CERC certificate_Brochure_10_7_10
- 2. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust From the Executive Director I am pleased to be writing to you about our Executive Education Program’s Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability. In 1997, the Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) created its Certificate Program in Conservation Biology. Taught by first-rate faculty from CERC’s partner organizations and distinguished private and public sector practitioners, the curriculum was anchored in conservation science and case studies that offered a holistic approach to studying the environment. Our goal then was to empower professionals to be better informed and more capable stewards of the Earth. Our goal today remains the same. We are called to fulfill it, however, with a renewed urgency as we consider the wellbeing of our planet and all its life-forms and natural resources. It is an urgency that asks each of us to regard every aspect of human activity through the lens of sustainability, which lies at the nexus of economic, environmental, social and policy considerations. The sustainability lens is more complex, and the issues more dynamic, yet arguably sustainability offers the most powerful tools to address our relationship with nature. In recognition, CERC changed the title of the “Certificate in Conservation Biology” to the Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability, incorporating the various functions that cut across sustainability such as policy, economics, finance, management, health and information technology, among others. Our program participants learn the interconnectedness of ecology, conservation, preservation, sustainability and sound economic practices and social impact. Whether you are a decision maker in the public, nonprofit or private sector, in finance or insurance, a teacher or education professional, a college or university student, an advocate, a writer, or a curious lifelong learner, CERC’s Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability, will allow you to grapple with, understand and ultimately better frame approaches to the issues of our time. You are the cornerstone of sustainability stewardship. We are deeply grateful to you for your part in building our legacy — one we seek to design for our own well-‐being and that of future generations. On behalf of the entire CERC staff, thank you. Anne Nancy Degnan
- 3. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust The Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) CERC brings together a world-renowned university, conservation organizations and an international NGO: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, the Wildlife Conservation Society, the New York Botanical Garden and the Wildlife Trust. CERC is headquartered at the Earth Institute, Columbia University. CERC has been actively involved in protecting ecosystems since its inception in 1994. CERC is a forum for global environmental leaders to emphasize the essential role of the natural world in sustainable development. Through education, training and research, CERC aims to protect biodiversity and cultivate leadership to address the ecological challenges of the 21st century. Through science-based and holistic solutions, our program participants learn to apply “green” principles in the private and public sectors. Since the program’s inception, CERC alumni have greened their careers, advocated in their communities and pursued advanced degrees. Successful completion of certificate science courses is recognized as preparation for two Columbia University graduate programs: the M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy and the M.S. in Sustainability Management. Please join CERC in advancing the work on environmental sustainability. Candidates from all professions and interests are encouraged to enroll.
- 4. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust About the Certificate Program in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability CERC’s Certificate Program provides professionals with the knowledge and tools to be effective environmental leaders and decision makers in the 21st century. It is an evening program in which environmental issues are discussed, debated and examined, where participants develop an in-depth understanding of conservation science and practice through case studies and a focus on Environmental Policy, Management and Finance. CERC’s program gives public and private sector managers the knowledge and tools to make sound decisions about business activities and policy practices that impact the environment. The Certificate offers foundational courses in the science of environmental sustainability as well as electives designed to inform specific sectors such as finance, health and water management. We offer a platform of integrated and holistic thinking on the interconnectedness of nature’s systems, including energy, water and biodiversity, focusing on real problems and solutions. We also assert that environmental sustainability can be better achieved as thinking shifts to this integrated approach, allowing us to ask the right questions and arrive at powerful, implementable and measurable solutions. CERC’s Certificate Program accommodates the working professional: • Classes from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. on the Columbia University campus in Manhattan • Courses meet once a week for five weeks • Weekend field courses are offered but not required • CERC uses a rolling admissions process • The Certificate, which grants an official transcript from Columbia University, can be done in as little as nine months or as long as three years. Twelve courses must be completed to graduate.
