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Inside The Earth Institute a monthly e-newsletter December 2005/January 2006
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Scientists Who Blog e-mail address Print journals cannot keep up with developments in certain fields, adds Gavin Schmidt, a researcher at Submit NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, who blogs at RealClimate.org with other climate scientists. From Earth Institute News RSS Nature, December 1, 2005 Earth Institute Events RSS What is RSS? Study Shows Weakening of Atlantic Currents Atlantic Ocean currents that cause northern Europe to Real Video (12:02) be warmer than it would be otherwise have weakened by about a third over the last 50 years, British research Quicktime (12:02) shows. From The New York Times, November 30, 2005
"You could say this really was the year of living Can Science and Religion be Reconciled? dangerously," says Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Robert Pollack, Director of the Center for the Study of Earth Institute, in this special year-end e-newsletter Science and Religion at Columbia University, discusses video. the relationship between faith and science. From The Leonard Lopate Show (WNYC), November 29, 2005
Rise in Gases Unmatched by a History in Ancient Ice Shafts of ancient ice pulled from Antarctica's frozen depths show that for at least 650,000 years three important heat-trapping greenhouse gases never reached A few residents of Koraro set out to dig for water. recent atmospheric levels caused by human activities, Audio Slideshow: Finding Water in scientists are reporting. From The New York Times, Koraro, Ethiopia November 25, 2005 Forget flushing toliets or running faucets. In Koraro, Changing Climate Change Ethiopia, residents walk hours for a gallon or two of by Jeffrey D. Sachs precious water. As part of the Millennium Villages Fossil fuels are plentiful, but harmful; renewable sources Project, engineering expert Upmanu Lall is exploring how Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit, parts of like wind are good for the climate but not plentiful. Solar to create water sources for this drought-plagued village. New Orleans were still severely flooded. Photo view slideshow Credit: Associated Press power is plentiful but not cheap. Nuclear power is plentiful but not safe. Improved technologies can offer a way out Understanding Katrina of this bind, but only if we think and act ahead. The Daily Times (Pakistan), November 28, 2005 Columbia experts convene to examine a broad range of issues raised by Katrina, including global warming, public Climate Change in Arctic Studied for Keys to decision-making processes, policy options, mitigation Earth's Warming strategies, socio-economics and ethics. go to video An upward shift in global temperatures could have real coverage of the conference effects, including less water for irrigation, more wildfires, more insect outbreaks, warmer winters, poorer ski conditions, better growing conditions father north, disappearing glaciers and more heat waves. The Billings Gazette, November 20, 2005
Rockland Students Learn About Land Use Save the Date: State of the Planet, A day-long program on land use showed students the March 28-29 complexity of a seemingly simple project: building a golf Every two years, the world's top scholars and opinion course. The program was sponsored in part by the leaders gather to analyze global trends, assess risks and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. The Journal News, identify new opportunities across the diverse fields of November 16, 2005 sustainable development. It's My Money and I'll Run if I Want To On March 28 and 29, The Earth Institute at Columbia University will convene the fourth biennial State of the "The role of money and the connection to free political speech — I think it's going to destroy our democracy, Planet conference to discuss the feasibility of sustainable and I'm actually quite serious," said Steven Cohen, a development for billions worldwide. The gathering professor of public administration at Columbia University. promises to offer stimulating discussions and innovative "I think we are in the process of doing it right now." ideas in areas as diverse as the earth sciences, ecology, From The New York Times, November 10, 2005 economic development, policy, agriculture, biodiversity and global health. (subscription required)
Look for more details soon or email [email protected] Rx For Survival: A Global Health Challenge to receive regular announcements and conference Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of The Earth Institute, was highlights. interviewed in this six-part series on the most critical and emerging threats to global public health, chronicling the leaders who, against all odds, deliver the goods. From Participants collect water samples during a PBS, November 2, 2005 student trip to the Hudson River.
