Sustainable Planet
Browse the latest in Sustainable Planet, including blog articles, Annals research, events, Academy news and more.
Content Spotlight
blog
Combating Extreme Heat Environments through Technology Architecture Infrastructure and Urbanization
August 5, 2025
Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Spring 2025“Living in the Extremes” Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences Published August 5, 2025 By Nicole Pope Team members: Katelyn G. (Team Lead) (California, United States), Rishab S. (India), Adham M. (Egypt), Youssef I. (Egypt), Shravika S. (Virginia, United States) Mentor: Anavi Jain (Tennessee, United States) As record-breaking temperatures due to the climate crisis become more common around the world, especially in vulnerable regions like...
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Eco-twisters
August 5, 2025
Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Spring 2025“Air Quality & Health” Sponsored by Stevens Initiative Published August 5, 2025 By Nicole Pope Team members: Kelsey M. (Team Lead) (California, United States), Hana H. (Egypt), Zoha H. (North Carolina, United States), Islam H. (Saudi Arabia), Sanaya M. (New Jersey, United States), Kavish S. (North Carolina, United States) Mentor: Brisa Torres (Germany) Indoor air pollution, caused largely by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2),...
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The Last Strand
May 16, 2025
Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Fall 2024 "Upcycling & Waste Management" Published May 16, 2025 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Vedeesh B. (Team Lead) (India), Livia G. (Sweden), Muhammad Q. (New Jersey, United States), Syed R. (Florida, United States) Mentor: Christine Yu (Hong Kong) Our world’s growing waste problem is largely driven by the production and disposal of short-lived products, creating a "use-and-dispose" culture. The...
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Upgrading the Hydraulic System
May 16, 2025
Winner of the Junior Academy Challenge – Fall 2024 "Remediation in South Brooklyn" Published May 16, 2025 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences and Empire Wind 1 Team members: Cameron A. (Team Lead) (New York, United States), Ohee S. (New York, United States), Cindy W. (New York, United States), Ankea C. (New York, United States), Ayten A. (New York, United States), Annika C. (New York, United States) Mentor: Xiwei Huang...
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Winners of the 2024 Tata Transformation Prize Celebrate Bold Innovation for India and Beyond
November 25, 2024
Three rising scientific stars in India are recognized for their solutions to the nation’s urgent challenges in malnutrition and diabetes, energy storage, and a new RSV vaccine. Mumbai, India | November 25, 2024 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the second cohort of Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize. The Prize recognizes and supports visionary scientists in India who are developing breakthrough technologies that address India’s most significant societal challenges in...
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A Case for Going to Bat for the Bats
October 31, 2024
Bats play a vital role in ecosystems. But new research shows that if action isn’t taken, the future of these essential winged mammals in North America may be in jeopardy. Published October 31, 2024 By Nick Fetty A Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) flying over water in Arizona. This species’ conservation status is classified as “least concern” according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Image courtesy of Dennis Donohue - via stock.adobe.com. More...
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Our Iceland Adventure Turned into a Climate Crisis Wake-Up Call
September 11, 2024
The Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon provides not only aesthetic beauty but it’s a case study in the detrimental effects of climate change and the need to take mitigative action now. Published September 11, 2024 By Syra Madad, D.H.Sc., M.Sc., MCP, CHEP Photo by Syra Madad. On a recent trip to Iceland with my children, we visited the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a place known for its serene beauty, where fractured icebergs from the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier drift across...
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Students Make Sustainable Fashion Statement
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2024: “Circular Textiles” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Rachita J. (India) (Team Lead), Mariia H. (Ukraine), Sofía R. (Colombia), Alex B. (United States), Sylvia X. (United States), Altynay N. (Kazakhstan) Textiles and fashion are important sectors for the world economy but as demand increases, so do the environmental and human costs – due to...
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Alternatives To Mineral Space Mining
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 “Minerals of Technology” Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Team members: Sriyash T. (Team Lead) (India), Radoslav K. (United States), Aarish K. (United States), Rehan S. (India), Aashritha T. (United States), Farhan M. (United States) For the “Minerals of Technology” Junior Academy Innovation Challenge, high school students were asked to come up with an innovative...
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The Environmental Benefits of Vertical Farming
August 14, 2024
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge – Fall 2023 "Green Homes, Green Schools, Green Communities" Published August 14, 2024 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by The New York Academy of Sciences Team members: Iga P. (Team Lead) (Poland), Eliska B. (Slovakia), Alfiya K. (Kazakhstan), Ivanna V. (Ukraine), Linda M. (Slovakia), Nouha O. (Tunisia) Mentor: Adeola Akinsulure (Nigeria) In Fall 2023, The New York Academy of Sciences invited high school students from around the world to...