- 5. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Program Applications Relevance: With an increasing “green economy,” sustainability issues are progressively more important in both the public and private sectors. CERC courses offer new insights on the scientific and physical dimension of sustainability, providing a vocabulary and general background in conservation science, skills for critical analysis and tools for sustainable thinking and action. This allows professionals to have important positive “green” impacts and make sound decisions in areas such as land use management, project finance, supply chains and environmental metrics, to name a few. Flexibility: Courses are shorter in length than regular university classes. They typically run in five-week sessions with courses taking place one evening a week. To receive a certificate with an official transcript from Columbia University there is a 12-course curriculum, but anyone is welcome to register for individual classes that interest them. University Access: CERC's Executive Education provides access to Columbia University talks, workshops and networking opportunities as well as library and facility use on campus. There is also the benefit of interacting with the 350+ graduates of the program at alumni meetings as well as with sustainability leaders at the many Earth Institute events throughout the year (i.e., http://www.stateoftheplanet.org/content/video). As part of the EI, CERC works with EI’s 650 environmental scientists, managers, policy analysts, lawyers, engineers and others experts working on sustainability around the globe. Link to Other Programs: Successful completion of Certificate’s Core Science Fundamental courses will be recognized as preparation by the following graduate programs at Columbia University: • M.P.A. in Environmental Science and Policy • M.S. in Sustainability Management Who should enroll? CERC’s Certificate is ideal for candidates with a professional and/or civic interest in environmental sustainability; those interested in the science behind environmental issues and cutting-edge sustainability practices; and, managers interested in translating this knowledge into sound decision making and action. CERC’s Certificate attracts professionals across sectors, including finance, media, engineering, insurance, law, public policy/relations, art and design, architecture, health care, social development, construction and marketing. This program is an opportunity to learn firsthand about current developments in sustainability, increase your general knowledge about a specific topic or work toward your own professional development goals.
- 6. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Program Structure CERC’s Certificate in Conservation and Environmental Sustainability is awarded to participants who satisfactorily complete 12 courses (120 hours of instruction) in the program. Courses are five-weeks long, typically meet one evening per week for two hours and may include weekend workshops. Some courses may include an extra field trip off-campus; when opting for intensive field courses, you spend several days at a field site. Participants are admitted into the Certificate Program on a competitive basis. Once enrolled, you can complete the coursework in as few as 9 months or up to 3 years. You must enroll in at least two modules per semester in order to maintain standing. Courses are divided into four categories: Science Fundamentals of Environmental Sustainability 5 courses required Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability 3 courses required International Field Experiences (optional) Practical Tools 1 course required Environmental Policy, Management and Finance 3 courses required Total number of courses required to earn the CERC certificate 12 An Independent Study can be proposed by Certificate Candidates (see Course Categories).
- 7. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Course Categories Science Fundamental courses give participants a foundation in the vocabulary and basic concepts that define the field of environmental sustainability, with a focus on ecology, basic economics and policy and human ecology. These courses are pre-requisite for many of the advanced electives. Case Study courses allow participants to explore environmental conservation science in depth and examine specific taxa or scientific areas (i.e., Coral Reefs, or Conservation Genetics), habitats (i.e., Forest Ecology) or environmental concerns (i.e., Disease Ecology). International Field experiences are available, mainly in the Caribbean. Practical Tools ensure that participants receive practical, hands-on training in applied conservation skills. Offerings include field courses, independent courses, Geographic Information Systems, topography and map reading. Environmental Policy, Management and Finance (EPMF). Policy courses look at the interaction of human society and the environment, as well as the policy tools available to help promote conservation goals. Topics include — but are not limited to — law, international development, wildlife trade, local conservation and specialized courses in the management of environmental conservation. Business and finance courses focus on corporate practices and financial tools to better manage natural resources and help protect the environment. EPMF courses provide an effective combination of resources and instruments available to the public and private sectors as they move toward environmental sustainability. Independent Study. A course can be proposed and, depending on the research topic of the study, it can replace one course in any category, except Science Fundamentals. The proposed course needs to be approved by and completed with a faculty advisor.
