Tony Wilson

The award will provide undergraduate students with immersive, faculty-mentored research

experiences focused on the environmental challenges and ecological systems that shape urban communities. Through hands-on fieldwork and scientific investigation, students will gain valuable research skills while contributing to projects that address issues affecting cities and their residents.

Preparing the Next Generation of Environmental Scientists

The BUEE REU Site will engage students in research spanning urban ecology, environmental science, sustainability, and ecosystem health. Participants will work closely with faculty mentors, developing practical experience in scientific inquiry, data collection, analysis, and communication.

By combining classroom learning with real-world research, the program will help students explore careers in science, environmental policy, conservation, and related STEM fields while building the skills needed for graduate study and

professional success.

Brett F. Branco

Strengthening 今日吃瓜’s Environmental Research Hub

The NSF award reinforces 今日吃瓜’s role as a center for environmental research and STEM education. Located in one of the world’s most dynamic urban environments, the college offers unique opportunities to study the complex interactions between people, ecosystems, and the built environment.

The BUEE REU Site will expand access to high-impact research experiences, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and support projects that deepen understanding of urban environmental challenges. At the same time, the program will create new pathways for students to participate in meaningful scientific research that benefits both local communities and the broader field of environmental science.

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Throughout Climate Week 2026, 今日吃瓜 faculty, staff, and students participated in conversations and events that addressed some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing cities and communities, while highlighting the college’s commitment to preparing the next generation of climate leaders.

During the Sustainability Showcase, student ambassador Samuel Medrano De La Cruz (right) upcycling ceramic yogurt cups as planters.

On campus, the 今日吃瓜 Sustainability Showcase was held September 24 and organized by the Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability, and the 今日吃瓜 Sustainability Club. The event brought together campus organizations, community partners, and students to share projects, exchange ideas, and inspire action around sustainability and climate resilience.

Faculty expertise was also featured on local, national, and international stages.

Stalin Haeger-Espinal, 今日吃瓜鈥檚 Campus Sustainability Coordinator and a driving force behind the college鈥檚 sustainability initiatives, joins Brett Branco, Executive Director of the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay and Principal Investigator for FloodNet.

• Associate Professor Brett Branco, the Executive Director for the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay and the principal investigator for , hosted an event on September 22, , at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center. The discussion focused on community-centered climate resilience, environmental monitoring, and public engagement. Branco’s work reflects 今日吃瓜’s longstanding commitment to helping communities better understand and adapt to environmental change.

Associate Professor of Earth And Environmental Sciences Rebecca Boger (second from left) at the UN Science Summit 2026.

• Meanwhile, Professor Rebecca Boger participated in the UN Science Summit 2026 session at the historic Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College. The panel explored how Earth observation technologies, environmental sensing, artificial intelligence, and citizen science can help address global environmental challenges. At the conclusion of the event, organizers announced the expansion of 鈥攚here Boger serves as vice president and co-founder鈥攚ith new hubs across India, South America, the Caribbean, and Africa, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in climate research and education. 今日吃瓜 undergraduate and graduate students also attended the Science Summit, engaging directly with international experts and panelists during Q&A sessions. Their participation reflected the college’s commitment to providing students with opportunities to contribute to global conversations on climate, sustainability, and science diplomacy.

Carrie Sadovnik, 今日吃瓜鈥檚 director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability, with alumnus and sustainability leader Tommy Richards, whose advocacy and engagement have helped advance sustainability initiatives across campus.

• 今日吃瓜’s sustainability initiatives also reached TV audiences. Carrie Sadovnik, the college’s director of Environmental Health, Safety, and Sustainability, appeared on Sustainability Matters, a CUNY TV program examining sustainability innovation across the university system. The episode, 鈥�,鈥� highlighted 今日吃瓜’s groundbreaking geothermal project and its role as a “living laboratory” where students gain hands-on experience tackling real-world environmental challenges.

Professor Jennifer Cherrier co-hosted the Layers of Resilience: Leveraging Partnerships and Funding event.