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Scientists Can Help Prepare for Record Heatwaves
August 5, 2024
With average global temperatures rising, here's some expert guidance so you can keep yourself, and those around you, safe during extreme heat waves. Published August 5, 2024 By ISR Staff Last year, the world shattered a record we never should have hit: our warmest year ever. In response, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres remarked that we are in an “era of global boiling,” as he called for swift action on human-induced climate change. So far in...
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Combining Data with Local Knowledge for Disaster Prep
August 5, 2024
Abiola I. Agnontcheme wants to make scientific information more accessible in different languages to help mitigate the most impactful effects of climate change. Published August 5, 2024 By ISR Staff Abiola I. Agnontcheme is an environmental sustainability expert from Republic of Benin. He currently leads as the Country Director for Ecoclimate Vision Benin, which is a team of 40 national representatives with different backgrounds. Ecoclimate Benin partners with governments, businesses, and civil society organizations to...
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This ISR Scientist Uses E-Noses to Sniff Out Disasters Before They Happen
July 1, 2024
Entrepreneur and researcher Nazeli Ter-Petrosyan uses data science to study artificial olfactory systems and biomedical image interpolation. Published July 1, 2024 By ISR Staff Nazeli Ter-Petrosyan is a data scientist and researcher from Armenia, researching artificial olfactory systems and biomedical image interpolation. She is a founding member and AI Developer at Wearify, a fashion-tech startup, and a data scientist at Opply, a food-tech startup optimizing the supply chain. As a TEDx speaker, young member of...
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How One Mozambican Researcher Hopes to Mitigate the Climate Crisis through Coffee
May 28, 2024
Maria Tomas Cossa is mitigating the impact of climate change through her research on coffee agroforestry systems and carbon sequestration. Published May 28, 2024 By ISR Staff Maria Tomas Cossa is a marine biology graduate with a Master’s in Conservation Biology. She is a member of the International Science Reserve and a prominent researcher at Mozambique’s Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies. Currently, she is working on climate change mitigation through her pioneering research on coffee...
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“Did you feel it?” How understanding small earthquakes readies us for big ones
May 6, 2024
Sarah Minson studies earthquakes and offers guidance on what to do if you experience one. Published May 6, 2024 By ISR Staff Sarah Minson is a Research Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program. Sarah’s research attempts to understand not only how faults slip, but also to understand what we can and cannot determine about earthquake ruptures and how these uncertainties affect our estimates of potential earthquake impacts. She has also studied earthquake early...
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Why this Weather Man Wants to Break Down Silos in Climate and Crisis Research
March 6, 2024
International Science Reserve community member Dr. Anthony Torres is focused on forecasting climate change and extreme weather. Published March 6, 2024 By ISR Staff As a climate scientist and meteorologist, Dr. Anthony Torres has dedicated his career to researching, teaching, and forecasting climate change and extreme weather. Most recently, he worked with Currently, a startup that provides timely and actionable weather forecasts in 20 cities. Dr. Torres’ academic research on understanding what drives the behavior...
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Modeling Disasters to Prepare for the Next One
November 28, 2023
International Science Reserve community member Daniel San Martin shares how he is applying his research in scientific computing to wildfire preparation and response. Published November 28, 2023 By ISR Staff In any major climate-related crisis, access to geo-spatial-temporal datasets, mapping, modeling, and analytical tools are critical to aid recovery efforts and protect communities. Many expert researchers, especially scientists and institutions in low-to-middle income countries, lack the tools to access and analyze relevant data, to inform...
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Bat Biology and Ecology
November 10, 2023
A series of research articles examining bat biology and ecology. Articles include The pale spear-nosed bat: A neuromolecular and transgenic model for vocal learning; From island biogeography to landscape and metacommunity ecology: A macroecological perspective of bat communities; Sick bats stay home alone: fruit bats practice social distancing when faced with an immunological challenge; A review of the major threats and challenges to global bat conservation; Individuality and function of chemical signals during conflict resolution...
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First Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize Announced Today, Celebrating Pathbreaking Innovation in India
November 7, 2023
Three rising stars in science are recognized for their cutting-edge solutions to food security, sustainability, and healthcare. Mumbai, India | 7 November 2023 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the first Winners of the Tata Transformation Prize. The prize recognizes and supports visionary scientists in India who are developing innovative solutions to critical societal challenges. Three scientists were selected from 169 entries by an international jury of renowned experts...
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The Year in Climate Science Research
September 22, 2023
Published since 2020, The Year in Climate Science Research is a rolling submission series covering diverse topics in climate science. The editor is Dr. Luis Gimeno, University of Vigo, Spain. See https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1749-6632.year-in-climate-science.
