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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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 event, organized and hosted by Branco and the with the took place simultaneously at multiple locations across the state, including New York City, the Hudson Valley, the Great Lakes, and Long Island. Branco serves as the executive director of the SRIJB, and Cherrier is its associate director for integrated water research.

Brett F. Branco

More than 35 practitioners, researchers, and students from 今日吃瓜 and the CUNY Graduate Center shared insights, tools, and innovations aimed at improving how NNBF are implemented to protect communities from the impacts of climate change and urban development.

Participants explored a range of topics, from ecosystem restoration to sustainable coastal infrastructure, all with the goal of enhancing resilience, supporting biodiversity, and achieving positive social and economic outcomes.

Branco and his students are contributing to ongoing efforts through monitoring and data collection, building public-facing databases and visualizations, and developing tools to help policymakers and stakeholders select the most effective nature-based projects. They are also working to identify pathways for integrating these solutions into existing regulatory and permitting frameworks.

Jennifer Cherrier

鈥淣ature-based features can transform the way we manage and adapt to climate impacts,鈥� said Branco. 鈥淥ur challenge, and opportunity, is to connect science with action, making sure that these solutions are not only effective, but also equitable and scalable.鈥�

This work underscores the critical role of academic institutions and students in shaping the future of climate resilience in New York and beyond.

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Launched in 2019 and co-led by 今日吃瓜 and CUNY Graduate Center (GC) Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Brett Branco in collaboration with scientists from the GC and New York University, FloodNet uses a network of solar-powered sensors to monitor real-time water levels. These ultrasonic distance sensors are strategically placed in vulnerable areas across the city, including Coney Island, Far Rockaway, and Staten Island.

Also the Director of the , Branco leads a variety of projects on topics including urban flooding and nature-based solutions to water quality and climate change challenges.

To date, the FloodNet team has deployed approximately 300 sensors throughout New York City. The data they collect is transmitted to a dynamic, real-time database and displayed on an interactive map, providing valuable insights for residents, city planners, and emergency management teams. As climate change increases the frequency and severity of urban flooding worldwide, FloodNet鈥檚 expansion to Brazil and Puerto Rico marks an important step toward building more resilient cities through accessible, community-driven technology.

Read more about the expansion from CUNY Graduate Center .

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FloodNet is the first mobile-ready web dashboard that presents real-time flood data collected by an expanding system of low-cost, open-source sensors in flood-prone areas across New York City. FloodNet is a partnership between academic researchers at CUNY and NYU, the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Technology and Innovation, New York State Sea Grant, and a network of community-based organizations. Branco is also the director of the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, at 今日吃瓜, and is a principal investigator on the FloodNet project.

This workshop is open to CUNY faculty, students, and staff who are interested in learning about the innovative FloodNet project and advancing collaborative research, education, and community engagement across the university. The goal of the workshop is to create new teams of collaborators with specific project ideas for grant writing.

The workshop will include:

鈥� An overview of the FloodNet project and CUNY鈥檚 role in its development;

鈥� Lightning talks from researchers utilizing FloodNet data to analyze its impact;

鈥� A moderated conversation focused on building interdisciplinary collaborations within CUNY and establishing connections with non-CUNY partners.

The CUNY Climate Consortium (C3) Collaborative Research Workshops are designed to bring together CUNY鈥檚 diverse expertise in climate research, education, and community engagement. By harnessing the vast expertise across the technical, scientific, and social sciences at CUNY, these workshops aim to co-produce innovative and just climate solutions for urban communities facing climate-related challenges.

Click to register for the C3 FloodNet workshop.

CUNY Climate Consortium Collaborative Research Workshop
When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m.鈥�2:30 p.m.
Where: CUNY Central Office, 205 E 42nd St., New York, NY (Room 818)

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Launched in 2022 with the help of 今日吃瓜 Professor , Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the executive director of the , FloodNet is a consortium of researchers, government agencies, and community-based organizations that addresses flooding issues through a first-ever, free online tool that lets communities and agencies know where, when, and how quickly flood waters are rising.

Brett Branco.