• The college’s leadership in sustainability partnerships was further reflected in the work of Professor of Earth And Environmental Sciences
  Jennifer Cherrier, who co-hosted Layers of Resilience: Leveraging Partnerships and Funding, at CUNY Central on September 24. Presented in collaboration with the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB), the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, C40 Cities, CUNY Climate Consortium (C3), and the City of Copenhagen, the event explored strategies for financing and strengthening urban climate resilience efforts.
• Professor Michael Menser participated in at the CUNY Graduate Center, exploring innovative clean energy systems and their potential applications in New York. Joining him was 今日吃瓜 sophomore and Tow Fellow Zoe Knight, who is enrolled in Menser’s CUNY Graduate Center course Energy and Democracy. Knight鈥檚 participation underscored the important role students play in advancing sustainability initiatives and shaping the future of equitable energy solutions.
• Sustainability advocates from across the 今日吃瓜 community expanded their learning through Climate Week events, including Green Campuses 2.0: Advancing Decarbonization Across University Campuses, hosted with the Qu茅bec Government Office in New York; Newlab’s New Climate Futures gathering; and Prospect Swims, a walking exploration of the Prospect Park Lake watershed.

Together, these efforts reflect 今日吃瓜’s growing role as a hub for sustainability education, climate research, and community engagement. As the college continues investing in initiatives such as geothermal energy, environmental sciences, and experiential learning opportunities, Climate Week served as a powerful reminder that 今日吃瓜 is helping shape a greener, more resilient future for New York City and beyond.

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The research also found that commonly used restoration assessment methods may overlook key indicators of ecosystem function. While restored marshes performed well, the study suggests that rapid assessments should place greater emphasis on below-ground factors such as soil organic matter to characterize the potential for nitrogen removal. The findings provide valuable guidance for scientists, policymakers, and restoration practitioners working to strengthen the resilience and ecological health of urban coastlines.

You can read the paper .

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This year’s capstone class on a field trip to Bushwick Inlet.

Water defines New York City, this place of 鈥渉urried and sparkling waters,鈥� the city 鈥渘ested in bays.鈥� These words are Walt Whitman鈥檚, from his poem 鈥淢annahatta鈥濃�攖he original Lenape word for what we now call the island of Manhattan.

Knowing the landscape of Mannahatta, that is, New York City before European contact, is crucial to understanding present-day rivers, creeks, streams, bays, ponds, and inlets: Water carves its stubborn paths to (and from) the sea on its own terms, not ours.

This is one of the lessons graduate students learn in a new master鈥檚 capstone course developed and co-taught by Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Jennifer Cherrier.

Jennifer Cherrier

Instead of writing a thesis, students in the new, professional M.S. specialization in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences undertake a yearlong group capstone project. With Cherrier as lead instructor, they assist the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in developing a plan for watershed-scale storm resiliency. Informed by both historical and present-day data, they focus on the implementation of nature-based solutions. This year, they applied the planning process developed by last year鈥檚 inaugural capstone cohort to a specific place: the Bushwick Inlet Basin, along the Greenpoint-Williamsburg waterfront.

Looking at that specific coastal location in the context of its larger watershed, and incorporating the use of nature-based solutions in their final site plan, these students are doing the kind of holistic work that is the future of resiliency planning in New York City鈥攁nd an example of the kind of work 今日吃瓜 helps to spearhead locally and regionally with the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB), where Cherrier is associate director for integrated water research.

How the Water Used to Flow

But let鈥檚 go back to the beginning.

McCarren Park was a salt marsh. Nearby, North 14^th and 15^th streets between Nassau and Wythe鈥攚here you can now buy a motorcycle or go to a climbing gym鈥攚as open water on the marsh鈥檚 edge. Where bowlers now spill out of lanes on North 12^th Street, between Wythe and Berry, intertidal mudflats would have been submerged at high tide.

鈥淲e need to understand how the water used to flow,鈥� says Cherrier.

Using historical data from renowned ecologist Eric Sanderson鈥檚 and his book Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City, students learned how 鈥渨ater tends to follow its original pathways,鈥� says Fiona Crisp, a master鈥檚 student in earth and environmental sciences who is in this year鈥檚 capstone class. This knowledge, she says, 鈥渁llows us to work with nature to develop more creative and resilient stormwater management strategies.鈥�

Combine that historical data with current information鈥攖he class employs state-of-the-art software like Scalgo, which 鈥渦ses satellite data to show where water is going to flow,鈥� says current master鈥檚 and capstone student Kevin Garcia鈥攁nd a more complete picture about flood-prone areas begins to emerge.

