UI Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy member Marcelo Mena-Carrasco (MS 2003, PhD 2007 civil and environmental engineering) has been named practice manager, carbon markets and innovation of the World Bank Group.

Previously, Mena-Carrasco had served as minister of the environment for Chile.

The World Bank Group consists of 189 member countries, staff from more 170 countries, and offices in over 130 locations. It is a unique global partnership of five institutions working for sustainable solutions that reduce poverty and build shared prosperity in developing countries. 

During the past several years, Mena-Carrasco joined forces with UI colleagues as well as officials of the city of Santiago, Chile, to implement a dramatically improved pollution-forecasting model for the city of Santiago. Armed with accurate forecasts, the government has been able to reduce automobile usage and other pollution-causing activities during certain weather events and enable millions of people to avoid exposure to pollution-fouled air.

In 2013, Mena-Carrasco received the 2013 UI International Impact Award.