 

 

Education

  • BA, Building Economics, University of Nairobi, 1998
  • MA, Architectural Technology, University of Nottingham, 2000
  • Doctor of Engineering, Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, 2004

Publications

Books

  • Dan Lin, Daphne Sanchez, Esther Obonyo, Felicia Davis, Gary Harris, Jacqui Patterson, Mandy Lee and Maya Henderson, 2021, Guidelines for Equitable Community Involvement in Building & Development Projects and Policies, NAACP, State College, USA, pp. 101
  • Srinath Perera, Bingunath Ingirige, Kirti Ruikar and Esther A. Obonyo, 2017, Advances in Construction ICT and e-Business 1st Edition, Routledge, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, UK

Journal Articles

  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Exploring interdependencies and synergies to meet Sustainable Development Goal 11", Research Focus, 148
  • Qin Yin, Esther A. Obonyo and Somayeh Asadi, 2023, "Towards a Multilevel Framework of Teamwork Processes Affecting Construction Safety Outcomes", Buildings, 13, (7), pp. 1728
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Henry Henry N.N. Bulley, 2023, "Perspectives on Applications of Geospatial Technology and Landscape Ecology for Conservation Planning in the Global South", International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research, 14, (1), pp. 23
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Lorine Ouma, 2022, "Enhancing the resilience of low-income housing using emerging digital technologies", World Building Congress Conference Series, 1101, pp. 14
  • Qin Yin, Esther A. Obonyo, Azzah Eskandrani and Junqi Zhao, 2022, "Success factors to large-scale adoption of wearable technology for musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) prevention: a case study", World Building Congress Conference Series, 1101, pp. 9
  • Junqi Zhao, Esther A. Obonyo and Qin Yin, 2022, "Improving posture recognition among construction workers through data augmentation with generative adversarial network", World Building Congress Conference Series, 1101, pp. 9
  • Elizabeth Mae Andrzejewski, Marcus S Shaffer and Esther A. Obonyo, 2022, "The “Lost” Motion Machine of Wachsmann, Bollinger and Mendoza", Technology | Architecture + Design, 6, (1), pp. 9
  • Laura McDonald and Esther A. Obonyo, 2022, "Aligning learning objectives and approaches in global engineering graduate programs: Review and recommendations by an interdisciplinary working group", Development Engineering, 7, pp. 25
  • Peter Donkor, Esther A. Obonyo and Christopher Ferraro, 2021, "Fiber Reinforced Compressed Earth Blocks: Evaluating Flexural Strength Characteristics Using Short Flexural Beams", Materials, 14, (22), pp. 6906
  • Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, Somayeh Asadi, Esther A. Obonyo and Sigrid Reiter, 2021, "Environmental analysis of health damages coming from a residential neighborhood built in 150 countries", Journal of Housing and the Built Environment, pp. 23
  • Junqi Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2021, "Applying Incremental Deep Neural Networks-based Posture Recognition Model for Injury Prevention in Construction", Advanced Engineering Informatics, 50, (10), pp. 27
  • Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, Orosa, Jos\'e A, Paola Ricciardi, Esther A. Obonyo, Eric Jean Roy Sambatra and Sigrid Reiter, 2021, "Transition to zero energy and low carbon emission in residential buildings located in tropical and temperate climates", Energies, 14, (14), pp. 4253
  • Junqi Zhao, Esther A. Obonyo and Sven G Bilén, 2021, "Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit Sensing System for Musculoskeletal Disorders Prevention in Construction", Sensors, 21, (4), pp. 1324
  • Esther A. Obonyo and James Mutunga, 2020, "A global building network research for advancing healthy and affordable housing", Cities & Health, (Special Issue: COVID-19), pp. 4
  • Junqi Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2020, "Convolutional long short-term memory model for recognizing construction workers’ postures from wearable inertial measurement units", Special Issue in Advanced Engineering Informatics, 46, (101177), pp. 16
  • Modeste Kameni Nematchoua, Jose A. Orosa, Cinzia Buratti, Esther A. Obonyo, Donghyun Rim, Paola Ricciardi and Sigrid Reiter, 2020, "Comparative analysis of bioclimatic zones, energy consumption, CO2 emission and life cycle cost of residential and commercial buildings located in a tropical region: A case study of the big island of Madagascar", Energy, 202, pp. 117754
  • Elizabeth Lyons, Karen Lips and Esther A. Obonyo, 2020, "Catalyzing U.S. Higher Education to Build a Better post-Pandemic Future through Science Diplomacy", Science Diplomacy, 48, (COVID Special Issue)
  • Shayrar Habibi, Esther A. Obonyo and Ali M Memari, 2019, "Design and Development of Energy Efficient Re-roofing Solutions", Renewable Energy, 151, pp. 10
  • Esther A. Obonyo, Sumit Pareek and Dawit Okubatsion Woldu, 2018, "Decision Making within the Built Environment as a Strategy for Mitigating the Risk of Malaria and other Vector-Borne Diseases", Buildings, pp. 17
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Junqi Zhao, 2018, "Towards A Real-Time Data-Driven Approach for Proactive Injury Prevention in Construction", Advancements in Civil Engineering & Technology, 2, (2), pp. 1-5
  • Michael A Adewumi and Esther A. Obonyo, 2018, "The Thermodynamic System as a Metaphor for Engineering Education in Africa", Nigerian Academy of Engineering, 1, (1)