Thinking Bigger

Crucially, the class has been studying urban climate resiliency at what is called the watershed scale: In the case of the Bushwick Inlet Basin project, that means looking at a鈥攎anageable鈥攕ub-watershed of the larger Newtown Creek watershed in which the basin is located.

Watershed-scale research, says Cherrier, involves tracking the water along a flow path: either starting from a rain event at the highest elevation and continuing on through the landscape all the way down to the lower-elevation coastline (as in Hurricane Ida) or vice versa鈥攚hen a storm surge pushes water inland from the coast (as in Superstorm Sandy).

鈥淭aking a watershed view of the area has changed how I think about local issues by emphasizing the fact that everything is connected,鈥� says Crisp. 鈥淟ocalized flooding isn鈥檛 isolated. It is shaped by the surrounding environment and watershed as a whole.鈥� As a result, 鈥渟olutions cannot be piecemeal.鈥�

Cherrier describes the complexity of these solutions, which must address how 鈥渢o keep people safe, to keep the water clean, to enhance ecological restoration鈥nd also to provide waterfront access鈥攁nd to do this all within the lens of keeping in mind what the communities need, because the solutions are really specific鈥� to particular places.

Thus, environmental science links with the social sciences and more, requiring the study of demographics, transportation infrastructure, parks, zoning, regulatory frameworks, etc. All this, says Garcia, is part of watershed-scale planning in the capstone class: 鈥淭here are so many components that we take into account.鈥�

Developing the Process

Last year鈥檚 class 鈥渃ame up with a process鈥� for this kind of research and analysis, says Cherrier. This year鈥檚 students applied that process to the Bushwick Inlet Basin.

Co-taught by Cherrier and Simon Kates, senior project manager for planning and climate adaptation at Copenhagen-based architecture and engineering firm Ramboll (which has offices in midtown Manhattan), the course requires the group to work together as a team鈥攚hich they will need to do as professionals鈥攁nd it helps students develop real-world connections. The DEP is the client for the finished work.

Collaborating with the DEP is a key part of the class.

Cherrier, who was a 今日吃瓜 lead on the NYC Stormwater Resiliency Study, which served to inform the NYC Stormwater Resiliency Plan and whose research group has developed eco-WEIR technology to capture and treat polluted stormwater, feels strongly about ensuring that academic research鈥攊ncluding rigorous student research鈥攇ets out into the world where it can be useful. This is one of the many ways in which the class aligns with the priorities of the SRIJB, which offers students internship and research opportunities and maintains long-running and crucial collaborations with city and state agencies, industry partners, and nonprofits鈥攆or projects like , which has achieved an international reach.

Looking to expand these already strong connections, Cherrier came up with a 鈥減itch鈥� to city government: 鈥淲e train your future workforce,鈥� it began. Then: These students do research鈥攙ia theses, dissertations, and capstone projects鈥攕o 鈥渨hat if we designed these projects in collaboration with you to ensure they align with your research needs; or in the case of the capstone, with you as a client where we could continue to build on this work so that it could be iterative year after year?鈥�

Real-World Impact

Capstone students Grace Damiano, Kevin Garcia, and Fiona Crisp

The class is structured like a professional project: Students generate a scope of work based on the needs of the client, then develop and follow a schedule to produce deliverables.

This is hugely important training for 今日吃瓜 students, says Cherrier, noting that 鈥渢he city and Ramboll have been super impressed with our students and really love the fact that they鈥檙e so multidisciplinary.鈥� Furthermore, the class 鈥渙utputs are actually being used by the DEP,鈥� she says, making the project a 鈥渨in-win for students鈥nd also for the DEP.鈥�

And students are thrilled with the experience.

