General154
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New Program in Tropical Biology and Sustainability
The Tropical Biology and Sustainability Program will allow students the opportunity to study ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation biology, environmental engineering, and sustainable development in the environmental hub of East Africa.
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For Tomorrow’s Leaders, a Tool Box for a Complex World
How are the global leaders of tomorrow going to secure renewable sources of energy, solve the problems of water scarcity, and maintain our standard of living – all while improving health, ending poverty, and accommodating a growing population and changing environment? The World Economic Forum, with its commitment to “improving the state of the world,”…
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In Myanmar, Searching for the Roots of Peace
An understanding of the issues that influence conflict in Myanmar is necessary to think about how sustainable peace might be reached. But our research instead focuses on identifying “latent peace capacities” that already exist in and outside of the country, while also exploring means of transforming the underlying structures that give rise to conflict.
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ESP Alum Attends Rio +20
Last month, MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Krystal Laymon (MPA-ESP Class of 2012) traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the Rio +20: The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. The conference, intended to be a follow-up to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, was the largest United Nations environmental summit to date.…
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Mining for Peace in Sierra Leone
Risk factors for the decade-long war in Sierra Leone must be addressed before its abundant natural resources can be equitably exploited for economic growth.
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Is Green Travel Possible?
Imagine if each of the 4.3 million daily commuters on the New York City subway took an international flight. Now think of each of those people on flights spewing jet fuel emissions, guzzling canned soda from plastic airline cups and water from plastic bottles, tossing hotel toiletries into non-recycling bins, blasting hotel air conditioners, and…
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The COAST cruise: Cascadia Open-Access Seismic Transects
We are a scientific team of 20 scientists currently aboard the R/V Langseth, acquiring seismic images of the Cascadia subduction zone. Through our work we hope to provide new insights on the position and structure of the plate boundary between the downgoing Juan de Fuca plate and the overlying North American plate.
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MPA Students Tour Gowanus Canal Superfund Site
On Thursday, June 28, the students in the Master of Public Administration in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program took a field trip to the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY. The trip was organized and led by Lamont Associate Research Professor Juerg Matter and Adjunct Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia’s Mailman School of…
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In the Woods Listening for the Langseth
Our sensors record the same seismic signals as the ocean bottom seismometers the R/V Oceanus deployed, and we will combine the data later. They can detect R/V Langseth signals up to 100 miles inland! This is something extraordinary, and difficult to believe until seen.
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