News and Events

Eban Goodstein, director of Bard's Center for Environmental Policy, outlines the progress toward and challenges to creating a sustainable economy.

Presidents and chancellors from more than 170 colleges and universities have joined together to urge President-elect Trump and the incoming Congress to accelerate progress on clean energy.

Over the weekend of December 2–4, Bard College hosted the sixth annual Northeast regional C2C Fellows Sustainability Leadership Workshop. Directed by Eban S. Goodstein, director of the Bard Center for Environmental Policy and the Bard MBA in Sustainability, the three-day workshop offers training to college students and recent graduates aspiring to become sustainability leaders in politics and business. The event drew 40 participants this year with some coming from as far away as La Crosse, Wisconsin and Austin, Texas. The weekend included sessions on how to raise money, pitch an idea, and build a professional network.
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On Wednesday, November 16, as part of its twice-monthly National Climate Seminar series, the Bard Center for Environmental Policy will host a live web discussion, “The Postelection Climate for Climate Action,” with Middlebury College professor and 350.org founder Bill McKibben. 

The growth in sales at BjornQorn, a solar-powered popcorn business started by Class of 2003 Bard graduates Bjorn Quenemoen and Jamie O'Shea, has brought the venture to a pivot point.

WalletHub interviewed Bard Center for Environmental Policy Director Eban Goodstein as part of a panel of experts featured in their 2016 study of the greenest states.

Though the Peace Corps is shutting down the Masters International program, Bard CEP will continue to offer the option to embed Peace Corps service in its masters program.

Professor Eshel discusses his research on the outsize environmental impact of beef consumption with actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio in the documentary Before the Flood.

Staff and students visited Russia last week to exchange ideas about protecting waterways as part of a grant through the Center for Civic Engagement and the Environmental and Urban Studies program.

Laurie Husted, Bard's chief sustainability officer, has been selected as the Red Hook Rotary Club's Citizen of the Year for 2016. Honored for her work as an environmentalist and community volunteer, Husted was noted for her engagement in energy efficiency projects throughout Red Hook, including the popular 10% challenge, in which Red Hook residents are encouraged to reduce their energy consumption by 10%. The 16th Annual Rotary Citizen of the Year dinner honoring Husted will take place on Tuesday, October 25, at 6:15 pm at the Red Hook Firehouse Community Room.

New York Times commentators consider the phenomenon of Marie Kondo's popular books on tidying up. Alumna Elizabeth Royte urges readers to start by buying less stuff.

Bard MBA Finance Professor Kathy Hipple and colleague Perry Goldschein look at a seemingly simple rule change requiring financial advisors to act in their clients’ best interests.

Bard researcher, alumnus, and Hudsonia director Erik Kiviat '76 has made a career out of understanding and protecting the natural environment of the Hudson Valley.

Professor Eli Dueker's new Bard Water Lab has teamed up with the Saw Kill Watershed Community and Riverkeeper to monitor water quality in the region.

Bard Sustainability Manager Laurie Husted and student researcher Jason Chang '18 talk about the new microhydro project at Bard, which last week won a $1 million New York State clean energy grant.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State will award $1 million each to Bard College, University at Buffalo, and Broome Community College as part of the “Energy to Lead Competition.” The competition was announced by the Governor in October 2015 and challenged student-led coalitions from New York colleges and universities across the state to develop plans for local clean energy projects on campus and in their communities. The announcement was made Monday at Bard College.

Student-Led Coalitions at Bard, University at Buffalo, and Broome Community College Awarded  $1 Million Each to Develop Innovative Clean Energy Projects in Their Communities

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New York State will award $1 million each to Bard College, University at Buffalo, and Broome Community College as part of the “Energy to Lead Competition.” The competition was announced by the Governor in October 2015 and challenged student-led coalitions from New York colleges and universities across the state to develop plans for local clean energy projects on campus and in their communities. The announcement was made Monday at Bard College.
 
“On behalf of the College I would like to thank the Governor’s office and NYSERDA for this important award,” said Bard College President Leon Botstein. “Innovation is at the core of Bard’s mission, and this award helps us to continue to innovate in environmental issues and energy conservation, and to signal the importance of these issues to the entire higher education community.”
 
Bard College’s “Micro Hydro for Macro Impact” project will show how novel microhydro power generators can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, be financed in different ways, and integrate into student curricula and workforce training. The project is expected to result in the avoidance of 335 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, and will also include the launch of an online public information resource, “NY Micro Hydro,” to help others install microhydro power throughout the state.
 
“The winners of this competition will transform ideas into real clean energy solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy bills and improve resiliency for campuses and their surrounding communities,” Governor Cuomo said. “I extend my congratulations to the winning students and faculty, and commend them for their commitment to combating climate change by building a cleaner and healthier environment.”
 
The Energy to Lead Competition is part of Governor Cuomo’s Reforming the Energy Vision (REV) strategy to build a clean, resilient and affordable energy system for all New Yorkers. Through REV, New York State has set the following 2030 energy targets: generate 50 percent of electricity from renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent from 1990 levels and reduce energy consumption in buildings by 23 percent from 2012 levels. Collectively, the three winning college projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking 17,000 cars off the road each year.
 
The $3 million competition was administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and was open to student-led coalitions from two- or four-year public or private colleges or universities. The competition challenged schools to develop ideas for innovative projects in energy efficiency, renewable energy or greenhouse gas emission reduction on campus, in the classroom and in surrounding communities.
 
Applicants were required to demonstrate innovation in one or more of the following areas: project design, business model, partnerships, and/or curriculum integration. They were also asked to describe the project’s impact on greenhouse gas emissions, how they would measure success and how they would use the $1 million award to advance the project. 
 
“Students bring a unique urgency, passion and creativity to the fight against climate change.” Richard Kauffman, chair of energy and finance for New York State. “As we remake our energy system in New York, we are thrilled to harness the leadership of our young people to help us do it faster, cheaper and bigger than any other state. I look forward to the next phase, when the winners will turn these strong ideas into real projects for the benefit of their colleges, their communities and the state as a whole.”
 
“New York is a national leader in developing innovative energy solutions to protect our environment and grow our economy,” John B. Rhodes, president and CEO of NYSERDA. “Congratulations to the winners and all the participants in ‘Energy to Lead’ for taking up this challenge and developing compelling ideas that not only solve critical energy issues on their campuses and communities, but that also make a point of ensuring others can learn from and replicate their success.”
 

Professor Eshel has received the fellowship for his project, "Rethinking the American Diet: Optimally Unifying Environmental and Nutritional Sciences."

Bard College was awarded two New York State Hudson River Estuary Grants as part of the $3 million in awards Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced last week for new projects to help communities improve recreation access, protect water quality, conserve open space, and increase storm resiliency in the Hudson River Estuary watershed. A $49,950 watershed grant was awarded to the Bard Office of Sustainability to conduct a study assessing the impacts of maintenance and repair, partial removal, or entire removal of the Lower Saw Kill dam. The dam on the Saw Kill Creek is a known barrier to aquatic connectivity for American eel, a Species of Greatest Conservation Need. A second $44,744 river access grant was awarded to the Bard Environmental and Urban Studies Program to support a feasibility study to explore trail repairs and boat launch options to the Tivoli South Bay shoreline trail. Both projects are affiliated with the Saw Kill Watershed Community.

Bard is among the REV Campus Challenge First Movers, a group of colleges leading sustainability efforts in a program of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.