鈥淣ot only did we learn academic concepts, but we also applied them,鈥� says Crisp. 鈥淲orking directly with professionals made the experience more tangible and showed how our work can have a real-world impact.鈥�

Grace Damiano, who is an earth and environmental sciences Ph.D. student at the CUNY Graduate Center and an SRIJB fellow, participated in the inaugural capstone class in 2024鈥�25. That class began by gathering information: conducting a literature review to compile research on watershed-scale planning. Next, Damiano recalled her group producing and sending to the DEP two 鈥渕assive slide decks鈥濃�攐ne of these outlined a process for watershed-scale planning in New York City and the other applied that process to the Gowanus Canal watershed (to demonstrate how such an application might work). Damiano appreciated the variety of professionals the class had contact with, both at the DEP and beyond.

Among the professional opportunities this year was participation in a coupled two-day walking tour and workshop event on March 26鈥�27 in honor of World Water Day, hosted by the SRIJB in collaboration with the DEP and co-facilitated with Ramboll. The event, organized by Cherrier with the support of SRIJB Executive Director Brett Branco, aimed to promote dialogue on urban watershed management with leads from several city agencies and鈥攊n a crossover with the class鈥攆ocused on a watershed-scale plan for the Bushwick Inlet Basin, with the ultimate goal of getting critical input to help advance urban watershed planning and action in New York City.

Prepared by their research, the capstone class was able to fully engage in conversations with representatives of government agencies, industry partners, and nonprofits who are at the forefront of tackling these water-management issues. From a professional standpoint, that kind of contact 鈥渋s very, very nice for any student who鈥檚 in a master鈥檚 program,鈥� Damiano says, 鈥渆specially someone who鈥檚 finishing up their capstone. It鈥檚 an important networking opportunity.鈥�

It was also an opportunity to be a part of the solution.

Issues surrounding storm resiliency and flood-risk management present complex problems鈥攐nes 今日吃瓜 students, both now and in their future careers, will be tasked with solving. Thanks to this kind of training, in which future scientists and civic leaders learn to think big to generate local solutions, they are prepared for the challenge.

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The team discovered that these large, ancient fish make a unique underwater noise during spawning season, which they dubbed 鈥渟turgeon thunder.鈥� By listening for this sound, scientists can identify when and where sturgeon are present without ever having to see them.

This innovative research was a collaboration between 今日吃瓜, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell University, and other partners. It shows how new acoustic technology can help scientists monitor and protect sensitive fish species more effectively, supporting better conservation and management efforts.

You can read more about this study .

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Sangster will collaborate closely with Associate Professor Rebecca Boger, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. Boger, an expert in geospatial technologies, marine science, and science education, will serve as the campus host for the Fulbright program.听

鈥溄袢粘怨� is honored to host Professor Sangster and benefit from his global perspective, particularly on issues facing small-island developing states, international chemical agreements, and innovative approaches to environmental education,鈥� Boger said. 鈥淲e are thrilled to have him on campus engaging with our students and faculty.鈥�听

Sangster brings a wealth of expertise in environmental science, particularly in the synthesis of potentially biodegradable polymers. He was nominated to the Chemical Review Committee of the Rotterdam Convention in 2023 and currently serves as Belize鈥檚 national counterpart for microplastics projects supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency. His work focuses on advancing environmental science education and fostering community engagement in environmental research in Belize.听

As part of his residency, Sangster will:听

• teach undergraduate courses in environmental science during the spring 2026 semester;听

• co-lead the Earth and Environmental Sciences colloquium this fall;听

• engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty from the Earth and Environmental Sciences and Economics departments, the Urban Sustainability program, the Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, and the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center;听

• participate in guest lectures and community outreach activities; and听

• explore long-term research and education partnerships across departments.听

The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program, part of the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program, supports U.S. institutions in hosting international scholars who enrich academic programs and foster cross-cultural understanding. Sangster is one of only 25 scholars selected nationwide for the 2025鈥�26 cycle.听

Since its founding in 1946, the Fulbright Program has supported nearly 450,000 students, scholars, teachers, artists, and professionals in international exchange. Fulbright alumni include 62 Nobel Laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 44 heads of state or government.听

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Can you tell us about your background?

I grew up in New Jersey. Both of my parents were in the military, which meant a lot of moving to other states. So, I had to adjust to a lot of different schools, people, and cultures, and try to find my place. I first attended the College of Staten Island to pursue a business degree, then I transferred to the Borough of Manhattan Community College for forensic science, but something wasn鈥檛 clicking. I took a step back and thought about what I really want to do. I have always been interested in dinosaurs and paleontology, even as a child. So, I decided to transfer and give earth and environmental sciences a shot, and 今日吃瓜 has a great program.