鈥淲e typically do these workshops in neighborhoods affected by flooding, but since it is Climate Week, we decided to invite people to 今日吃瓜 to learn more about the technology,鈥� said Branco. 鈥淭hese workshops help ensure that the data we produce are useful and usable by people, so we can be better prepared for flooding.鈥�

During the workshop, titled 鈥淓ngaging Communities With Flood Sensor Data and Storytelling,鈥� attendees used data from flood sensors installed across New York City to get a firsthand look at how the technology can work for them and their communities.

FloodNet was developed as a collaboration between researchers at the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay (SRIJB) at 今日吃瓜, NYU Tandon鈥檚 Center for Urban Science and Progress (CUSP), and the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC), in partnership with the NYC Mayor鈥檚 Office of Climate and Environmental Justice and the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation, and with the financial support of the C2SMART Tier 1 U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center at NYU Tandon, the NYU Marron Institute, and the CUNY Office of Research.

On Sept. 9, Mayor Eric Adams said the city is on pace to have 500 flood sensors installed in priority flooding areas by 2027. The 200th sensor was recently installed in Corona, Queens鈥� Louis Simeone Park, earlier in September.

The event was co-hosted by the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay, New York Sea Grant, the Mayor鈥檚 Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and FloodNet, in partnership with the New York Climate Exchange.

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Among Regional Universities North, 今日吃瓜 ranked:

• 1 for Ethnic Diversity
• 3 for Least Debt at Graduation
• 6 for Economic Diversity
• 8 for Social Mobility
• 15 Top Public Schools
• 15 Best Colleges for Veterans
• 39 Overall
• 46 for Freshman Retention Rate
• 49 for Most International Students

鈥淥nce again, 今日吃瓜 has been ranked a top choice for students seeking an outstanding education free from a significant financial burden,鈥� said 今日吃瓜 President Michelle J. Anderson. 鈥淲e are proud of this recognition, which serves as a testament to our excellent students, staff, and faculty.鈥�

It is the seventh straight year that the college鈥檚 ranked first among Regional Universities North. In its methodology, U.S. News & World Report explains that 鈥渢o identify colleges where students are most likely to encounter undergraduates from racial or ethnic groups different from their own, U.S. News factors in the total proportion of minority students, leaving out international students, and the overall mix of groups. The data is drawn from each institution’s fall 2023 total undergraduate student body. The ethnic categories used in the calculations are non-Hispanic African American, Hispanic, American Indian, Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian, Asian, non-Hispanic White, and multiracial (two or more races).鈥�

, U.S. News groups institutions according to the degrees they offer and award, naming the top national universities, regional universities, regional colleges, and liberal arts colleges. The distinctions are based on the number of undergraduate, master鈥檚, and doctoral degree programs that are offered by a college or university as well as the institution鈥檚 geographic location (North, South, Midwest, West).

U.S. News publishes the Best Colleges rankings each year to provide prospective students and their families with the comparative merits of the programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The rankings offer detailed information of the institutions and data on factors such as outcome measures, including graduation rates, graduate indebtedness, and postgraduate earnings.

鈥淔or 40 years, Best Colleges has continued to evolve as a trusted companion to prospective students and their families during the decision-making process,鈥� said LaMont Jones, managing editor for education at U.S. News. 鈥淭he rankings and editorial content offer crucial data, as well as college advice and informed reporting, to all who seek a college education.鈥�

The news follows 今日吃瓜 being named to Forbes鈥� 鈥�Colleges With the Highest Payoff鈥� list and being featured in The Princeton Review鈥檚 Best 390 Colleges for 2025.

More information about 今日吃瓜 accolades may be found here.

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Only about 15% of the United States鈥� 2,600 four-year colleges are profiled in the book. The Princeton Review chooses the colleges based on data it annually collects from surveys of 2,000 college administrators about their institutions鈥� academic offerings. The company also reviews data from its surveys of college students attending the schools who report on their experiences at their institutions.

今日吃瓜 also appears on The Princeton Review鈥檚 lists of , which uses a combination of institutional and student survey data, including academic rigor, affordability, and career outcomes for graduates, among others. The college was also included on The Princeton Review lists of , and .