- 8. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Course Descriptions Science Fundamental Courses Introduction to Ecology Jenna Lawrence, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, Columbia University Ecology is the study of the interaction between the living components of the earth with the environment, including the distribution and abundance of plants and animals and the impact of human activities on these distributions. Ecologists attempt to predict how changes in the environment affect ecological systems. This course first examines ecological hierarchy, from the species level through populations, communities, and ecosystems. Key ecological principles are then illustrated with applied examples ultimately providing participants the tools to evaluate environmental issues for themselves. Diversity and Conservation Christina Colon This course investigates the foundations of biological diversity. It uses genetics, evolutionary biology, and ecology to investigate the definition, location and conservation of Earth’s biological diversity. Beginning at the genetic level and working up to populations, species and ecosystems, lectures and field trips will explore the complex processes that generate biological novelty at all levels and the destructive forces that eliminate it. Participants gain the scientific background necessary to understand how humans and the earth benefit from biodiversity and the importance of its protection. Evolution: Darwin to DNA Ana Luz Porzecanski and Eugenia Naro-Maciel, American Museum of Natural History This course provides an overview of concepts of biological evolution, from pre-Darwinian attempts to describe life through modern genetic theory. It will emphasize the history of evolutionary thought and science, review the basic principles of evolutionary theory, and discuss their implications for modern life as well as state-of-the art technologies, such as genomics. Topics covered include natural selection, types of fitness and variation, speciation, reproduction and the transfer of genetic traits, the structure of DNA and a look at evolution over the long term via introductory systematics. Introduction to Environmental Policy Andrew Voros, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University This course is an introduction to the formulation of environmental policy. Topics include environmental law, environmental economics, human population growth, and public health. It explores responses to such a significant international environmental problem as biodiversity loss. The central focus is on political processes, such as how governments negotiate with each other and how international institutions can play a role in solving (or exacerbating) problems. The perspectives of a wide range of social factors will be investigated, including governments of industrial and developing countries, non-governmental organizations, scientific experts, and industry.
- 9. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Environmental Economics Urvashi Kaul, Assistant Vice President for Economic Research and Analysis at the New York City Economic Development Corporation, Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs This course provides an introduction to environmental economics, discussing the basic principles of microeconomics as they apply to environmental issues and analyzing several case studies that illustrate how economics can guide conservation practice and policy. Case Study Courses Climate and Biodiversity Shahid Naeem, CERC, Columbia University Life on Earth is often perceived as a passive player in world events, but nothing could be further from the truth. Earth’s climate, for example, has been strongly regulated by life for over 3.5 billion years, and its current change is as much a function of life on Earth as is it is of greenhouse gas emissions. This course explores the biosphere from a unique perspective, one in which climate is understood as a function of plants, animals and microorganisms. It goes beyond the conservation problems of mass extinction (e.g., the loss of polar bears and penguins) and shifting biogeography (e.g., the northern migration of species on a warmer planet) and considers how biodiversity conservation is also critical to managing and adapting to climate change. Conservation Medicine: Disease Ecology Alonso Aguirre and Peter Daszak, Wildlife Trust This course provides an overview of the principles of conservation medicine and disease ecology, with an emphasis on the effect of disease on human, wildlife and domestic animal and ecosystem health. It examines the impact of disease on biodiversity and rates of extinction, as well as the rise of emergent diseases as a result of various environmental factors. People in the Landscape Christine Padoch, New York Botanical Garden and Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez, Columbia University The course offers an overview of research into the patterns, techniques, and environmental consequences of locally developed environmental management, with an emphasis on indigenous and peasant systems in the tropics. The topics discussed in each lecture are illustrated using results from selected studies done by natural as well as social scientists. Case studies from Amazonia, Southeast Asia, and Africa will be critically examined. Approaches to Conservation: Populations Felicity Arengo, American Museum of Natural History This course explores the conservation of populations. A population is a group of interbreeding organisms that represents the level of organization at which speciation begins. The course addresses an overarching question: How many individuals does it take to make sure a population survives, so that speciation and evolution can continue? In answering the question, tools such as census methods, population viability, and the impact of animal behavior on conservation will be presented through lectures, labs and field trips.
