Dr. Semida Silveira

Biography

Semida Silveira serves as a Professor of Practice in the Systems Engineering Program at Cornell University. Her goal is to contribute to science-based societal transformation through transdisciplinary research and education, focusing on creating a global low-carbon circular economy and promoting sustainable development. Prior to joining Cornell, she was a Full Professor at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, where she led the Energy Climate Division for twelve years. In that capacity, Silveira directed international cooperation efforts with Brazil and Latin American countries, particularly in relation to UNFCCC and UNCTAD initiatives. She is a faculty fellow at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and her work emphasizes the intersection of technology, planning, policy, and societal transformation. With extensive experience in sustainability, she has collaborated with multiple stakeholders, including academia, governments, and private sectors across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Her previous roles include serving as a sustainability climate expert at the Swedish Energy Agency and a program manager at the Stockholm Environment Institute. Silveira holds a Ph.D. in Regional Planning from KTH and a Professional degree in Engineer Architect from UFMG, and has authored various journal articles and books on sustainable energy systems.

Research Interests