General113
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ESP Program Prepares Student for Career in Wildlife Conservation
Having worked at the Assistant Editor of Sanctuary Asia, an Indian wildlife magazine, co-founded the 2041 Antarctic Youth Ambassador Programme, and volunteered with the Indian Youth Climate Network, current MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) student Swati Hingorani (’14) has always had a passion for environmental issues. As she looks forward to her graduation…
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Student Profile: Mame Baba Cisse
Mame Baba Cisse was inspired by one of the Intergovernental Panel on Climate Change’s predictions about global temperature increases to learn more about how such assessments are created and how they can be made more effective. This led him to enroll in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (M.P.A. E.S.P.) program…
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Student Profile: Josh Browne
As a NASCAR racecar-engineer and crew-chief Josh Browne’s work clothes included fire-retardant suits and a two-way radio headset. Today, a decade after he started with NASCAR, Josh is a student in the 12-month Master of Arts Program in Climate and Society (C and S) and dresses accordingly. Despite his fascination with racecars, Josh was an…
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Public Schools Lead Charge for Environmental Reform
School lunches are about to be carried in a brand new way. According to a recent article in The New York Times, six major urban public schools systems in New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and Dallas (collectively known as The Urban School Food Alliance) aim to make school lunches more sustainable. The goal…
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Student Profile: Emily Soergel
After working with communities in developing areas to reduce, reuse and recycle, Emily Soergel is witness to the power of collective community engagement in promoting the creation of effective strategies to cope with environmental challenges. A member of the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (M.P.A. E.S.P.) Class of 2010, Soergel’s work…
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Student Profile: Bonita Treinen
During a seven-year career in international education—on a path that took her from Poland to Thailand to Spain and on to China before eventually returning to the United States—Bonita Treinen, a native of rural Minnesota and Wisconsin, took time off in every country where she worked to travel to rural areas and observe the challenges…
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SurTab Tablets and Mobile Phone Technology’s Impact on Development in Haiti
The Haiti Research and Policy Program at the Center on Globalization and Sustainable Development concluded the Fall 2013 Dialogue Series with guest Maarten Boute, CEO of SurTab Haiti, the first Android tablet manufacturing company in Haiti. Boute is the former CEO of Digicel Haiti, a mobile phone network provider currently operating in 31 markets across…
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Student Profile: Joseph Raser
Joseph Raser GS’11 knows that dreams can take you in unpredictable directions. Before he discovered his passion for sustainable development, Raser served in the United States Army as a non-commissioned airborne forward officer stationed in Italy. In 2008, he was sent to Siuna, Nicaragua, on a medical and economic mission. This experience, which was followed…
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Genetic Modifications You May Not Know About
While much attention is focused on genetically modified foods, fewer people are aware that many other genetically modified organisms and cells are in development. Columbia University’s Shaheed Naeem and Matthew Palmer offer their perspectives.

COP31, the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, aims to advance dialogue, strengthen consensus, and accelerate climate action on a global scale. From November 9–20, 2026 in Antalya, Türkiye, heads of state, ministers, scientists, business leaders, and civil society will gather to advance efforts in emission targets, climate finance, and adaptation and resilience. Once again, our experts, students, and global thought leaders from Columbia Climate School and across Columbia University are contributing to key events, sharing insights, and helping shape the dialogue toward ambitious, science-based solutions. Learn More