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Developing a New App to Empower Urban Farmers
July 1, 2023
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2023 “Urban Gardens” Published July 1, 2023 By Nicole Pope Team members: Tianze H. (Team Lead) (United States), Tianlai H. (United States), Radwa A. (Egypt) Mentor: Olusola Ladokun (Nigeria) Urban gardening can be an effective way to provide fresh and healthy food at a low cost, particularly in parts of the world where food security remains elusive. But it involves many variables– climate, soil, location, sun exposure,...
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Using Data to Protect Food Systems from Climate Impacts
June 8, 2023
The International Science Reserve convened an expert panel to talk about the role of data in preparing for and responding to potential food system crises. Published June 8, 2023 By ISR Staff The world has enough food to feed everyone, yet the World Food Programme estimates that 345 million people around the world remain acutely food insecure in 2023. Potentially further escalating this inequity, climate shocks are increasing the risks to agricultural yields. Heavy rainfall, droughts, and...
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Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists
June 6, 2023
The Blavatnik Awards for Young Scientists seek to identify and honor exceptional young scientists and engineers 42 years of age and younger. Honorees are selected based on the quality, novelty, and impact of their research and their potential for further significant contributions to science. For previous issues of awardee papers, see Ann NY Acad Sci (2012) 1260 and Ann NY Acad Sci (2013) 1293. Or click https://nyaspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1749-6632.blavatnik-awards.
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Urban Gardens Innovation Challenge in Rwanda, sponsored by Clifford Chance
March 10, 2023
With more than 500 participants, the Urban Gardens Innovation Challenge was a great success. Published March 10, 2023 By David Freeman https://vimeo.com/815640290 With the participation of 547 students in 118 teams, the Urban Gardens Innovation Challenge organized in Rwanda by The New York Academy of Sciences in partnership with Association Mwana Ukundwa (AMU) has been a great success. Sponsored by the Clifford Chance Cornerstone Initiative, the Spring 2022 competition tasked students aged 13-17 from Kigali,...
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The Year in Ecology and Conservation Biology
March 6, 2023
Published since 2008, this series includes scholarly review articles in ecology and conservation biology. The series is currently edited by Richard Ostfeld (Cary Institute) and Allison Power (Cornell). Articles include Un-yielding: Evidence for the agriculture transformation we need; Herbivores in Arctic ecosystems: Effects of climate change and implications for carbon and nutrient cycling; From island biogeography to landscape and metacommunity ecology: A macroecological perspective of bat communities; Prioritizing actions: spatial action maps for conservation; and,...
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Tata Sons and New York Academy of Sciences Announce Prize to Honour Scientists in India
January 4, 2023
The Tata Transformation Prize will recognize Indian scientists for research to solve societal needs and promote economic competitiveness Mumbai, India | 4 January 2023 – Tata Sons and The New York Academy of Sciences today announced the Tata Transformation Prize to recognize and support promising scientists in India who are developing innovative technological solutions to critical societal challenges. The new prize will be awarded each year to three scientists for innovations in each of three areas: food security, sustainability, and...
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Technology for More Sustainable Agriculture
December 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: "The Green Redesign" Published December 1, 2022 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Ericsson Team Members: Jiho L. (Team Lead) (Republic of Korea), Ansh T. (India), Riya K. (India), Arshroop S. (India), Aman A. (India), Rawnaq A. (Oman) Mentor: Olusola Ladokun (Nigeria) Among the 85 teams that embarked on the Green Redesign Challenge in Fall 2022, one team stood out. By improving irrigation and reducing the waste...
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An Innovative Approach to Predicting Forest Fires
December 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Fall 2022: “Forestry for a Sustainable Future” Published December 1, 2022 By Nicole Pope Sponsored by Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) Prolonged droughts, caused by climate change, have amplified the risks of forest fires around the globe– making blazes bigger, more frequent, and more intense. These fires devastate vast swathes of forests and often spread into residential areas, threatening lives and housing. Research by the University of...
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In Step with the UN on Science for Sustainable Development
November 15, 2022
How ISR can help in fast-moving crises to protect progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Published November 15, 2022 By ISR Staff For a United Nations discussion of the role of science in solving the world’s most urgent problems, the International Science Reserve (ISR) convened a panel of experts from the ISR network, across academic, private and public sectors. The recording is now available on-demand (viewing instructions below). The panel was moderated by Mila Rosenthal,...
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Scientists Hunt for Clues to Post-Wildfire Recovery in Argentina
September 23, 2022
In August, wildfires left lasting economic damage while scorching forests and pastureland. Published September 23, 2022 By ISR Staff In August, wildfires ripped through the Córdoba Province in central Argentina, leaving economic damage and scorched forests and pastureland in its wake. Argentina is no stranger to wildfires, but climate change is making the fires more frequent, widespread and complex – and the impacts of drought and fires are stretching across borders. After thousands of acres in northern...
