Spring 2020 Schedule
Dear Friends,
In light of the Coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak, we are taking our programs online for the safety and health of everyone in our projects and programs. We thank everyone for being sensitive to the this difficult situation.
Now, more than ever, staying engaged through communicating with each other as a learning community is important. We will continue to share updates with you and also hold as many online discussions and gatherings as we can.
Please email [email protected] and copy [email protected] for any ideas, suggestions and concerns you have as we proceed with our online conversations.
We look forward to seeing you online!
With gratitude,
Eco Ambassador Program
April Calendar
From April to June, our Earth Institute is launching a series on Mondays & Wednesdays at 2:00PM EDT (starting April 6th) for Kindergarten to 12th grade students and educators with science experts.
Schedule & details are here: https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/03/30/ei-live-video-series-k12-education/
Eco Ambassador Program is transitioning to a new Columbia University website, and our future Working Sessions will continue to be posted / redirected from this page. Stay tuned!
PAST EVENTS
SUNDAY, MARCH 15 @ 10am
Talk on Environment News Reporting
Image: Wix.com
Chat with Sahana Ghosh, a science journalist with Mongabay India, on climate journalism. She reports on biodiversity, climate change, health and gender.
Check out the conversation:
MONDAY, MARCH 16 @ 4pm
Public Health Talk on Coronavirus
Image: Columbia University
Chat with Dr. Yanis Ben Amor (Executive Director of Center for Sustainable Development, Earth Institute, Columbia University) on the pandemic
Check out the conversation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR-meoUygGU&feature=youtu.be
TUESDAY MARCH 17 @ 4pm
Eco Ambassador Talk
Image: Ishaan Bharadwaj
Chat with Eco Ambassador Ishaan Bharadwaj will share his research on microplastics.
Check out the conversation:
WEDNESDAY MARCH 18 @ 4pm
Reflection Day
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We will review the talks we have had thus far and discuss some creative upcoming assignments!
Read (COVID-19):
https://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2020/03/13/coronavirus-educational-institutions/
Drawing Challenge:
https://www.comicsforgood.com/challenge-kids
https://www.facebook.com/WeimanKowArt/posts/497435297607195
Read (microplastics):
https://magazine.columbia.edu/article/plastic-plastic-everywhere
Join via Zoom
THURSDAY MARCH 19 @ 4pm
Eco Ambassador Talk
Image: Aalok Bhatt
Chat with Eco Ambassador Aalok Bhatt will share his initiatives on microplastics.
Check out the Conversation: https://youtu.be/gYoG0eoASc8
FRIDAY, MARCH 20 @ 4pm
Talk with Caroline Lewis, founder & senior advisor of the CLEO Institute
Image: Wix.com
CLEO's mission is to educate and promote an informed and engaged public that supports cliate action locally, regionally, nationally, and globally.
Check out the Conversation:
MONDAY, MARCH 23 @ 4pm
Talk with Sarah Pidgeon, Green Design Lab
Image: Wix.com
Sarah Pidgeon joined Solar One in 2009 and saw the growth of Green Design Lab from a small scale pilot to its current reach of over 800 schools.
She is passionate about inspiring NYC students to bring sustainability into their schools and communities. https://thegreendesignlab.org
Check out the Conversation:
TUESDAY, MARCH 24 @ 4pm
Public Speaking with Jyoti Singhvi
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MIT and Harvard educated Jyoti Singhvi is the founder of JYOTI New York, an entrepreneur and mentor with first-hand experience of overcoming challenges to take a passion from an idea to a business. Learn public speaking tips for communicating your messages!
Check out the Conversation:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 @ 4pm
Student Research by Spencer Feehan
Image: Wix.com
Spencer Feehan from Plainedge High School conducted a microplastic research using Columbia University lab under Dr. Joaquim Goes with local beachfront samples to investigate the magnitude of local plastic issue.
Check out the Conversation:
THURSDAY, MARCH 26 @ 4pm
Poetry for Climate with Nidhi Thakur
Image: Wix.com
One of our most active Eco Ambassadors (&Parent Mentor), Nidhi Thakur, who is also an Economics professor at Kean University, will lead a session on poetry for environmental issues.