  • Junqi Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2018, "Towards a Data-Driven Approach to Injury Prevention in Construction.", Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 10863, pp. 385-411
  • P. Donkor and Obonyo Esther, 2016, "Compressed Soil Blocks: Influence of Fibers on Flexural Properties and Failure Mechanism", Construction & Building Materials, 121, pp. 8
  • Peter Donkor and Esther A. Obonyo, 2015, "Earthen construction materials: Assessing the feasibility of improving strength and deformability of compressed earth blocks using polypropylene fibers", Materials & Design, 83, pp. 813-819
  • Elie Kamseu, Maria Cannio, Esther A. Obonyo, Fey Tobias, Maria C Bignozz, Vincenzo M Sglavoe and Cristina Leonelli, 2014, "Metakaolin-based inorganic polymer composite: Effects of fine aggregate composition and structure on porosity evolution, microstructure and mechanical properties", 53, pp. 258-269
  • Esther A. Obonyo, Elie Kamseu, Patrick N Lemougna, Arlin B Tchamba, Uphie Melo and Cristina Leonelli, 2014, "A Sustainable Approach for the Geopolymerization of Natural Iron-Rich Aluminosilicate Materials", Sustainability, 6, (9), pp. 5535-5553
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2013, "Enhancing Intelligent Knowledge Systems Using Organization-Centered Agent Models", Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, 27, (2), pp. 5
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2012, "Developing enhanced, lignocellulosic fibre reinforcement for low-cost, cementitious, construction materials", Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8, (1), pp. 30--41
  • J. Onyango, C. McGeough and Esther A. Obonyo, 2012, "Waste to Worth: Evaluation of potential waste heat recovery system within Commercial Kitchens in Northern Ireland", Journal of Green Building, 7, (4), pp. 62-69
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Chimay Anumba, 2011, "Organization-oriented multi-agent systems for construction supply chains", Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction, 16, pp. 727-744
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2011, "Advancing the Use of Secondary Inputs in Geopolymer Binders for Sustainable Cementitious Composites: A Review", Sustainability
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2011, "Optimizing the Physical, Mechanical and Hygrothermal Performance of Compressed Earth Bricks", Sustainability, 3, (4), pp. 596-604
  • Esther A. Obonyo, E. Kamseu, C. Leonelli and U. C. Melo, 2011, "Engineering Properties and Chemical Environments Behavior of Geopolymer Materials for sustainable building applications: A review", Sustainability, 3, (2)
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2011, "Developing Enhanced, Lignocellulosic Fiber Reinforcement for Low Cost, Cementitious, Construction Materials", Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 8, pp. 30-41
  • E. Kamseu, C. Leonelli and Esther A. Obonyo, 2011, "Evolution of fired clay products into sustainable building ceramics", Interceram, 60, (3), pp. 221-225
  • Esther A. Obonyo, D. Tate and M. Tia, 2010, "A Research Roadmap for Advancing the Structural Use of Earth-based Bricks: Key Findings from the NSF US-Tanzania 2009 Workshop", Sustainability, 2, (11), pp. 3561-3571
  • Esther A. Obonyo, J. Exelbirt and M. Baskaran, 2010, "Durability of Compressed Earth Bricks: Assessing Erosion Resistance Using the Modified Spray Testing", Sustainability, 2, (12), pp. 3639-3649
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2010, "Towards Agent-Augmented Ontologies for Educational VDC Applications", Electronic Journal of Information Technology in Construction, 11, (2), pp. 313-334
  • Esther A. Obonyo and R. R. Issa, 2010, "Editorial, Special Issue on Advanced Digital Technologies for Built Environment Education and Learning", ITcon, 15, pp. 269-270
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2010, "An Agent-based Intelligent Virtual Learning Environment for Construction Management", Journal of Construction Innovation: Information, Process, Management, 11, (2), pp. 142 - 160
  • A. McGuffin and Esther A. Obonyo, 2010, "Enhancing Performance: A Case Study of the Effects of Employee Coaching in Construction Practice", Journal of Construction Management and Economics, 28, (2), pp. 141 – 149
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2010, "Advancing the Structural Use of Earth-based Bricks: Addressing Key Challenges in the East African Context", Sustainability
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Issa Raja Raymond, 2010, "Advanced digital technologies for built environment education and learning", Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), 15, (20), pp. 269--270
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2008, "Using web-based knowledge forums to internationalize construction education", ITcon, 13, pp. 212-223
  • Esther A. Obonyo, C. J. Anumba and A. Thorpe, 2005, "APRON: an agent-based specification and procurement system for construction products", Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 12, (4), pp. 329-350
  • Esther A. Obonyo, Z Aziz and EA Obonyo, 2003, "Mobile communications in construction--trends and prospects", Innovative Developments in Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Chimay Anumba (ed.), pp. 159--168
  • Esther A. Obonyo, , "Household Air Pollution Interventions to Improve Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, An Official American Thoracic Society Research Statement", American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Conference Proceedings