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Meeting Electricity Needs in the Philippines
July 1, 2022
Winners of the Junior Academy Innovation Challenge Spring 2022: "Flexible Use of Electricity" Published July 1, 2022 By Roger Torda Team Members: Abhi G. (Team Lead) (India), Marianne I. (Philippines), Shreya J. (Canada), Angel I. (Philippines), Elijah U. (Nigeria) Mentor: Muhammad Mahad Malik (Pakistan) For this Junior Academy challenge on Flexible Use of Electricity, the five Power On team members chose to address a thorny issue: the energy deficit in the Philippines, where electricity demand...
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The ISR and Traditional Environmental Stewardship
May 11, 2022
The ISR is designed to mobilize and use different kinds of knowledge from across borders, sectors, and disciplines. Published May 11, 2022 By Nicholas B. Dirks Crossing the streams has always been part of my academic career. As a historian and cultural anthropologist, my own research and writing has been rooted in the value of interdisciplinary thought. I have been fortunate to draw together insights from colleagues who largely work in separate if contiguous worlds....
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Assessing Fire Risk and Preparedness
January 11, 2022
We’ve faced unimaginable difficulties in public health since 2020, but the pandemic isn’t the only crisis confronting communities across the globe. Published January 11, 2022 By ISR Staff Although wildfires have been ravaging countries around the world for the last decade, many have recently seen their worst blazes in generations. In 2020, Colorado and California made global headlines for recording their largest wildfires in history, collectively burning through almost 5 million acres of land. In a report from...
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Raising Awareness about Water Quality in Ukraine
December 15, 2021
Meet Sea Saviors, the winning team of the Fall 2021 Junior Academy Challenge "Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems.” Published December 15, 2021 By Roger Torda In the fall of 2021, six budding scientists entered the Junior Academy Challenge and teamed up online to address eutrophication in the Black Sea area and the Dnieper River that runs across Ukraine. Team members were Anzhelika-Mariia H. (Team Lead) (Ukraine), Kusum S. (Nepal), Aman Kumar F. (India), Manan P. (India),...
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Promoting the Magic of Compost Worms
December 8, 2021
Sashti Balasundaram is a soil expert and worm lover who strives to grow better plants, vegetables, and flowers. The educator and entrepreneur shares his stories about composting and microorganisms. Published December 8, 2021 By Roger Torda Sashti Balasundaram at work in Manhattan’s Riverside Park. “It was magical when I saw food scraps break down in a worm bin,” recalls Sashti Balasundaram. “I thought to myself, worms are amazing.” Sashti is a Master Composter, which means...
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Climate Change and Collective Action: The Knowledge Resistance Problem
June 29, 2021
Unlike the pandemic, the impact of climate change has always been a much tougher sell. Published June 29, 2021 By Nicholas B. Dirks June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season and already tropical storms Ana, Bill and Claudette have made their respective debuts. And while summer has only just officially started, early hot dry conditions in Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and New Mexico are exacerbating enormous wildfires putting a strain on local first...
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Ditching Fossil Fuels in Favor of Renewable Energy
May 18, 2021
An energy expert discusses his thoughts on the future of energy in America, the importance of community engagement, and future smart grid technologies that could truly re-shape the global economy. Published May 18, 2021 By Marvin Cummings Jr., PhD Image courtesy of bilanol via stock.adobe.com. Martin Keller, PhD, director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and president of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, which operates NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy, has a...
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The Economic Imperative for Better Battery Technology
May 13, 2021
A married research duo are studying ways to better predict the feasibility and potential economic benefits of adopting battery technologies for renewable energy. Published May 13, 2021 By Roger Torda (Left to Right) Graham Elliott and Shirley Meng at the 2019 Blavatnik National Awards Ceremony at the American Museum of Natural History What can we learn from a marriage of physical and social sciences? Materials scientist and Blavatnik National Awards for Young Scientists Finalist (2018,...
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Advancing Science of the Global Public Good
August 12, 2020
Teams, made up of 28 students from 11 countries, win international challenges in Space Exploration, Smart Technology for Home and Health, Cybersecurity, Sustainable Transportation, and the battle against COVID-19. Published August 12, 2020 By Roger Torda Five international teams made up of 28 students from 11 countries have demonstrated they can solve challenges that vex the most experienced scientists and engineers. The students are among more than a thousand that competed in 2020 Challenges run...
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The Impact of Climate Change in Agriculture
May 1, 2020
Scientists are searching for ways to develop long-term sustainable food production systems, while preserving fragile eco-systems. Published May 1, 2020 By Alan Dove, PhD Image courtesy of The New York Academy of Sciences Magazine, Spring 2020 What should we eat? This fundamental question has bedeviled humanity throughout our history, spurring a series of urgent, society-changing innovations. For centuries, agriculture changed little, from the hunter-gatherer tribes who lived off the limited bounty of subsistence farming and...
