Maria Liubarskaia is a professor at the St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics , where she received her doctorate degree in Economics. Dr. Liubarskaia is an academician at the European Academy of Natural Sciences (Europaische Akademie der Naturwissenschaften Hannover) in Hannover, Germany, and at the International Academy of Sciences of Ecology, Safety of Person and Nature, in Russia. Dr. Liubarskaia has also published several textbooks in municipal planning and solid waste management and participated in various international trainings such as the Advanced Solid Waste Management International Training Program (SWECO-SIDA) in Sweden, 2003.  She also traveled to training programs in Moldova in 2004 and Japan in 2012.  Before teaching at St. Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics, Dr. Liubarskaia worked for several banks in St. Petersburg as a deputy manager in economics, a lead manager of the financial department, and a leader of business-planning. Her overarching goal is the improvement of strategic planning for solid waste management in Russia to prevent threats to the environment. While in the United States, she plans to research various aspects of solid waste management, sustainable development, educational programs on solid waste management and municipal management with Dr. Ronald Mersky, Associate Professor at Widener University.