  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Built Environment Panel", Higher Education Collaboration
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Creating the Next Generation of Boundary-Spanning Climate Leaders", Higher Education Collaboration
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Expanding scientific frontiers via international cooperation and networking with COST and NSF"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Enhancing the resilience of low-income housing using climate science and big data analytics", Belmont Forum Disaster Risk Reduction Collaborative Research Action Awardee Workshop
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Decision-Making in Response to Environmental Hazards that Impact Communities", Belmont Forum Disaster Risk Reduction Collaborative Research Action Awardee Workshop
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Preparing the Future Workforce to Engage with Transition Pathways for Urban Decarbonization"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Sustainable Communities: A Tower of Babel Problem?", United National Association Annual Meeting Keynote Address
  • Rabbi Adnan, Sun Hwi Bang, Esther A. Obonyo and Lorine Ouma, 2022, "An exploration on the use of Wollastonite (CaSiO3) in Cold Sintering of Resilient Masonry for Low-Cost Housing Construction"
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Lorine Ouma, 2022, "Assessing the barriers to the update of sustainable engineered earthen masonry systems by real estate developers in the Kenyan construction context"
  • Elizabeth Mae Andrzejewski, Marcus S Shaffer and Esther A. Obonyo, 2022, "Equitable Access to Building Construction Through Advancements in Open and Global Building Machine Technology", ARCC-EAAE 2022: Resilient City, Architectural Research Centers Consortium, Inc., pp. 1
  • Sophia Welch, Esther A. Obonyo and Ali M Memari, 2022, "Energy Modeling to Determine Optimum Order of Component Installation in Stepwise Retrofit Towards EnerPHit Standard", 2022 (6th) Residential Building Design & Construction Conference, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA, pp. 8
  • Sophia Welch, Esther A. Obonyo and Ali M Memari, 2022, "Evaluation of Software Packages for Energy Modeling of Phased Deep Energy Retrofits to Passive House standards", 2022 (6th) Residential Building Design & Construction Conference, Penn State University, State College, PA, USA, pp. 8
  • Qin Yin, Esther A. Obonyo, Junqi Zhao and Azzah Eskandrani, 2022, "Accelerating the Uptake of Advanced Digital Technologies for Health and Safety Management within Construction Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)", pp. 13
  • Darpan Triboan, Esther A. Obonyo, Aladdin Ayesh, Suleiman Y Yerima, Barnali Basak, Wangari Wang’Ombe, Daniel Olago, Lydia A Olaka, Kristin K Sznajder and Carvalho Madivate, 2021, "A Transdisciplinary Framework for AI-driven Disaster Risk Reduction for Low-income Housing Communities in Kenya"
  • Junqi Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2021, "Applying Incremental Deep Neural Networks-based Posture Recognition Model for Ergonomics Risk Assessment in Construction", Advanced Engineering Informatics, Elsevier, pp. 22
  • Elizabeth Mae Andrzejewski, Marcus S Shaffer and Esther A. Obonyo, 2021, "Re-engaging the Kinematics of Building Assembly: An Exploration of Konrad Wachsmann’s Architecture Machine through a Technological Dialog with the L.O.M."
  • Esther A. Obonyo and James Mutunga, 2020, "Advancing from healthy buildings to healthy cities through building science epidemiology", 4th Healthy City Design 2020 International Congress, SALUS, United Kingdom
  • Sarah Ritter, Esther A. Obonyo, Andrew S Lau and Sven G Bilén, 2020, "Client-Driven Project on Sustainability within First-Year Cornerstone Design", pp. 8
  • Zhao Junqi and Esther A. Obonyo, 2020, "Applying Deep Incremental Learning-based Posture Recognition Model for Injury Prevention in Construction", Proceedings of EG-ICE 2020 Workshop on Intelligent Computing in Engineering, 2020