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Tackling Climate Change One City at a Time
February 22, 2019
We caught up with New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) member Michael Oppenheimer to discuss the importance of sound science informing effective policy. Published February 22, 2019 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard Michael Oppenheimer, PhD It will take more than a village — even when that “village” is the size of New York City — to find solutions to climate change, but that hasn’t deterred the New York City Panel on...
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The Need for Sustainable Development in Outer Space
December 1, 2018
2019 not only marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landings, but we’ll also see the first fleet of “space taxis” deployed. Published December 1, 2018 By Jennifer L. Costley, PhD Image courtesy of Ivan via stock.adobe.com. Recently, Vice President Pence laid out an ambitious plan to establish a new military “Space Force” as soon as 2020. NASA has already outlined its plans to send humans to Mars in the 2030s. Private companies like Boeing,...
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Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment
August 13, 2018
Amy Pruden's research examines the spread of antibiotic resistance, a major public health and environmental concern. Amy Pruden, PhD Published August 13, 2018 By Marie Gentile, Mandy Carr, and Richard Birchard The spread of antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern, prompting a movement to reduce their use in food animal production, and prevent resistance buildup in people and the environment. Amy Pruden, PhD, the W. Thomas Rice Professor in the Department of Civil...
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Green is the New Black in Sustainable Fashion
June 1, 2018
Textile waste has been on the rise in recent years because of “fast fashion” trends. Companies are exploring ways to recycle these otherwise discarded materials. Published June 1, 2018 By Mandy Carr Image courtesy of Hilda Weges via stock.adobe.com. How much stuff do you have in your closet? If you’re like most people, it’s way too much and with clothing you probably seldom wear. According to Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain, Americans purchase five times...
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Scientists Step into New Roles to End Poverty
June 1, 2018
Scientists from across the globe are teaming up to lessen poverty and advance sustainability to make the world a better place for the next generation. Published June 1, 2018 By Charles Ward Image courtesy of Liudmyla via stock.adobe.com. Based on aerodynamic laws bumblebees should not be able to fly, and yet they do. Similarly if past lessons of human history are reliable guides to future performance, ambitious global commitments to address poverty, inequality and sustainable...
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A Need for Sustainable Urban Ecosystems in the Future
May 1, 2018
Imagine an “Intellicity,” where neural networks ensure everything works together. Published May 1, 2018 By Lori Greene Today’s students will be the inhabitants of tomorrow’s cities, so they want more sustainable ways of living and working in urban ecosystems. That was the premise behind United Technologies’ Future of Buildings Innovation Challenge. This event was created by The New York Academy of Sciences and launched in September 2017. Fifty-two teams of students 13 to 18 years...
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Tales in New Urban Sustainability
May 1, 2018
From global data-sharing efforts to local educational campaigns, new urban sustainability projects are shaping the cities of a greener future. Published May 1, 2018 By Alan Dove, PhD In 1900, about 13 percent of the world's population lived in cities. Today, well over half of it does, and that proportion continues to grow. Cities now account for three-fourths of global gross domestic product, and about the same fraction of human-generated carbon emissions. Because they concentrate...
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Cultivating Better Health with Science
May 1, 2018
Researchers across the globe are doing their part to both fuel and sustain a healthy planet. Published May 1, 2018 By Hallie Kapner Patrick Schnable To the untrained eye, the black dots speckling the corn leaves in the greenhouses at Iowa State University’s Plant Sciences Institute could be anything — blight, mold, rot. But to Patrick Schnable, the Institute’s director and the C.F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor and Iowa Corn Endowed Chair in Genetics at ISU,...
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Tech’s Messy Challenge: Finding the Rx for Global E-Waste
May 1, 2018
The components that were state-of-the-art two years ago are now obsolete in today's world. Published May 1, 2018 By Charles Cooper In the decade following the debut of the first iPhone in 2007, Apple has released 18 different models of its iconic smartphone, some major, some minor — all designed with the idea of appealing to buyers thirsting for the latest and the greatest technology from Silicon Valley’s most iconic brand. That’s the way our...
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Two New York Startup Companies Envision a Waste-Free Future
October 1, 2017
Bringing bold, transformative technologies from the lab into the world. Published October 1, 2017 By Hallie Kapner Small companies throughout New York State are bringing bold, transformative technologies from the lab into the world thanks to support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). Together with The New York Academy of Sciences, NYSERDA is supporting visionary early-stage startups through proof-of-concept centers that foster the growth and development of clean tech businesses. The...
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Sustainable Development for a Better Tomorrow
May 1, 2017
The New York Academy of Sciences supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, focused on issues like poverty, human rights and sustainability. Published May 1, 2017 By Hallie Kapner United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon gives the opening remarks at the Sustainable Development Goals Summit As Ban Ki-moon stepped up to a podium at the New York Academy of Sciences Summit on Science and Technology Enablement for the Sustainable Development Goals on November 29, he...