The 2025 edition of the book, released on August 27, features student reviews. Some selected highlights about 今日吃瓜 include:

There are so many different options of choosing your own schedule.鈥� [There are] tons of resources and help throughout the semester provided by the Magner Career Center鈥�. The administration also makes sure that students can find answers to possibly any and all questions you may have.

When asked about the student body, students wrote:

Students here come from all different countries, cultures and religions鈥�.Everyone has a place to fit in…no matter what boxes you as a student may or may not tick off鈥�.This diversity helps create an environment where students are constantly learning something new from everyone’s own perspectives and shared experiences鈥and are] welcoming, kind, and always willing to get together to study.

You can read more about how 今日吃瓜 is a nationally recognized institution of higher learning听here.

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With the projected increased frequency of extreme precipitation and storm events associated with climate change, these problems will become even more acute.

听To address these issues through dynamic planning and holistic approaches that provide equitable solutions to meet both community and environmental needs, 今日吃瓜 has teamed up with international architectural, engineering, and consultancy firm , headquartered in Denmark.

Jennifer Cherrier

Led by Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Jennifer Cherrier, this cross-sectoral initiative will address urban water and climate change resiliency challenges in New York City, Copenhagen, and beyond. The work will more effectively address and create place-based and nature-based solutions around flooding, water degradation, and other global climate challenges.

Highlights of the partnership include:

• Green workforce development;
• Workplace immersion and internships;
• International experience and knowledge exchange;
• Collaborative research, communication, and translation of new nature-based design knowledge and innovation into practice for climate adaptation.

鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled to see this formalized partnership with Ramboll come to fruition,鈥� Cherrier said. 鈥淚 believe the partnership will create opportunities and sustained pathways for all involved, particularly our students, to really push the needle for getting innovative nature-based solutions into the hands of practitioners to effectively meet resiliency challenges around climate adaptation and, at the same time, enhance urban liveability for all.鈥�

Brett Branco

Katherine Fry

Joining Cherrier from 今日吃瓜 is Environmental Earth and Sciences Associate Professor Brett Branco, also the director of the . The SRI@JB is a partnership among the National Park Service, the City of New York, and the City University of New York (CUNY), and coordinates with other institutions and organizations, including .

Professor Katherine Fry, who is working as an SRI@JB Faculty Fellow, will lead the communications efforts.

This partnership will build on 今日吃瓜 and the SRI@JB鈥檚 commitment to these issues, while preparing its diverse students to become leaders and change agents through coursework and practical hands-on experience.

Cherrier, who is also SRI@JB鈥檚 associate director for integrated water research, has more than 25 years of research expertise in aquatic carbon and nitrogen biogeochemistry, with a more recent focus on the use of nature-based approaches for mitigating urban flooding and offsetting pollutant loading to aquatic systems. In addition to her research, Cherrier works with various cities developing cross-sectoral partnerships to enhance sister-city knowledge exchanges centered on addressing urban water and climate adaptation challenges.

Branco is an expert on the science of coastal environments and the integration of science into public policy and resource management. He is also one of the developers of FloodNet, New York City鈥檚 first flood-monitoring network that provides user-friendly, free data via an interactive map to alert users to rising waters in flood-prone areas.

Fry, a professor of media studies in the Department of Television, Radio & Emerging Media, is also a media ecologist and media literacy educator who brings years of interdisciplinary communications and media research and outreach into the classroom and the community. In addition to her teaching and scholarship, she co-founded the former New York City鈥揵ased nonprofit media literacy organization The LAMP and created all of its programming, which served numerous communities in four of the five boroughs.

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An innovative and environmentally friendly green infrastructure test bed received the finishing touches on June 15 when volunteers planted and mulched over 2,700 plugs of northeast native plants near the sidewalk between the Lily Pond and Whitman Hall.