  • Esther A Obonyo, Normando Perazzo Barbosa, José Augusto Gomes Neto and Khosrow Ghavami, 2020, "Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies – IC NOCMAT 2019", Curran Associates, Inc., Red Hook NY, USA
  • J. C. Diarte Almada, M. S. Shaffer and Esther A. Obonyo, 2020, "Developing Panelized Building System for Low-Cost Housing Using Waste Cardboard and Repurposed Wood", Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Non-Conventional Materials and Technologies (NOCMAT), Curran Associates, Red hook NY, USA, pp. 11
  • S. Habibi, Esther A. Obonyo and A. Memari, 2020, "A design Concept for Using Bamboo in Low Income Housing", Curran Associates, Inc, Red Hook NA, USA, pp. 523 to 530
  • S. Welch, Esther A. Obonyo and A. Memari, 2020, "Trends and Practices of Retrofitting Existing Residential Buildings to Passive House Criteria and Similar Standards", Proceedings of 2020 Residential Building Design and Construction Conference
  • Shayrar Habibi, Esther A. Obonyo and Ali M Memari, 2019, "A New Concept for the Integration of Bamboo in Contemporary and Vernacular Architecture, Housing in the Third Millennium between Tradition, and Innovation"
  • S. Habibi, Esther A. Obonyo and A. Memari, 2019, "Design and Development of Energy Efficient Re-roofing Solutions"
  • Julio Urbina, Jose F Oliden, Patrick J Tunno, Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Juan Rodriguez, Miguel Luis Estrada, Esther A. Obonyo, Sarah E Zappe, Christine Masters and Fernando Fonseca Pacheco, 2019, "Experience-Based Learning: Global Engineering Culture and Society"
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Chimay Anumba, 2019, "The multi agent paradigm and organizational abstractions in construction e-business"
  • Junqi Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2018, "E-health of Construction Works: A Proactive Injury Prevention Approach", IEEE Communications Society, pp. 7
  • Mary Njenga, Esther A. Obonyo and Ruth M. Mendum, 2018, "Technology is Culture: Building a Transdisciplinary Team to Address Community Energy and Urban Revitalization Challenges", pp. 5
  • Erdogmus Ece, B Wagner, Linsey Rohe, Eric Garcia, A Shwer, Fabio Matta and Esther A. Obonyo, 2015, "Design of Compressed Stabilized Earthen Wall Systems for High-Wind Resistant Residential Unit Construction"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, Peter Donkor, Fabio Matta and Erdogmus Ece, 2015, "Challenges, Opportunities, and Solutions in Low-cost Building Envelopes: A Case Study of Low-strength Masonry Systems"
  • Peter Donkor, Esther A. Obonyo, Fabio Matta and Erdogmus Ece, 2015, "Effect of Polypropylene Fiber Length on the Flexural and Compressive Strength of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks"
  • Esther A. Obonyo and P. Donkor, 2014, "Effect of Fibrillated Polypropylene Fiber Aspect Ratio on the Flexural and Compressive Strength of Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks", Construction Research Congress 2014: Construction in a Global Network, pp. 661-670
  • M. C. Cuéllar-Azcárate, F. Matta and Esther A. Obonyo, 2014, "Structural Design of Affordable and Energy Efficient Earth Masonry Dwellings for Tornado Wind Loads,"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, P. Donkor, F. Matta and E. Erdogmus, 2014, "Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions in Low Cost Building Envelopes: A Case Study of Low Strength Masonry Systems"
  • Peter Donkor, Esther A. Obonyo, ME Rinker and Sr, 2014, "Closing Construction Materials Loops: A Case Study of Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks as a Locally Available Low Embodied Energy Walling Material", pp. 393
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2013, "From Affordability to Sustainability and Durability: Earthen Masonry for Hot and Humid Regions", Proceedings of the Modern Methods and Advances in Structural Engineering and Construction, The Seventh International Structural Engineering and Construction Conference (ISEC-7)
  • Esther A. Obonyo, C. Kibert, A. Goldman, C. Bwenge and H. Kintingu, 2013, "Managing Context-Specific Cultural Drivers and Barriers to Sustainable and Resilient Building Systems: Lessons from Tanzania"