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How a Small Redesign Can Lead to Big Savings
March 29, 2017
With the help of PowerBridgeNY, the HIGHEST Transformers company aims for cleaner, safer electrical technology that could save billions of dollars a year. Published March 29, 2017 By Marie Gentile and Robert Birchard What if one component of the electrical grid could be redesigned to be safer and more environmentally-friendly, plus save the United States billions of dollars each year? Engineers-turned-entrepreneurs Saeed Jazebi, PhD, and Francisco de Leon, PhD, from the New York University Tandon...
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Promoting Clean Energy in New York
July 1, 2015
Board members provide strategic advice to three clean energy proof-of-concept centers. Published July 1, 2015 By Diana Friedman The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) held the annual Advisory Board Meeting for its clean energy proof-of-concept centers (POCCs) on January 28 at the Academy. Now in their third year of operation, the POCCs run programming to help inventors and scientists turn their high-tech, clean energy ideas into successful businesses by going through...
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The Net Zero Energy Buildings of Tomorrow, Today
March 1, 2011
With advances in engineering and energy procurement, the possibility of net zero energy buildings is more fruitful than ever. Published March 1, 2011 By Jamie Kass Image courtesy of 安琦王 via stock.adobe.com. The green building community has made significant progress in designing and constructing energy neutral or ‘net-zero energy buildings’ (nZEBs), but these buildings are rare and are generally relatively low-intensity-use structures under 15,000 square feet. Now the community is developing strategies to scale up...
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Partnering on Clean Tech Leadership Forum
May 11, 2010
An Academy event, in collaboration with the Knowledge Economy Institute, assembles high-level clean technology stakeholders at the New York Stock Exchange. Published May 11, 2010 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Koonsiri via stock.adobe.com. What will it take to build a new generation of high-growth entrepreneurial R&D businesses working at the bio-clean technology interface to produce jobs and solutions for global problems? That was the question at hand when staff with The New York...
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A New Way of Funding Sustainable Urban Development
March 8, 2010
To accommodate a growing world population, while conserving resources and providing for quality of life, cities must find sustainable ways to continue providing clean water, transportation, energy, and waste disposal. Published March 8, 2010 By Catherine Zandonella Image courtesy of manfredxy via stock.adobe.com. More than three billion people live in cities worldwide, and experts predict that number could grow to five billion by 2025. One billion of those urban dwellers lack basic services and infrastructure....
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New Solutions to Global Issues in Water and Health
January 12, 2010
Water is essential to life, but water scarcity is a serious issue across the globe. From the social to the economic to the political, learn more about efforts to advance public health by improving clean water accessibility. Published January 12, 2010 By Chris Williams Image courtesy of niphon via stock.adobe.com. Ensuring that people have access to sufficient supplies of clean water has become one of the great challenges of the 21st century. Demand for water...
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Corporate Responsibility and a Greener Future
September 1, 2009
Nobel Laureate and Academy Governor R.K. Pachauri says business must take the lead in promoting a more sustainable future across the globe. Published September 1, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Rajendra K. Pachauri. Image courtesy of Nick Sundt/U.S. Climate Change Science Program/U.S. Department of Commerce via Wikimedia Commons. Rajendra K. Pachauri stepped into the global green spotlight in 2007 when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...
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A Case for Clean Technology in New York
May 30, 2009
Examining the state's clearest strengths and most promising prospects for commercializing the technology today that will create tomorrow's cleantech economy. Published May 30, 2009 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of hit1912 via stock.adobe.com. Over the past two years, in collaboration with the New York State Foundation for Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy) has been leading...
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Using Hydropower to Empower Sustainable Communities
May 1, 2007
Academy member Trey Taylor, co-founder and president of Verdant Power, believes that underwater turbines that convert flowing water into electricity augur the future of energy production. Published May 1, 2007 By Adelle Caravanos Roosevelt Island. Image courtesy of Tierney via stock.adobe.com. Trey Taylor is in the business of sharing ideas. The co-founder and president of Verdant Power, LLC, a sustainable energy company, has built a career around assessing market forces, bringing together the best and...
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A Scientific Perspective on the Challenges of Climate
May 1, 2007
With the threat and potential impact of climate change becoming increasingly clear, scientists and researchers are shifting their focus to try to mitigate the inevitable. Published May 1, 2007 By Alan Dove, PhD Image courtesy of ImageBank4U via stock.adobe.com. Climate change may be the most media-unfriendly topic scientists have ever studied. It focuses on phenomena that are so gradual and insidious that they are virtually impossible to film; its conclusions reveal the terribly disturbing truth...