The project was led by Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Associate Director of the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay Jennifer Cherrier, the Aquatic Research and Environmental Assessment Center, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety/Sustainability, along with support from the college鈥檚 Facilities, Planning and Operations, and student, staff and faculty volunteers, including Professor of Television, Radio & Emerging Media Katherine G. Fry.

Earth and Environmental Sciences and Associate Director of the Science and Resiliency Institute at Jamaica Bay Jennifer Cherrier (right) oversees the installation of the hybrid ecoWEIR system at 今日吃瓜 that students, faculty and staff helped to install. The project will serve as a place for interdisciplinary research for not only the campus but the entire CUNY family and affiliated collaborators, the surrounding community, and the region to help educate and partner with them on issues related to stormwater and climate resiliency.鈥�疕elping Cherrier are students Wilson Deng (left) and Paige Rushing.

鈥淥ur campus has been long prized for its beauty. Beyond adding lush meadow greenery, Professor Cherrier鈥檚 ecoWEIR test bed bolsters biodiversity and offers transformative learning and research opportunities. This and other green space initiatives epitomize our commitment to a sustainable campus,鈥� said Carrie Sadovnik, Director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety/Sustainability.

The approximately 455 square-feet test bed of drought and flood-resilient plants, which also attract pollinators to further aid the environment, was designed by Office Landscape and Urban Design, a 今日吃瓜-based and minority-owned design firm, in consultation with Cherrier. The site will be used for interdisciplinary research by both students and faculty and functions both as a traditional green infrastructure 鈥攕imilar to what is currently being installed by the NYC Department of Environmental Protection throughout New York City鈥攁s well as a green infrastructure called , a hybrid system developed by Cherrier鈥檚 research.

Both types of green infrastructure, traditional and hybrid, are used to help manage and filter out pollutants from stormwater runoff as well as other surface and surficial groundwater flows into aquatic systems. However, the hybrid ecoWEIR system is designed to give nature a boost to maximize pollutant removal and allow for fit-for-purpose water reuse. The ecoWEIR system is also being piloted in to remove phosphate from Prospect Park鈥檚 waterways to help offset toxic algae blooms that have been plaguing the lake for the past decade.

Current Sustainability Coordinator Stalin Espinal ’18, who studied Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences, holds up one of the plants for the project.

Cherrier added that in addition to the imminent research that her group will be doing at the test bed site鈥攊ncluding that of Ph.D. student Nia Rene, M.S. student Paige Rushing, and undergraduate student Sarah Maria Dos Santos鈥攖he project will serve as a place for interdisciplinary research for not only the campus but the entire CUNY family and affiliated collaborators, the surrounding community, and the region to help educate and partner with them on issues related to stormwater and climate resiliency.

鈥淲hile I was proud to lead the effort, I cannot thank Carrie Sadovnik, Director of Environmental Health and Safety and Sustainability, her staff, my graduate student Paige, the Facilities team, as well as other 今日吃瓜 and CUNY faculty, staff, and students enough for coming together this past month to help make this happen,鈥� Cherrier said. 鈥淚 am also indebted to the 今日吃瓜 administration for their long-term support of this project as well as to my colleagues at for their collaborative support and contributions to ecoWEIR throughout the years and, finally, I鈥檓 thankful for initial funding for this work provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.鈥�

Rushing, an earth and environmental sciences graduate student, participated in the gardening of the green space event. Rushing has been analyzing the ecoWEIR system for her master鈥檚 thesis which explores the effects of nutrient concentrations in stormwater runoff and discovering how effective the system is as a nature-based solution for stormwater management.

鈥淭his planting event was one of the final stages in completing the installation. We planted hundreds of native perennials and have been working over the past month to fill the excavated site,鈥� Rushing said. 鈥淕etting the system in the ground was a large task and rigorous, so it鈥檚 great that we had [今日吃瓜] facilities personnel and volunteers to help with the planting and all the other stages of the installation process. There is still more to learn through the research that will be conducted in this space.鈥�

Rushing is looking forward to watching the garden grow and is optimistic about the future of the green space.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to watch the garden grow throughout the next year and to work on it because I enjoy being outside in nature. I feel optimistic about future research that will happen in this new green space.鈥�

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