Author: Urania Mylonas
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Professor Jeffrey Sachs Extends Term as Director of the Earth Institute
The Earth Institute, Columbia University announced that Professor Jeffrey Sachs has agreed to extend his term as its director. Since his tenure began in 2002, Sachs has led the Earth Institute to become a leading scientific authority on sustainable development while simultaneously expanding its reach worldwide. Through his guidance, the Earth Institute and its scientists…
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Playing for the Planet
Scott Barrett, the Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics and an expert in complex international negotiations, teaches game theory in his Global Collective Action class. Using a simple card game, Barrett helps his students understand the consequences of decision making in complex negotiations, like those involved in climate treaties, where each country’s actions depend…
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An African Green Revolution: Can the Continent Become Agriculturally Self-Sufficient?
What will it take for Africa to feed itself? Can the continent double its current crop yields and provide food not only for itself, but for export to outside markets? How can African farmers become as productive as their global peers? These and other questions were presented on October 11 by former UN Secretary-General Kofi…
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The Earth Institute Raises $3.8 Million to Support the Millennium Cities Initiative
The Earth Institute successfully completed a $1.9 million landmark challenge grant, awarded by the Tides Foundation, to benefit the Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI). Because of the Tides challenge and our generous donors, a total of $3.8 million has been raised to support the project’s work to help targeted mid-sized cities across sub-Saharan Africa promote sustainable…
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Model District Health Project Aims to Reach 600 Million in India
The country’s first model district health project has been launched in the Morigaon district of Assam.
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Columbia Global Center | South Asia Opens its Doors in Mumbai
On September 13, 2010 the Columbia Global Center | South Asia, a newly launched Columbia Global Center, officially inaugurated offices in Mumbai. Dr. Nirupam Bajpai, the Center’s Director and a Senior Development Advisor at the Earth Institute, was joined by Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Foundation, Paul Folmsbee, US Consul General in…
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Reaching the Millennium Development Goals in the Millennium Villages and Beyond
There are just five years left until the deadline to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, eight ambitious objectives to tackle extreme poverty and its many dimensions and reach a more equitable and sustainable world by 2015. World leaders are gathering this month at the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals to see that…
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Addressing South Asia’s Urgent Global Issues Through Sustainable Development
As the world’s leading academic center addressing the practical challenges of sustainable development, the Earth Institute is building a formal presence in South Asia through the Columbia Global Center/South Asia. The center, established by Columbia University, joins centers already in place in Europe, the Middle-East, and East Asia. Under the leadership of Founding Director Dr.…
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Communities Participate to Lower Arsenic Exposure More Effectively in Bangladesh
There are more than 30 million people in Bangladesh at risk from arsenic contaminated water, which can cause health problems including thickening and hardening of the hands and feet, skin cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer, vascular disease leading to gangrene, and diabetes. Columbia University scientists from the Mailman School of Public Health and Lamont-Doherty Earth…