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Mixed Greens: The New Color of the Skyline
May 1, 2007
From the "place-specific language" of architecture and "Archi-Neering" to vertical urban design and rooftop gardens, the sky's the limit for today's skyscrapers. Published May 1, 2007 By Laura Buchholz Image courtesy of elena_suvorova via stock.adobe.com. One of New York City’s first officially green office towers, 7 World Trade Center, the new home for The New York Academy of Sciences (the Academy), has the distinction of having earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold...
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The Dire Climate Change Wakeup Call
September 6, 2006
British climate change expert James Lovelock says Earth is under a more dire threat than even most environmentalists imagine. Published September 6, 2006 By Adrienne J. Burke Image courtesy of Leonid via stock.adobe.com. British climate change expert James Lovelock says Earth is under a more dire threat than even most environmentalists imagine. He spoke with the Academy prior to his lecture on September 7, 2005, where he’ll discuss his new book, The Revenge of Gaia:...
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5 Tips for an Eco-Friendly Lifestyle
September 1, 2006
The author of The Big Green Apple Guide gives his advice on what New Yorkers can do to promote a more environmentally friendly lifestyle in the concrete jungle. Published September 1, 2006 By Adelle Caravanos Image courtesy of ZoomTeam via stock.adobe.com. Ben Jervey says it’s easy being green in New York City. Upon moving to Brooklyn from Vermont five years ago, Jervey searched for a comprehensive source of environmentally friendly organizations in his new neighborhood....
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Green Buildings and Water Infrastructure
July 1, 2006
As engineers, city planners, and others in the construction industry build more environmentally friendly buildings, adequate water infrastructure is becoming an important consideration. Published July 1, 2006 By Franco Montalto and Patricia Culligan The population of New York City is expected to rise by one million people over the next two decades. How will the city's aging sewer infrastructure keep up? The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System has been...
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The Environment’s Best Friend: GM or Organic?
May 1, 2006
The debate rages between the benefits of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) versus organic methods within in the realm of agriculture and nutrition. But what's the science say? Published May 1, 2006 By Lee M. Silver Image courtesy of gabort via stock.adobe.com. Pigs raised on farms are dirty, smelly animals. Shunned by Jews and Muslims for millennia, they get no respect from most other people as well. It's also not just our senses, though, that pig...
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The Environmental Impact of ‘Silent Spring’
November 4, 2005
Exploring Rachel Carson and her magnus opus which launched an environmental movement that remains strong today. Published November 4, 2005 By Fred Moreno Rachel Carson. Image via USFWS. “Ecology” derives from the Greek word for “home.” It is defined, in a general sense, as the science that focuses on the interaction of all living things with their environment. Ecology actually owes a debt to Charles Darwin and his studies of the diversity and interdependence of...
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Landfill Diversion: Created from Consumerism
October 21, 2005
Brian Jungen reconstructs everyday materials into cultural and natural wonders in a modern art show that doubles as anthropology. Or paleontology. Published October 21, 2005 By Adelle Caravanos Image courtesy of Seventyfour via stock.adobe.com. Walk into the New Museum of Contemporary Art, and you might think you’ve mistakenly stumbled into a natural history museum. After all, the first things you’ll see are three huge whale skeletons, suspended from the ceiling. Then there’s the collection of...
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Hollywood Hysteria or Scientific Reality?
March 1, 2005
Much hype is made about the impact of climate change from both sides of the ideological spectrum. But what does the actual science say? These NASA researchers break it down. Published March 1, 2005 By Sheri Fink Image courtesy of PaulShlykov via stock.adobe.com. From the cover stories of popular science magazines to the content of popular Hollywood movies, the possibility of abrupt, catastrophic climate change has stirred the public imagination. But how real is the...
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Climate Change: A Slow-Motion Tsunami
March 1, 2005
From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to developing reliable sources of renewable energy, scientists are planning for how to deal with the threats brought on by climate change. Published March 1, 2005 By Christine Van Lenten Image courtesy of Itxu via stock.adobe.com. Images of the devastation wrought by the December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean are still indelible in all our minds. Thus, that imagery suggests itself within the context of climate change, which poses...
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Paul Ehrlich: Can We Avert a Global ‘Nineveh’?
August 1, 2004
Due to human impacts on the planet, our species and the broader ecosystem may be “racing toward a miserable future.” Paul Ehrlich says we shouldn’t over-rely on technology to correct this troubling trend. Published August 1, 2004 By Christine Van Lenten Image courtesy of Proxima Studio via stock.adobe.com. Our “triumphant” species may be partying on toward the first collapse of a global civilization. By accelerating depletion of our natural capital, the interrelated trends of population...
