Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Content Courtesy : Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory
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Partnerships and Policy Influence

• Ivy League schools often collaborate with government bodies and international organizations to influence environmental policy. Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Brown’s Climate and Development Lab work with policy makers to propose actionable climate solutions. Their research contributes to global discussions, such as those held at the United Nations climate summits.

ConclusionIvy League universities not only focus on theoretical research but also actively implement real-world solutions to combat global warming. They play a pivotal role in shaping future leaders and policies to tackle the pressing environmental issues of our time.   A Showcase Combining Knowledge and ActionThe Climate School's first-ever showcase highlighted the school's mission to partner with organizations outside of Columbia to build climate solutions.

By 
Adrienne Day
October 07, 2024On the heels of announcing its new MS in Climate degree program, the Columbia Climate School held its first-ever Climate School Showcase, as part of its programming for Climate Week.
The purpose of the showcase was to highlight the Climate School’s mission to partner with organizations outside of Columbia to build climate solutions. The half-day event was held at the Forum, on Columbia’s Manhattanville campus, and was open to the public; the glass walls of the Forum a metaphor for visibility and inclusion.

Foundations panelists, from left to right: Ruth DeFries; Vicki Ferrini; Mingfang Ting; Kara Lamb; Sheila Foster; Lisa Sachs. All photos: Steve Myaskovsky“This showcase is meant to highlight the Climate School’s cutting-edge research practice in climate science, finance and sustainability—a comprehensive approach, given [the situation’s] urgency,” Jeff Shaman, interim dean of the Columbia Climate School, told a packed house, kicking off a half days’ worth of panels and discussions. But research alone only goes so far, he said: The mission of the school—the first to be founded at Columbia University in 25 years—“is to partner with constituencies outside of the academy to develop solutions globally, and not just in the university environment,” Shaman said.  
The format of the showcase reflected this all-hands-on-deck approach. The panelists sat on the same level as audience members in order to foster an open dialog, and mingling was encouraged between discussions. The mood was serious and engaged, though there were frequent moments of levity. Ruth DeFries, chief academic officer at the Climate School, set the stage for the first discussion, Foundations: Climate Scholarship, Teaching and Practice. She looked at the all-female panel and quipped, “We do have amazing male scientists at the Climate School, too.” There was a visual notetaker to capture in real time all the ideas that emerged from the two panels, and to express the dynamic component of the collaborative work being done at the Climate School: an active coming together of research and action. See the timelapse videos of the notetaker’s work on foundations and actions.