It was founded to advance the basic understanding of earth science and apply that knowledge to decisions made by governments and businesses around the world. They aim to find solutions for Sustainable Development, as regards public health, poverty, energy, ecosystems, climate, natural hazards and urbanization. More than 30 research centers and some 850 scientists, postdoctoral fellows, staff and students. Units focus on food security, environmental sustainability, hazards and risks, rivers and estuaries, sustainable cities, earth engineering, energy, and climate science awareness and solutions (headed by James E. Hansen). At the largest research unit, the renowned Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, leading scientists study geology, oceans, freshwater systems, climate, and atmosphere.
Research Programs:
- Climate Science, Awareness and Solutions – Working to halt the global march toward catastrophic climate change via a strategy that leads as rapidly as possible to a near-universal carbon fee on fossil fuels.
- Program on Child Well-Being and Resilience – Serves as an academic center for Columbia University faculty and researchers, across various academic departments and schools, to support greater understanding of the issues, challenges, and opportunities involving children and youth.
- Program on Sustainability Policy and Management – Provides a rigorous analytic base to help inform sustainability decision-making. Our research addresses the fundamental issues facing professionals and policy makers implementing sustainability strategies.
- Postdoctoral Research Program – Provides innovative postdoctoral scholars with the opportunity to build a foundation in one of the core disciplines represented within the Earth Institute (i.e. social, earth, biological, engineering, and health sciences), while at the same time acquiring the breadth of cross-disciplinary expertise needed to address critical issues related to sustainable development.
Research Programs:
Research Units:
Joint Projects:
- Laboratory of Populations – A cooperation with The Rockefeller University that seeks to understand how stochasticity – random influences such as changes in weather or resources, or chance events of birth and death – creates novel patterns in nonlinear dynamics of population change.
- Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment – A joint applied research center and forum with Columbia Law School dedicated to the study, practice and discussion of sustainable international investment.
Publications:
- News and Media
- State of the Planet Earth Institutes’ blog and news site
- A YouTube channel with educational videos, lectures, presentations, etc.
- Resources
- Most of the different research units and projects have their own publication libraries with annual reports, research, fact sheets, papers, databases, etc. Most prominently:
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