August 21, 2025 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The title of this talk is taken from something Harris County infrastructure czar Art Storey is reputed to have said: “If every building in Harris County had a small rainwater catchment next to it, we probably wouldn’t need Harris County Flood Control.” This presentation by Dominic Boyer explores the transformative potential of rain gardens in urban design.
Drawing from several years of hands-on experience designing and creating community-led rain gardens in Northeast Houston, Boyer sheds light on a vital, yet often overlooked, form of green stormwater infrastructure. In neighborhoods historically underserved by conventional flood control systems, these rain gardens are not just detention basins—they cultivate native plants and wildlife, serve as community amenities, enhance public spaces, and foster civic participation in infrastructure planning and maintenance.
Through thoughtful reflection of his work in Northeast Houston, Boyer will explore the wisdom behind Storey’s observation.
About the Speaker
Dominic Boyer is the Director of the Social Design Lab at Rice University and as a member of the Board of Governors of the Rice Sustainability Institute. As one of the founders of the field of Energy Humanities, he has been writing on energy politics and energy transition for many years. As a designer, he helped create the world’s first glacier memorial, which was named a Finalist for a 2020 Beazley Design of the Year Award by the London Design Museum. The same project inspired The Economist to create its first-ever obituary for a non-human. The author of nine books and volumes and more than 100 research articles, Boyer’s latest book is No More Fossils (U Minnesota Press, 2023). His Houston-based research currently focuses on green stormwater infrastructure as a means toward greater climate resilience and environmental equity. He is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow.
Our monthly chapter meetings are held on every 3rd Thursday, January – November. Our meetings are free and open to the public thanks to our members and sponsors.
The presentation will start at 7:00 pm, but come at 6:45 pm for a meet and greet with snacks.
Houston Arboretum and Nature Center
610 Entrance (preferred)
120 W Loop N Fwy
Houston, TX 77024
Woodway Entrance
4501 Woodway Drive
Houston, TX 77024
Meetings will also be live-streamed and recorded for later viewing.
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