State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

education news83

  • Faculty Profile: Ben Cook

    Faculty Profile: Ben Cook

    M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) professor Benjamin Cook is an Adjunct Research Scientist at the Earth Institute’s Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory. In addition to his position at Lamont, Ben also serves as a Research Physical Scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York where he researches drought, hydroclimate, and interactions between the…

  • Former Fulbright Scholar Explores Science of Sustainability

    Former Fulbright Scholar Explores Science of Sustainability

    Current MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) student Holly Battelle parlayed her undergraduate study of economics into a Fulbright Fellowship in Bangladesh where she explored the economics of solar energy. This field experience prompted her to enroll in the program because she wanted to formally study environmental science and policy and gain the necessary…

  • Sustainability Skills Seminar: Lifecyle Assessment

    Sustainability Skills Seminar: Lifecyle Assessment

    Christoph Meinrenken, Associate Research Scientist with the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy led a seminar on Product Lifecycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting. This seminar is part of the Sustainability Skills Series available to students in the Earth Institute education programs.

  • MPA Student Has Eye on Future in Sustainable Development

    MPA Student Has Eye on Future in Sustainable Development

    Prior to joining the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, class of 2013 member Pablo Antón Díaz combined his management skills background in economics to evaluate the effects of a financial literacy training project in Mexico City. Working on this project gave Pablo an appreciation of how poverty and development issues were closely…

  • Sustainability Management Alumna Presents a Post-Sandy Flood Insurance Perspective

    Sustainability Management Alumna Presents a Post-Sandy Flood Insurance Perspective

    On Wednesday, February 20, M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) alum Julia Ragragio-Ruiz (’12) joined fellow urban planning professionals Albert Wei of Kohn Pederson Fox, and Lance Jay Brown, of Lance Jay Brown Architecture and Urban Design, at GreenHomeNYC’s monthly Greenbuilding forum. The event, entitled “Building in Flood Zones” discussed Sandy relief efforts and the work…

  • Putting Sustainability into Practice- EcoPracticum

    Interdisciplinary collaboration, rather than polarized efforts, are needed to promote environmental sustainability.

  • Sustainability Management Student Inspired to Combat Climate Change

    Sustainability Management Student Inspired to Combat Climate Change

    Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Emily Dawson credits her parents and undergraduate studies at Middlebury College with instilling an interest in sustainability and sense of urgency for our warming planet. As a student in the program, Emily hopes to gain the practical skills and managerial training necessary to launch a career in climate…

  • ESP Alum Scales Up Involvement with Earth Institute

    ESP Alum Scales Up Involvement with Earth Institute

    When MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Caroline Fox (’12) joined the program, she was seeking a career change and hoped that wherever she landed next would allow her to work on projects that would have a positive impact on the world. Now, as the Project Manager for the Nigeria Scale-Up Initiative at Columbia’s…

  • Study Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East this Summer

    This summer, 10 Columbia University students will have the opportunity spend two weeks in Jordan and Israel, learning about how environmental issues span geographical boundaries; how political conflicts create, sustain and escalate these problems; and the role the environment can play in future negotiations toward constructive and peaceful outcomes.

Composite banner with modern building at night and portrait of Dean Alexis Abramson that reads "Science for the Planet"

By studying thousands of buildings and analyzing their electricity use, Columbia Climate School Dean Alexis Abramson has been able to uncover ways to significantly cut energy consumption and emissions. Watch the Video: “Engineering a Cooler Future Through Smarter Buildings

  • Faculty Profile: Ben Cook

    Faculty Profile: Ben Cook

    M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) professor Benjamin Cook is an Adjunct Research Scientist at the Earth Institute’s Lamont-Dougherty Earth Observatory. In addition to his position at Lamont, Ben also serves as a Research Physical Scientist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York where he researches drought, hydroclimate, and interactions between the…

  • Former Fulbright Scholar Explores Science of Sustainability

    Former Fulbright Scholar Explores Science of Sustainability

    Current MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) student Holly Battelle parlayed her undergraduate study of economics into a Fulbright Fellowship in Bangladesh where she explored the economics of solar energy. This field experience prompted her to enroll in the program because she wanted to formally study environmental science and policy and gain the necessary…

  • Sustainability Skills Seminar: Lifecyle Assessment

    Sustainability Skills Seminar: Lifecyle Assessment

    Christoph Meinrenken, Associate Research Scientist with the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy led a seminar on Product Lifecycle Assessment and Carbon Footprinting. This seminar is part of the Sustainability Skills Series available to students in the Earth Institute education programs.

  • MPA Student Has Eye on Future in Sustainable Development

    MPA Student Has Eye on Future in Sustainable Development

    Prior to joining the MPA in Environmental Science and Policy (MPA-ESP) program, class of 2013 member Pablo Antón Díaz combined his management skills background in economics to evaluate the effects of a financial literacy training project in Mexico City. Working on this project gave Pablo an appreciation of how poverty and development issues were closely…

  • Sustainability Management Alumna Presents a Post-Sandy Flood Insurance Perspective

    Sustainability Management Alumna Presents a Post-Sandy Flood Insurance Perspective

    On Wednesday, February 20, M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) alum Julia Ragragio-Ruiz (’12) joined fellow urban planning professionals Albert Wei of Kohn Pederson Fox, and Lance Jay Brown, of Lance Jay Brown Architecture and Urban Design, at GreenHomeNYC’s monthly Greenbuilding forum. The event, entitled “Building in Flood Zones” discussed Sandy relief efforts and the work…

  • Putting Sustainability into Practice- EcoPracticum

    Interdisciplinary collaboration, rather than polarized efforts, are needed to promote environmental sustainability.

  • Sustainability Management Student Inspired to Combat Climate Change

    Sustainability Management Student Inspired to Combat Climate Change

    Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Emily Dawson credits her parents and undergraduate studies at Middlebury College with instilling an interest in sustainability and sense of urgency for our warming planet. As a student in the program, Emily hopes to gain the practical skills and managerial training necessary to launch a career in climate…

  • ESP Alum Scales Up Involvement with Earth Institute

    ESP Alum Scales Up Involvement with Earth Institute

    When MPA in Environmental Science and Policy alum Caroline Fox (’12) joined the program, she was seeking a career change and hoped that wherever she landed next would allow her to work on projects that would have a positive impact on the world. Now, as the Project Manager for the Nigeria Scale-Up Initiative at Columbia’s…

  • Study Environmental Sustainability in the Middle East this Summer

    This summer, 10 Columbia University students will have the opportunity spend two weeks in Jordan and Israel, learning about how environmental issues span geographical boundaries; how political conflicts create, sustain and escalate these problems; and the role the environment can play in future negotiations toward constructive and peaceful outcomes.