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Carbon Sequestration on the Great Plains
June 1, 2004
While the concept of carbon sequestration might seem like a magic trick, researchers continue to advance its environmental and financial feasibility. Published June 1, 2004 By Christine Van Lenten Image courtesy of Tom via stock.adobe.com. Carbon dioxide emission dwarf in quantity all other greenhouse gases (GHGs) and exacerbate the impacts of climate change. But CO2 emissions are difficult to reduce. Chemically scrubbing them from smokestacks isn’t generally practicable, and many sources are mobile, small, and/or...
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Sprawling Cities Can Coexist with Thriving Ecosystems
January 1, 2004
Many major urban areas are constrained with the amount of green space they can provide to residents. Encouragingly, building rooftops have emerged as a solution to fill this shortfall of urban green space. Published January 1, 2004 By Peter Coles Jacob K. Javits Center - New York City. Image courtesy of demerzel21 via stock.adobe.com. The common image of cities as hot spots of crime and grime may need updating. They also can be havens of...
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A New Blueprint for Effective Green Architecture
November 1, 2003
From local sourcing of materials to utilizing renewable energy, the sustainable building design revolution has transformed the way that architects and engineers approach construction. Published November 1, 2003 By Jeffrey Penn Image courtesy of ArLawKa via stock.adobe.com. As environmental awareness spreads around the globe, the so-called “greening” of architecture has ignited a revolution in the design and construction of buildings, according to one of the nation’s leading experts in the field. “The concept of sustainable...
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A Scientific Roadmap to the Hydrogen Economy
November 1, 2003
With advances in hydrogen technology, including hydrogen-powered vehicles, we can potentially lessen our reliance on carbon-based fossil fuels. Published November 1, 2003 By Dan Van Atta Image courtesy of Pongsakorn via stock.adobe.com. Picture a world economy built around the profitable production of non-polluting and endlessly renewable energy supplies – a global society freed from the shackles of dependence on oil, coal and other carbon-based fossil fuels. Such a scenario has long been the vision, or...
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The Promise and Limitations of Carbon Capture
June 1, 2003
Advances in a new technique known as carbon capture will be critical as carbon-based energy supplies continue to be used around the world. Published June 1, 2003 By Chris Michaud Image courtesy of Leonid via stock.adobe.com. How long can earth’s carbon-based energy supplies be sustained in the face of rising global demand? Can the environmental challenges that such energy sources pose be effectively mitigated? To address these questions, Columbia University Professor Klaus S. Lackner told...
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Environmental Catastrophe or New Global Ecology?
November 1, 2002
With the population of urban areas expected to grow substantially in coming decades, researchers are pondering ways to plan with climate change in mind. Published November 1, 2002 By Margaret W. Crane Image courtesy of .shock via stock.adobe.com. In 2007, for the first time in history, the number of people living in cities will equal the number of rural dwellers, according to the most recent report of the United Nations Population Division of the Department...
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The Impact of Climate Change on Urban Environments
November 1, 2002
New York City and the tri-state region provide a unique case study for examining the impact of climate change within the context of an urban environment. Published November 1, 2002 By Margaret W. Crane Image courtesy of Aerial Film Studio via stock.adobe.com. In Alaska the average temperature has risen by 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the past 30 years, and entire villages are being forced to move inland because of rising sea levels. El Niño –...
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Reducing Mercury Pollution in NY Harbor
August 1, 2002
The Academy and a handful of local and federal entities have teamed up on a multi-year effort to lessen pollution in this vital natural asset. Published August 1, 2002 By Fred Moreno, Dan Van Atta, Jill Stolarik, and Jennifer Tang Image courtesy of Tierney via stock.adobe.com. New York harbor is a vital natural asset whose ecological health has been threatened by contamination from a host of sources since the dawn of the urban/industrial era. Despite...
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Proven Pollution Prevention Strategies in the Harbor
March 1, 2000
It will take a concerted combination of engineering, ecology, environmental science, chemistry, materials sciences, economics, and sociology to effectively clean up the NY/NJ Harbor. Published March 1, 2000 By Fred Moreno, Anne de León, and Jennifer Tang “The New York harbor is like a bathtub,” says Reid J. Lifset, a member of the Science Task Group of The New York Academy of Sciences’ (the Academy’s) Harbor Consortium. Formed in January 2000, the Consortium includes 30...
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What is the Habor Project and Why is it Important?
January 1, 2000
The overall purpose of the project is to define new ways to promote pollution prevention in the New York /New Jersey Harbor area by incorporating the analytical tools of industrial ecology. This project also emphasizes outreach and communication to arrive at concerted solutions and promotes a course of action agreed upon by a wide base of participants. Published January 1, 2000 By Merle Spiegel Image courtesy of Tierney via stock.adobe.com. What is the overall purpose of...
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Mechanical Properties and Damage Constitutive Model of Coal Under Supercritical CO2 Conditions
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How big data analytics can strengthen large‐scale food fortification and biofortification decision‐making: A scoping review
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