Environmental Science Students Dive more recently in the media Into Data Collection Experience Research trips take students out on Hudson Special Events at the Earth Institute A pile of garbage from World War II and the Little Red Light House were two highlights of Hudson River trips Mon., Dec. 5, 5-6:30 pm, Faculty House made this fall by students in Barnard College's Oil and US Foreign Policy: A Historical Environmental Science program. Perspective David Painter, Associate Professor of History, Walsh The trips, which allowed students from three Environmental Science classes to gain hands-on School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University research experience on the Hudson this September and October, were funded by a grant from the National Mon., Dec. 5, 6-8 pm, International Affairs The Keeling Curve has been hailed as the most Building, Rm 1501 Science Foundation. more rigorous and fundamental measure of global MPA in Environmental Science and Policy change. James E. Hansen, director of the Goddard Program Open House Institute for Space Studies (GISS), will give a For more information or to RSVP, contact Louise Rosen presentation at AGU on how well humanity has at 212-854-3142 or [email protected] responded to the warning inherent in the work of Charles D. Keeling, who passed away earlier this Wed., Dec. 7, 6-8pm, at CERC year. Center for Environmental Research and Earth Institute Researchers Present Conservation Educational Program Open House their Work at the American Geophysical Thurs., Dec. 8, 6-7:30 pm, Faculty House Union
Slash and Burn Agriculture — The Search for Scientists from The Earth Institute will arrive in San Alternatives Francisco this week to attend the fall meeting of the With Pedro Sanchez, Director of Tropical Agriculture at American Geophysical Union (AGU), an annual gathering The Earth Institute, and Cheryl Palm, Senior Research of more than 11,000 researchers from around the world Scientist at The Earth Institute Earth Institute Director Jeffrey D. Sachs (left) and who study the Earth and other planets. Representatives Iceland President Ólafur Grímsson at the Global from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO), Roundtable on Climate Change conference. the Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS), the International Research Institute for Climate and Society Second GROCC Meets Amid Changing (IRI) and many other affiliates of The Earth Institute will World present a wide range of geologic, geochemical and interdisciplinary research. more More than 200 participants from nearly 150 corporations and other institutions from around the world met November 14 and 15 at Columbia University for the Wealth & Giving Forum Inspires Spirit second session of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change (GROCC). With 2005 on pace to becoming the of Giving to Fight Malaria in Africa warmest year on record, as well as the most active for A myriad of messages compete for attention in today’s hurricanes, and with world leaders preparing for critical world. Filtering reliable facts from all the noise can be a negotiations on climate policy in Montreal in December, time-consuming challenge for philanthropists interested in the Earth's climate was on everyone's mind. more taking concrete steps to create lasting, positive change. Organizations like the Wealth & Giving Forum are helping families and individuals of means to distill competing demands on philanthropy into clear initiatives that can lead to informed and meaningful acts of giving. Novaya Zemlya, a Russian archipelago above the Arctic Circle, was the site of 130 nuclear test. Last spring, the Wealth & Giving Forum convened a weekend-long retreat that inspired the group’s members Soviet Union Conducted 130 Nuclear to contribute more than $2 million to help The Earth Tests in Remote Arctic Location, Study Institute at Columbia University advance the fight against Says malaria in Africa. more
The Soviet Union conducted 130 underwater, atmospheric and underground nuclear tests in a remote archipelago above the Arctic Circle over a period of 35 years, according to a comprehensive study down by scientists at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the U.S. Geological Survey. more Cheryl Palm with American Society of Agronomy President Lee Sommers of Colorado State University. Columbia Senior Research Scientist Receives Distinction as Fellow of Agronomy Society
Cheryl Palm, director of the Millennium Villages Project, was chosen to be a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy. more
Lara Ettenson and David Westman gave a A concept of the Gowanus Saltmarsh in Brooklyn. presentation on mercury emissions to over seventy people at the Applied Earth Systems Management Urban Design Lab to Help Promote Workshop's final briefings. Sustainability and Environmental MPA Students in Environmental Justice in New York City New Earth Institute center will provide practical Science and Policy Give Final Briefings assistance to community groups working to improve and develop their neighborhoods Landfill Disposal May Pose Greater On November 30, the MPA Program in Environmental Health Risks Than WTE Treatment, Science and Policy concluded its semester-long projects On November 16, former New York City mayor and Student Research Shows with its final briefings for its Applied Earth Systems Columbia professor David Dinkins joined members of The Management Workshop. The review had over seventy Earth Institute in inaugurating a new, interdisciplinary Urban Design Lab. The Earth Institute's newest center is Disposing of waste via landfills increases health risks people attending, with students presenting on topics 30-fold, compared with using waste-to-energy treatment ranging from solid waste transportation to mercury intended to make the resources of the University more — which generates electricity by burning waste — for emissions. more readily available to residents of the city. more disposal. This is according to a study conducted by a student in the Masters in Public Health (MPH) program at the Mailman School at Columbia University. more The Earth Institute Partners with Columbia’s School of Engineering and Applied Science to Promote Faculty Comments and Suggestions Diversity
Contact our editor The Earth Institute and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) have joined Past issues together to ensure that a rich, diverse faculty becomes a mainstay of research and education at Columbia University. The new diversity initiative represents another step in what has become one of Columbia’s highest priorities: the integration of women and men from a range of backgrounds into all aspects of academic life. more
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