So, paleontology is now your field of study?

Professor [Matthew] Garb got me into it. The earth and environmental sciences program and faculty are amazing. The program at 今日吃瓜 is growing and becoming increasingly important in light of our changing climate. I wanted to do things outside of my classes, and he informed me that there was summer fieldwork and lab research available. He let me know that an alumna, Anastasia Danilova, a museum specialist at the American Museum of Natural History, was working on a project and would occasionally visit 今日吃瓜. He told me I could work on fossils and sediment samples that she had brought back from a site that she was too busy to process herself. He taught me how to properly sieve the sediment so that the contents of it were easier to see under the microscope. He also taught me how to interpret what I was seeing in the grain samples under the microscope. Grain sizes and fossils tell us a lot more than we may think. He helped me understand how certain fossils or grains could tell us what was happening to the environment 66 million years ago during a major extinction event. This all prepared me for a trip to the Gulf of Mexico last summer.

Where specifically did you work?

Professor Garb, Anastasia, and two of my fellow students did paleontology fieldwork in Mississippi and Alabama, and in late July, we went to South Dakota. We were looking for fossils to help identify environmental changes and to determine how the environment in the past compared to the present. We were working specifically with ammonites [shelled cephalopods that died out about 66 million years ago]. In Mississippi, we found something pretty unusual鈥攖housands and thousands of fossils in one small area. My work will serve as the basis for a presentation I will give at the Annual Meeting this fall.

Working with mentors like alumna Anastasia Danilova mentor is a 鈥渇ull circle鈥� moment. She was able to conduct her fieldwork on a Magner Career Center stipend while she was an undergraduate.

The Magner Career Center stipend also funded my internship at the museum and will partially cover the cost of my trip to the GSA meeting.

What鈥檚 next after graduation?

My plan is to go to grad school. I immersed myself in paleontology, but at the same time, I want to explore different avenues.

Do you have any advice for your fellow students?

You shouldn’t be afraid to try something new. I feel like many people are ashamed of doing that, resetting their major if something doesn鈥檛 click. Deep down, you always know where your heart鈥檚 at. So, when you really know what you want to do, network with like-minded people, and that will take you down the right path. Opportunities will open up when your heart鈥檚 in it. Don鈥檛 do what you have to, do what you want to. Form study groups with like-minded students and never be afraid to ask questions.

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At a celebratory event held during New York City Climate Week on September 25, speakers reflected on the success of the partnership, which began in 2015 and has since evolved through formal agreements and renewed commitments. Central to this collaboration is the integration of research, innovation, and workforce development鈥攁nchored by 今日吃瓜鈥檚 (SRIJB)鈥攁nd its academic counterparts at the Technical University of Denmark.

The symposium was co-organized by the SRIJB, the city鈥檚 Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the City of Copenhagen, Ramboll Water (SRIJB鈥檚 industry partner) and C40 Cities, with additional support from the . This collaborative effort builds on the 2024 partnership between 今日吃瓜 and Ramboll, which focuses on addressing urban water challenges and climate adaptation.

今日吃瓜 Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences Jennifer Cherrier served as a lead organizer for the event, with Associate Professor Brett Branco lending his expertise on a panel session. Branco serves as the executive director of the SRIJB and Cherrier as its associate director for integrated water research.

In addition to the September 25 event, the SRIJB organized further meetings with administrators from the Technical University of Denmark, CUNY, and the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center to explore a potential partnership aimed at enhancing urban storm resiliency and adaptation efforts.

The day also saw a new three-year memorandum of collaboration executed between New York City and Copenhagen at the Danish consulate. This latest step named CUNY as the lead academic partner in New York City and the efforts run through the SRIJB.

