State of the Planet

News from the Columbia Climate School

gowanus canal

  • Toxic Legacies and Transformative Learning: MPA-ESP Students Explore the Gowanus Canal

    Toxic Legacies and Transformative Learning: MPA-ESP Students Explore the Gowanus Canal

    In June, a group of students stepped out of the classroom and into one of New York City’s most environmentally complex sites.

  • Dredging up New York City’s Glacial Memory

    Dredging up New York City’s Glacial Memory

    Glaciologist Elizabeth Case spoke to New Yorkers about the role glaciers have played in designing the city’s landscape.

  • Students Tour Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

    Students Tour Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

    With the help of local tour guides, Environmental Science and Policy students learned about the background and current state of one of the most contaminated sites in the country.

  • Nature’s Toxic Crusaders

    Nature’s Toxic Crusaders

    Can mushrooms help clean up oil spills? Can oysters filter sewage pollution? Industrial waste is being injected into the planet’s soil and water as a result of human activity. Pioneers in the field of conservation and sustainability are employing nature’s own biological task force to help clean up.

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“

  • Toxic Legacies and Transformative Learning: MPA-ESP Students Explore the Gowanus Canal

    Toxic Legacies and Transformative Learning: MPA-ESP Students Explore the Gowanus Canal

    In June, a group of students stepped out of the classroom and into one of New York City’s most environmentally complex sites.

  • Dredging up New York City’s Glacial Memory

    Dredging up New York City’s Glacial Memory

    Glaciologist Elizabeth Case spoke to New Yorkers about the role glaciers have played in designing the city’s landscape.

  • Students Tour Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

    Students Tour Gowanus Canal Superfund Site

    With the help of local tour guides, Environmental Science and Policy students learned about the background and current state of one of the most contaminated sites in the country.

  • Nature’s Toxic Crusaders

    Nature’s Toxic Crusaders

    Can mushrooms help clean up oil spills? Can oysters filter sewage pollution? Industrial waste is being injected into the planet’s soil and water as a result of human activity. Pioneers in the field of conservation and sustainability are employing nature’s own biological task force to help clean up.