  • Esther A. Obonyo and W. Wei, 2013, "Sea Level Rise and Smart Historic Coastal Communities, Lessons from Savannah, GA and St Augustine, Fl", Proceedings of CIB World Building Congress 2013: Built Environment Research Focused on Social Outcomes
  • J. Onyango and Esther A. Obonyo, 2013, "Does an urban design laboratory process contribute to construction of assets that responds to social needs?"
  • J. Onyango and Esther A. Obonyo, 2013, "A comparative study of how supply chain management in small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the UK and Kenya contribute to social needs", Proceedings of the CIB World Building Congress 2013: Built Environment Research Focused on Social Outcomes
  • Esther A. Obonyo, P. Donkor, M. Baskaran and F. Amezugbe, 2013, "Advancing the Structural Use of Earth-based Bricks: Assessing the Reliability of Existing Testing Procedures", Proceedings of the 2013 AEI Architectural Engineering Institute Conference, pp. 988-996
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2013, "Designing Sustainable Earthen Masonry for Durability: A Case Study of the Hot and Humid Tanzanian Context", Proceedings of the iNTA 2012 4th International Network for Tropical Architecture Conference
  • Esther A. Obonyo and C. Anumba, 2012, "Organizational Multi-Agent Systems for Dynamic Highway Maintenance Planning", Proceeding of the 2012 ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, pp. 161-169
  • I. Flood, Esther A. Obonyo and G. Vala, 2011, "Truck Weigh-in-Motion using Reverse Modeling and Genetic Algorithms", Proceedings of the 2011 ASCE International Workshop on Computing in Civil Engineering, pp. 219-226
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2011, "Developing Global Scientists and Engineers: Engineering Sustainable Building Systems", Quality Education for Societal Transformation Nairobi, Kenya July 20-22, 2011, 20, pp. 170
  • Esther A. Obonyo and C. Anumba, 2010, "The multi agent paradigm and organizational abstractions in construction e-business", 2010 Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, Proceedings of the International Conference, pp. 221
  • Esther A. Obonyo and CJ Anumba, 2007, "Designing Agents for Implementation Using Multiple Development Environments", pp. 519--526
  • Esther A. Obonyo, C. J. Anu andba, , 2007, "Towards A Multi-Agent Approach for KnowledgeBased Virtual Construction", Collaborative Futures Workshop
  • Esther A. Obonyo and Alfred Omenya, 2006, "Semantic markup of information on sanitation initiatives in informal settlements"
  • Esther A. Obonyo and A. Omenya, 2006, "Agent-based Modelling of Urban Sanitation: Informal Settlements in Nairobi", Proceedings of the Joint International Conference on Computing and Decision Making in Civil and Building Engineering, pp. 2781-2790
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2006, "A Proposal for Developing an Innovation Strategy within a Construction Company", Proceedings of the 42nd International Conference of Associated Schools of Construction
  • Esther A. Obonyo, C. J. Anumba and A. Thorpe, 2004, "Software Agents in the Specification and Procurement of Construction Products", Innovation in Architecture, Engineering and Construction, Millpress Science Publishers, pp. 131-138
  • C. J. Anumba, Z. Aziz and Esther A. Obonyo, 2003, "Mobile Communications in Construction Trends and Prospects, In Innovation in Architecture", Engineering and Construction, Millpress Science Publishers, Rotterdam, pp. 159-168
  • Esther A. Obonyo, CJ Anumba and A Thorpe, 2002, "Agent-based specification and procurement of construction products", Elsevier, pp. 1713--1720
  • Esther A. Obonyo, CJ Anumba, A Thorpe and B Parkes, 2001, "Agent-based support for electronic procurement in construction", pp. 268--279
  • Esther A. Obonyo, C. J. Anumba, A. Thorpe and B. Parkes, 2001, "Specification and Procurement of Construction Products: Potential Role of Intelligent Agents", Proceedings, International Conference on Intelligent Agents, Web Technologies and Internet Commerce (IAWTIC), pp. 268-279