- 10. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Behavioral Ecology Susan Elbin, New York Audubon Understanding how animals behave and interact with their environment is crucial in order to generate effective ways to protect them and their habitats. This course explores animal behavior and behavioral ecology — what these disciplines are and how they inform conservation decisions. Topics covered include: reproductive behavior, foraging behavior and animal movements and migrations. The course examines the significance of these aspects of behavior; how scientists study them; and how information about animal behavior affects conservation decisions. Finally, it explores the impacts of the choices humans make since the behavior of humans obviously has a huge impact on the natural world. . Biodiversity in the Lower Hudson Valley James Danoff-Burg, Columbia University One in every 12 Americans lives within a two-hour drive of the Hudson Valley. The chief threats to biodiversity in this valley are the same as those that threaten global biodiversity (habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, invasive species, water scarcity, pollution and contamination and climate change). Similarly, Hudson Valley conservation strategies mirror those employed worldwide, including protection, restoration and management. This course illustrates threats to biodiversity and human health, with examples of more and less successful conservation efforts. The course involves fieldwork and ends with a look at a sustainable future for the Hudson Valley and other regions. BioFuels Christine Padoch, New York Botanical Garden and Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez, Columbia University This course explores the topic of Biofuels and their impact on global energy markets and biodiversity. Among the questions to be explored: What are Biofuels and why are they so highly debated? How much land should be converted into bioenergy plantations? How are ecological services such as pollination, water purification, and erosion impacted by the change to landscapes? Case studies will focus on South American countries, including Brazil, whose agriculture is quickly being converted to sugarcane crops. Introduction to Ornithology Eric Slayton, Wildlife Conservation Society The spectacular diversity of avian forms and colors, not to mention the ability to fly, has captured people's imagination since the beginning of history. This course is an introduction to ornithology and presents an overview of adaptations for flight and life as a bird. It explores social and individual behavior used to exploit an array of different habitat types: evolutionary ecology in action! The backdrop of the course is avian conservation with a focus on insights for future protection and management of avian species and their habitats. As part of the class, participants will go birding in New York City. Case Studies-Landscape Ecology: Manhattan Island, 1609 – 2009 – 2409 Eric Sanderson, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Landscape ecology is the study of how ecosystems are distributed in space and time and the consequences of those distributions for living things. Few places have seen as many changes in ecosystem type and distribution as Manhattan Island over the last 400 years. Some of the questions addressed in this course are: What are the consequences of these changes for the plants, animals and people of Manhattan, compared to 1609, when Henry Hudson arrived in New York and ushered European development of the island, to the island we find today? How might the ecosystems and habitats of New York City change
- 11. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust over the next 400 years? This course illustrates fundamental concepts and techniques in landscape ecology and geographic analysis, using Manhattan Island’s ecological development as a case study, drawing from materials available from the WCS’s Mannahatta Project (www.wcs.org/mannahatta). Wetland Restoration and Conservation James Cervino, Pace University The conservation and restoration of wetlands re-establishes and adds important ecological and biological functions to the marine landscape, including habitat creation, protection, erosion control, hydrological conservation and the enhancement of water quality. This course provides the basics of wetland chemistry, microbial ecology and marine biology, and studies the organisms that inhabit the wetlands of New York City. The significance of wetland organisms to the greater biology and ecology of the region and the overall health of the biosphere will be examined. This intense field course offers the opportunity to visit ongoing restoration efforts at College Point, Queens, NY, to collect, analyze and study samples in a lab setting. Conservation Genetics George Amato, American Museum of Natural History and Howard Rosenbaum, WCS This course focuses on current cutting-edge case studies where noninvasive DNA sampling is employed to assess genetic threats to endangered taxa in tropical environments. It explores field-based sampling strategies, laboratory molecular methodology and analyses. Participants use this information to design a research project for a selected endangered taxon. Forest Management and Conservation Matthew Palmer, Columbia University Forests are a vitally important habitat for much of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, as sources of timber and food and for providing services such as carbon storage and water filtration. However, forests worldwide are threatened by overexploitation, conversion, climate change and invasive species. This course introduces several key issues in forest ecology and management through a local lens. On an all-day field trip to Black Rock Forest, participants will study how pathogens and other invasive species affect forest structure and function. Following the field trip, local observations will be scaled up to consider how these issues affect forest conservation on a global scale. Issues in International Freshwater Resources Management Tobias Siegfried, Water Center at The Earth Institute, Columbia University In many places of the world, freshwater resources are threatened by depletion and degradation. Adverse impacts threaten ecosystems and human well-being alike and pose a severe threat to sound economic development, especially in the drylands of the planet. The course gives an overview of the earth's hydrological cycle, discusses the major freshwater-related challenges in a complex and politically fragmented world and shows how interdisciplinary scientific approaches can be used to address these. Various international case studies will be presented for illustration. Green IT: Paradox and Practice Rajendra Bose, Manager, Research Computing Services, Columbia University The growth in the use of computing and information technology (IT) in society demands more resources and energy, yet also allows us to understand and solve environmental problems. Curiously, ten of the top twenty Newsweek 2009 rankings of the greenest big companies in America are related to computing and