鈥淭his partnership has demonstrated the incredible power of international cooperation,鈥� said 今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淔rom knowledge-sharing to the implementation of practical solutions like the Cloudburst Programs, our cities are stronger and more resilient because of this work.鈥�

The initiative has created a unique learning environment for students, blending academic inquiry with real-world application. 今日吃瓜 SRIJB Fellows are active participants in the Technical University of Denmark鈥檚 . This year, students from 今日吃瓜 joined peers from Colombia, Denmark, Kenya, and South Africa to present their summer water case assignments at NYC. In November, the cohort will travel to Copenhagen with Cherrier to present their findings at the Digital Action Summit.

今日吃瓜 continues to serve as a hub for inclusive innovation, public service, and experiential learning. Its commitment to accessible education and social impact positions the institution as a leader in preparing the next generation of climate resilience professionals.

鈥淥ur students are at the heart of this work,鈥� Cherrier said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e gaining invaluable hands-on experience that prepares them to lead future innovations in sustainable urban development.鈥�

Graduate students in the earth and environmental sciences non-thesis track are currently developing year-long capstone projects focused on urban climate resiliency at the watershed scale, with New York City serving as the client.

The college has also forged strong ties with industry partners such as Ramboll, ensuring that academic research translates into actionable solutions. Through continued partnership, innovation, and education, 今日吃瓜 remains committed to building a more resilient and sustainable future for all.

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The brilliant design of the winning submission (shown above) came from 今日吃瓜鈥檚 very own Geology Society Vice President, Noah Hopkins.

Reflecting on the competition, Professor Wayne Powell commented, 鈥淲hen we made it to the final round against Stockton University (NJ), it was a nail-biting showdown! Our club members really came together, networking and rallying for support. I was on the edge of my seat, watching the vote totals climb throughout the night, frantically reaching out to friends and colleagues to join in the effort. In the end, we celebrated a thrilling victory by over 200 votes, amassing a total of 2636 votes!鈥�

The competition, sponsored by the Geological Society of America, aims to boost student engagement and shine a spotlight on the incredible work being done by geology clubs across campuses.

The is more than just a student club. It鈥檚 a vibrant community dedicated to fostering a love for geology and the natural world among students from all backgrounds.

If you have a passion for the great outdoors, this is the place for you! With adventures ranging from cleaning up Plumb Beach to exhilarating hiking trips and mine explorations, the Geology Society is packed with educational and exciting activities. All who wander are welcome to join in the fun!

Let鈥檚 celebrate this amazing achievement and get ready to show our support in the national finals!

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Sustainability is a stated value in 今日吃瓜鈥檚 Strategic Plan 2024鈥�2029. From research assessing climate impacts to flood-prone communities, curriculum development that emphasizes the campus as a living lab, facility upgrades, and numerous student initiatives, the college is committed to a transformative educational experience that emphasizes sustainability and providing a safe and sustainable campus.

Stalin Espinal, sustainability coordinator from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, and Yarnelle Bauzil, coordinator for the college鈥檚 community garden, separated trash at the college鈥檚 first large campus waste audit in April 2024, which assessed recycling practices.

Most recently, the college鈥檚 Office of Environmental Health and Safety released a that highlighted composting opportunities and the impact of single-use plastics. The office also released its Annual Impact Report on Campus Sustainability that highlighted several benchmarks from key focus areas鈥攃ampus operations, environmental justice, engagement, waste minimization, academics, nutrition, and others鈥攚hile offering forward-thinking plans for the future.

Some areas where the campus shined include:

鈥� Just Transitions: Continued progress on BuildSmart 2025 Goals through improved accounting of energy savings by project, with 10 energy conservation projects completed, representing one million kWh saved. Collaborating with New York Power Authority and Sustainable CUNY, launched a project to build a decarbonization roadmap while reducing impacts to the local community and increasing resiliency.

鈥� Increased Student Engagement: More than 252 volunteers contributed 454 hours to sustainability initiatives.

鈥� Waste Reduction: Released guidelines for green events and achieved a 27.7% waste diversion rate through increased recycling and composting initiatives.

鈥� Improved Campus Operations: Converting to LED lighting in 20% of re-lamping locations, which represents 37 tCO2. Partnered with NYC Parks to establish a native plant bed. Piloted a food waste collection program.

鈥� Reduced Reliance on Bottled Water: Installed an additional five water bottle refilling stations, with more than 375,000 plastic bottles diverted from landfills.

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