Abstracts

  • Giulia Celentano, Esther A. Obonyo and Guillaume Habert, 2022, "Achieving social justice, environmental justice in safe affordable housing through a materials-centered, multi-level, transdisciplinary approach"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2019, "Building Materials at the Human Scale Workshop", pp. 2
  • J. Zhao and Esther A. Obonyo, 2019, "Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory Model for Recognizing Postures from Wearable Sensor", pp. `
  • Esther A. Obonyo, Abraham Goldman and Wilkistar Otieno, 2016, "Rethinking Sustainable Housing in Sub-Saharan Africa", pp. 1
  • Simion Kintingu and Esther A. Obonyo, 2016, "Research and Development-Driven Delivery of Affordable Housing in Tanzania"

Other

  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2023, "Position Paper - US-Japan Workshop on Needs, Priorities and Partnerships to Advance Human-Centered Data for Resilience", pp. 1
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2022, "December 19, 2022 COP27: The Global South Needs us to Translate Roadmaps into Action"
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2017, "The Worldwide Elusive Search for Affordable Housing", Engineering for Change
  • Esther A. Obonyo, 2004, "APRON: Agent-based specification and procurement of construction products"

Research Projects

  • April 2021 - January 2025, "Belmont Forum Collaborative Research: Advancing Resilience in Low Income Housing Using Climate-Change Science and Big Data Analytics," (Sponsor: National Science Foundation).
  • April 2021 - June 2022, "Community engagement and interdisciplinary collaboration to direct air quality research at industrial sites near Pittsburgh," (Sponsor: Institures of Energy and Environment).
  • April 2021 -  , "Catalytic Support for the Global Building Network," (Sponsor: Penn State Institutes of Energy and Environment).
  • April 2021 -  , "Energy retrofit policy and programs in low-income housing markets: Implications for energy equity in Cleveland, Ohio," (Sponsor: Penn State Institutes of Energy and Environment).

Honors and Awards

  • IASPIRE Facuty Fellowship, University of Georgia, July 2021 - June 2023
  • PhiLDev Visiting Professor, PhilDev supported by UNDP and Australian Govt, August 2020 - March 2022
  • Rice 360 Faculty Fellowship, Rice University, September 2021 - December 2022
  • 2022 Senior Fellow for the Global Council for Science and the Environment, Global Council for Science and Environment (GCSE), January 2022 - December 2022
  • Changing the Future for Women Faculty leadership program, Penn State, January 2022 - June 2022
  • COP 27/ UNFCCC Climate Summit Delegate, Global Council for Science and the Environment, November 2022 - November 2022
  • ASME Engineering for Change Academic Ally Award, ASME Engineering for Change, December 2021
  • PhiLDev Visiting Professor, PhilDev supported by UNDP and Australian Govt, August 2021 - December 2021
  • PhiLDev Visiting Professor, PhilDev supported by UNDP and Australian Govt, August 2019 - December 2019
  • PhiLDev Visiting Professor, PhilDev supported by UNDP and Australian Govt, April 2018 - December 2018
  • Advisor of the Year, Penn State Student Body, May 2023

Service

Service to Penn State:

