As students pack and prepare for, and ponder the exciting adventures that lie ahead in, the 2012 Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates Program (SEE-U), Natalia Rossi, the Teaching Assistant for the Jordan field site, shares her enthusiasm for research, education, and conservation.
It’s a Saturday morning, and most kids between the ages of 12 and 14 are sleeping in, off to rehearsals or sports team practice, or grudgingly helping with household chores. At Columbia University, a group of middle-school students are eagerly engaging in the scientific method.
Undergraduate students learn about summer field opportunities in Jordan, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico offered through the Summer Ecosystems Experience for Undergraduate (SEE-U) program at Columbia.
Subtle stimuli in the environment exert a strong influence on the way we think about global warming. The notion that surrounding objects unconsciously influence our thoughts and behavior is of interest to individuals who are interested in developing strategies to promote sustainable behavior.
![Massive algae bloom of of the coast of Patagonia. [Wikimedia Commons]](http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Patagonian_Bloom-150x110.jpg "Patagonian_Bloom")
In the last century we have witnessed incredible environmental leaps in our understanding of planet Earth. With a focus on integrated, systems thinking we invite you to register for an interactive online webinar that explores the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment.
More than half of the world’s population now lives in urban settings, making sustainable urban management a critical concern. This course introduces you to the fundamentals of urban environmental management and sustainability with a special focus on New York City.
While studies do show that flowers and other plants are blooming earlier on average because of warming trends, this year’s early fireworks were “certainly well within the realm of experience for the species native to this area,” says Robert Naczi of the New York Botanical Garden.
This course provides an introduction to environmental economics, discussing the basic principles of microeconomics as they apply to environmental issues and analyzing case studies that illustrate how economics can guide conservation practice and policy.
As biodiversity takes a hit from climate change, forward thinking groups store seed samples in gene banks. The idea: if an entire species is wiped out, scientists can repopulate from the samples. Hello, plant versions of Adam and Eve.
The built environment has a vast impact on the natural environment, human health, and the economy. By adopting green building strategies, we can maximize both economic and environmental performance.
State of the Planet is a forum for discussion on varying viewpoints. The opinions expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Earth Institute or Columbia University.