Check out the Conversation:
FRIDAY, MARCH 27 @ 4pm
Art as Therapy during Pandemic & Eco Anxiety with Dr. Caroline Alexis Decosimo
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Join us for a conversation that addresses pandemic & eco anxiety with Dr.Caroline Alexis Decosimo who has been advising Center for Sustainable Development (CSD)'s Nigeria Strengthening Education in North-East Nigeria (SENSE) project.
Check out the Conversation
SATURDAY, MARCH 28 @10AM
Online Eco Radio Workshop
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Image: Facilitator Brighton Kaoma
We have rescheduled this workshop for an online version. Learn how to communicate environmental issues in effective and engaging ways!
MORE INFO HERE
Workshop Recording:
MORE TO COME!
Image: Canva.com
Please check back periodically as we will be adding more events!
See you online!
Preparation for Eco Radio: https://edforsd.org/ecoradioworkshop-covid19
Monday 3/30
FASHION & ENVIRONMENT
Jaclyn Doherty is a freshman researcher who was moved by the environmental costs of fast fashion. She is eager to explore the engineering and use of novel synthetic fabrics using plants like bamboo.
Her presentation will be about her preliminary research into this topic.
Check out the Conversation:
Friday 4/3
1ST WORKING SESSION!
We are kicking off our Eco Ambassador Working Session!
Roberta Nascimento was inspired to connect with the Eco Ambassador Program through her American Language Program at Columbia University.
She noticed the lack of a recycling program in her hometown in Brazil and wanted to get involved as an Eco Ambassador. She will share some challenges and background on the issue to bring fellow Eco Ambassadors together to ideate and support potential solutions for this challenge.
Check out the Conversation:
Tuesday 3/31
POLLUTANTS in OUR FISH
Kaitlyn DiThomas joined by Reem Hamdan, Erin Keaveney, and Joseph Devlin will share their work on using X-ray spectroscopy to examine the bioaccumulation of heavy metal pollution in commercially-sold
fish. Their 1st results from tests in January will help shape their next steps.
Checkout the Conversation:
Saturday 4/4 @ 10AM
COVID19 WITH SUBHAJOY ROY
Join for a conversation with journalist Subhajoy Roy of The Telegraph (Kolkata), who has been with this eastern India's largest circulated English daily for 10 years. He covers stories on air quality issues; civic issues like waste management, water supply, health issues and road network as well as infrastructure (traffic planning and traffic management.
He is currently covering COVID19 -related steps taken by the government and state health department.
Check out the Conversation:
Wednesday 4/1
GREEN ROOF & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Christopher Jenco will present his research and plans for installing a green roof for energy efficiency. The green roof will also be installed in his own home as we discuss further points of investigation and research for optimal usage of the green roof.
Check out the Conversation:
Tuesday 4/7
WORKING SESSION
Creative Writing with Jahnavi Bhatt
Join our Eco Ambassador and Parent Mentor Jahnavi Bhatt, who will lead us through a practical, hands-on session for a creative writing process, where we will express in writing, the various issues and topics affecting us.
Check out the Conversation:
Thursday 4/2
PHYTOREMEDIATION
Cody Kanyaro is a freshman researcher who is exploring the potential use of sunflowers for phytoremediation of polluted soil. His goal is to collect polluted soil from the Nissequogue River, assess the levels of pollution and test the capabilities of sunflowers at extracting pollutants. Cody is eager to test the specific mechanisms and areas of storage within the sunflower. His hope is to mainstream a natural and aesthetic solution to soil pollution.
Checkout the Conversation:
Thursday 4/9
6PM
WORKING SESSION
Eco Bricks!
Minseung Kim is a junior at the Lawrenceville School. She is an avid artist and enthusiastic about issues relating to sustainability. This workshop will introduce the idea of eco-bricks and present how a community project in the Dominican Republic using eco-bricks successfully helped to bring environmental awareness.
Check out the Conversation:
Thursday 4/16
@9AM EDT
As COVID19 continues to affect our lives & the world, get your health questions answered by public health experts
RSVP & DETAILS:
Friday 4/24
TBA
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