- 12. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust IT. This course discusses the institutional environmental policies behind these rankings, and other metrics and measurements that link the growth of IT with environmental impacts and sustainability. The course concentrates on the topic of data centers: Google, Amazon, and WalMart are all representative of businesses that depend heavily on large data centers. Other businesses and institutions, including universities and research facilities, are also increasingly dependent on data centers, and the course describes current initiatives for green data centers and the metrics involved in those projects. Parks and People Paige West, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Barnard College In the past, much anthropological research was done in relatively remote-seeming rural areas in what has come to be called “the third world.” The people living in these areas were seen as the most appropriate subject matter for anthropology, and anthropologists were seen as the members of the academic world who could give voice to their beliefs, ideas and practices. Environmental anthropology is for the most part concerned with peoples and places that are seen by most of the world as “marginal” and “out-of-the- way.” Today, these marginal-seeming people happen to live in the most biologically diverse places left on the planet, areas that until quite recently remained relatively untouched by the expansion of capital or the movement of resource extraction operations. These are the same areas that have been targeted for protection and conservation. This course covers the role of conservation and anthropology in examining the social effects of protected areas in order to understand both the politics of conservation and the politics of academic disciplines “speaking for” nature and culture. International Field Experiences Coral Reefs Ecology: Bermuda Kaitlin Baird, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Science (BIOS) Located at the Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BIOS), this five-day field course introduces participants to the world of corals. Through lecture, field and lab work, participants learn the biology and microbiology of corals, the ecology of coral communities, anthropogenic factors that impact coral reefs and coral reef restoration and sustainability. Daily snorkeling excursions enhance the learning experience. Tropical Field Ecology: Costa Rica James Danoff-Burg, Columbia University This course introduces you to the basics of conducting field conservation ecology in the wet tropical lowland forests of northeastern Costa Rica. Participants learn the basics of ecological scientific methodology, bird census techniques, studying insect biodiversity, land management consequences and opportunities, tropical botany and forest canopy structure, and how to address some of the main issues in conservation biology. Throughout the course, we use Costa Rican organisms, ecosystems, and issues that
- 13. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust are widely applicable. Costa Rica is a world leader in conservation and we will strive to better understand how they have been so successful. Practical Tools Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for Environmental Conservation and Research Mark Becker, Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University This course teaches GIS concepts, functions and applications via hands-on training with ArcView. At the end of this course, participants will have a working familiarity with GIS data structures, data sources and major ArcView Extensions (i.e., Spatial Analyst, Network Analyst and Image Analyst). In-class projects are intended to develop understanding of how ArcView GIS can be applied to environmental research and conservation. The GIS skills developed can be readily transferable to other projects and research. Grant Writing Robin Dublin, Resourceful Results, LLC Chasing money is not what this course is about! The class will start with a discussion of how organizations effectively and poorly seek funding, then review the types of funding typically available and what funders will/will not cover. It also reviews the many common mistakes people make when applying for grants and effective research tips. In class, participants will work through a grant application point by point. Addressing Conservation Issues: Education and Outreach Robin Dublin, Resourceful Results, LLC The power of marketing and the influence of education is well known, yet conservation agencies, nonprofit organizations and companies often miss tangible opportunities to use education and outreach to directly address a conservation issue. This course will provide an overview of the field of conservation education. Participants will learn the tool that is a proven model for developing educational programs, outreach efforts and informational campaigns. Through case studies and critiques of existing programs, participants will hone their environmental marketing skills. The final project will be a new education or outreach tool that can be used by a local organization to address a current conservation issue. Participants working in conservation are encouraged to develop a tool for their current institution. Topography and Map Reading John Folchetti, Folchetti & Associates When hiking or trying to assess the environmental impact of a land use project, map-reading skills are essential. Anyone who wants to participate in a public forum, as an observer or member of a zoning or planning board, should understand topography to be able to make an informed decision about proposed projects. This course will teach participants how to read topographical maps and aerial photography. A field session in Central Park will give participants a hands-on opportunity to put their new map-reading skills into practice. Also included will be a brief overview of the uses of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications. This one-day course happens rain or shine.