  • Committee Work, Member, Sabbatical Committee, College of Engineering, GBN Search Committee for Operations Director, August 2022
  • Committee Work, Member, Institute of Computational and Data Science Faculty Council, Penn State, Institute of Computational and Data Science Faculty Council, August 2022
  • Committee Work, Committee Member, Internationalization Committee, Architectural Engineering Undergraduate Committee, August 2022
  • Committee Work, Co-Chairperson, Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Co-chair, Penn State, Institute of Computational and Data Science Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, August 2022
  • Assistance to Student Organizations, Advisor, Pan African Professional Alliance Advisor, Pan African Professional Alliance (PAN-APA), Pan African Professional Alliance (PAN-APA), August 2022
  • Assistance to Student Organizations, Advisor, Penn State Hult Prize Advisor, Penn State Hult Prize, Penn State Hult Prize, August 2022
  • Assistance to Student Organizations, Advisor, Golden Key International Honor Society Advisor, Golden Key International Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, January 2021
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Co-Chairperson, Climate, health and the built environment, Penn State, Climate, health and the built environment, June 2021 - June 2022
  • Committee Work, Member, Office of Vice President for Sponsored Research (OVPR) Social Justice Advisory Council, Penn State, OSVPR Institutes' Social Justice Advisory Council, April 2021
  • Contributions to Programs to Enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Committee Member, Office of the Vice President for Sponsored Research Social Justice Committee, May 2021
  • Other, Committee Member, IEE Search Committee for Executive Director, IEE, IEE Search Committee for Executive Director, November 2021 - May 2022
  • Other, Chairperson, GBN Search Committee for Operations Director, College of Engineering/ SEDTAPP, GBN Search Committee for Operations Director, November 2021
  • Other, Chairperson, GBN Search Committee for Assistant Research Professor, College of Engineering/ SEDTAPP, GBN Search Committee for Assistant Research Professor, November 2021
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Co-Organizer, Global Building Network Sessions during the Energy Days, Penn State IEE, Energy Days, May 2021 - May 2021
  • Contributions to Programs to Enhance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, Committee Member, Social Justice Advisory Council, Penn State, Office of the Vice President for Sponsored Research Social Justice Committee, June 2021
  • Other, Committee Member, Social Science Research Institute Search Committee for Executive Director, Social Science Research Institute, Social Science Research Institute Search Committee for Executive Director, November 2020 - February 2021
  • Committee Work, Chairperson, Sabbatical Committee, August 2018
  • Committee Work, Committee Member, Stewarding our Planet's Resources, October 2018
  • Other, Committee Member, IEE Search Committee for Operations and Partnership, IEE, IEE Search Committee for Operations and Partnership, November 2018 - December 2018
  • Other, Committee Member, Search Committee for AE Department Chair, College of Engineering, Search Committee for AE Department Chair, January 2018 - April 2018
  • Committee Work, Administrator, Director for Strategic Initiatives, Penn State Global Programs, January 2017
  • Committee Work, Committee Member, Penn State, Stewarding Our Planet's Resources, January 2017

Service to External Organizations:

  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, President, Kenya Scholars and Studies Association (KESSA) President, Kenya Scholars and Studies Association (KESSA), September 2023
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Committee Member, Proceedings of i3CE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering,, 2021 ASCE International Conference on Computing in Civil Engineering, September 2021 - September 2021
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Committee Member, Proceedings of EG-ICE 2021, EG-ICE 2021, June 2021 - July 2021
  • Voluntary Consultation and/or Advising, Board Member, Social Justice and the built environment, Pittsburgh Platform, June 2021
  • Voluntary Consultation and/or Advising, Judge, Idea2Startup Program Pitching activity, ADNU University, Philippines, July 2021 - July 2021
  • Other, Judge, Judge for Groundbreaker Awards, Green Building United, November 2021 - November 2021
  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Co-Chairperson, Co-leader and Co-founder of Carbon Leadership Forum Philadephia Chapter, Carbon Leadership Forum Philadephia Chapter (CLF Philly), May 2021
  • Voluntary Consultation and/or Advising, Board Member, Social Justice and the built environment, Sustainable Development Fund, June 2021
  • Service to Public and Private Organizations, Board Member, Community engaged research, GCC Limited, August 2020
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Committee Member, Conference Technical Committee, American Society for Civil Engineering, November 2020
  • Organizing Conferences and Service on Conference Committees, Co-Organizer, Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, IIE/ Carnegie Corporation, June 2020
  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Co-Organizer, Non-Conventional Building Materials and Technology 2020/2021, December 2019 - 2021
  • Service to Citizen and/or Client Groups, Committee Member, Social Justice, NAACP Centering Equity in the Sustainable Building Sector (CESBS) Initiative,, July 2018
  • Participation in or Service to Professional and Learned Societies, Chairperson, Chair for Non-Conventional Building Materials and Technology 2019, December 2017 - 2017
 


 

About

The School of Engineering Design and Innovation delivers effective engineering education and unrivaled research opportunities through active, collaborative, project-based, and professionally oriented classroom experiences. The school offers a variety of programs that partner faculty, students, and industry in the study of real-life engineering problems. Our programs teach students to solve real-life problems with innovative solutions. 

School of Engineering Design and Innovation

304 Engineering Design and Innovation Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-865-2952