On May 25th, nine Columbia students will board a plane to the Middle East, to learn about how two countries in the region, Jordan and Israel, are cooperating on environmental issues and managing shared natural resources such as water. The students, led by Beth Fisher Yoshida, academic director of the Negotiation and Conflict Resolution program, [...]
Being able to model solutions visually is a critical component for managers’ intent for solving environmental problems. For that reason, perhaps, advancing the way we design the built environment has always been my keenest interest. Sustainable design requires more than just the ability to create spatially: it requires expansive considerations—materials, energy, water-use, financial feasibility, new technologies. It must successfully execute the maxim “form meets function”.
Of non-Arctic states, China has shown the most interest in the Arctic as climate change opens up the region to new economic development. The ways in which China attempts to balance its economic interests and environmental responsibilities within its energy policy may provide a predictor of its future behavior in the Arctic.
On Tuesday, April 30, students in the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program presented their final Capstone Workshop presentations for fellow students, program faculty, and colleagues at Rennert Hall at Columbia University. This spring’s workshop projects allowed MSSM students to gain experience tackling tough sustainability problems by working with real-world clients, including the New Jersey Audubon and the Chilean Federation of Tourism Enterprises, FEDETUR.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management student Megan Farrell works in the Sustainable Business Solutions division at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) where she focuses on developing strategic solutions to best address the challenges facing her clients, including those related to social, environmental, and economic factors.
M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Andrea Tenorio joined the program because she was interested in a career that aligned with her values of social responsibility, recognized her affinity for efficiency and conservation, and was technically challenging. Currently, Andrea works at CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project), where she manages a program that provides companies with access to environmental information so that they can build internal expertise with regard to managing climate change issues.
On Wednesday, April 10, the Earth Institute’s Women & Sustainability group hosted a panel on Sustainable Investing. The panel showcased three speakers: Sarah Bostwick, Manager of Communication on Progress at the United Nations Global Compact; Danielle Chesebrough, Manager of Investor Engagements with United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI); and Lori Choi, Wealth Manager and CFA Charterholder at Veris Wealth Partners.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Henry Gordon-Smith began his studies at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Soon thereafter he studied at Ryerson University in Toronto, where he specialized in Food Security and Urban Agriculture. When a job opportunity led him to New York, he ended up deciding to join the MSSM program to expand on his undergraduate studies of sustainability. Gordon-Smith has continued to focus on sustainable food production and alternative modes of agriculture through his internship at Sky Vegetables, and also through his popular blog AGRITECTURE: Buildings That Grow Food.
As a “career-changer,” M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Laura Humphrey felt that she could not consider herself successful until her daily work reflected her core values. Currently, Laura works as a Senior Associate at ICF International in the Energy Efficiency division. Laura believes that her graduate studies have informed her work at ICF because of the team-oriented nature of many projects she has worked on as a student in the MSSM program.
Current M.S. in Sustainability Management (MSSM) student Pamela Alabaster joined the program after a corporate sustainability appointment at L’Oréal USA with the express purpose of honing her skills in the corporate social responsibility field. Through meaningful lectures and applicable project-based coursework, Pamela has acquired the practical knowledge and understanding in the field and has been recognized by the industry for her innovative work in CSR. Currently, Pamela is the Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications, Sustainable Development & Public Affairs for L’Oréal USA.
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.