- 14. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Introduction to Field Botany: Black Rock Forest Matthew Palmer, Columbia University This course provides an introduction to botany and the identification of plants in the field. Participants will become familiar with the characteristics of the major plant families of the Northeast and learn to identify several species of trees, shrubs, wildflowers and ferns. Most of the class time will be spent on field trips in and around Black Rock Forest, where participants will study plants in their natural habitat and learn some basics of plant ecology and conservation. Evening sessions will focus on the use of field guides and taxonomic keys. The course will be taught by Dr. Matthew Palmer from Columbia’s Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology. Dr. Palmer studies plant community ecology and conservation biology. Ecological Field Methods: Black Rock Forest William Schuster, Black Rock Forest This course provides hands on instruction in typical field methods used to assess ecosystem status and health, while familiarizing participants with the flora and fauna of the local region. Participants will learn techniques and use equipment for monitoring soil and water systems as well as plant and animal communities. Participants will then apply these techniques in a comparative study of forest stands in different stages of succession and/or recovery from disturbance. The course will be taught by Dr. William Schuster, executive director of the Black Rock Forest. Dr. Schuster is currently conducting long-term studies of population dynamics and carbon storage in the forest. Environmental Sustainability Policy, Management and Finance Water Resources Management John Folchetti, Folchetti & Associates Maintenance of the integrity of freshwater resources is of paramount importance to human and environmental communities worldwide. Impairment of rivers, lakes, and aquifers, while largely stabilized in much of the United States, is a growing problem in many other parts of the world. Freshwater scarcity, meanwhile, has become a severe and acute threat to human and ecological well-being in many areas, including the United States. Because freshwater stocks are effectively fixed in most areas, this latter problem is expected to grow substantially as populations change and grow. This course surveys the network of physical processes that govern the earth’s hydrologic cycle, the human impacts on certain components of that cycle and the evolution of policy-based and regulatory controls on those impacts. Public & Private Green Decision-Making John Williams, HDR Engineering, Inc. This course examines the use of multi-sector partnerships for the development of new or reprogrammed public buildings, infrastructure and other public-private “green” endeavors. This course exposes participants to a series of real projects and the public-private-partnership program management process that was used to keep large groups of development team members on track toward sustainability and successful deals. Over the course of the class, participants will see how projects can be guided from an initial genesis stage through feasibility, planning and testing, procurement and implementation to final commissioning and operations.
- 15. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Measuring and Communicating Environmental Benefits John Williams, HDR Engineering, Inc. Securing investments in sustainable strategies depends on the ability to measure and articulate the environmental, social and economic risks and benefits associated with specific initiatives. This course includes tools and processes to help public and private sector representatives in measuring and articulating the value of "green" in an objective and transparent manner. Associated with projects that involve built and natural environments, the course covers: standardization of a framework for environmental accounting; life cycle costs and analysis and Financial Return on Investment (FROI); and measurement of the triple bottom in monetary terms to reveal a Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI). Participants will create their own SROI business model based on cases presented in specific sectors. Energy and Sustainability Andrew Voros, Department of Ecology, Evolution & Environmental Biology, and Kathy Callahan, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University This course examines the evolution of issues, attitudes, and policies surrounding energy production and use through time, and provide a critical examination of current trends in consumption, production, and potential future sources of energy. Technologies, philosophies and policy approaches, as well as the current accepted thinking on the topic will be evaluated to enable participants to ask new questions and derive innovative ideas and approaches to address this prominent global issue through readings, research, and discussion. Consumption and the Environment Paige West, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Barnard College Today, much of the global environmental change that conservation works against is caused by the human consumption of natural resources. This course examines the human desire to consume and the relationship between consumptive practices and environmental change. Taking a cross-cultural approach, the course analyzes several systems of exchange and asks the following questions: What are the theories of consumption and exchange that will allow us to understand modern consumptive practices? How do things become commodities? In what ways do nation-states promote consumption? How and why have the social relations of production associated with capitalism become taken for granted and seen as natural? And most important, how can conservation organizations and activists work to curtail environmental destruction that is tied to consumption? Environment and Development Paige West, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Barnard College This course examines the social, economic and political changes associated with development as they are especially related to ecological processes. During recent years of international development, and previously within colonial structures, the social, economic, political and environmental fabric of places termed “underdeveloped” has been radically altered. This course provides an introduction to the environmental problems that arise from planned development and focuses specifically on the relationships between socioeconomic and environmental processes. It examines “development encounters” and the political economy of environmental destruction by asking why, despite much significant research, environmentally destructive development schemes continue.
- 16. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Urban Conservation Sara Aucoin, NYC Urban Park Rangers Using the NYC Urban Park Rangers and their programs as an example, this course will explore issues around urban environmental education, recreation, restoration and wildlife management. Participants will learn about the importance of public recreation space and how different stakeholders can influence how a space is utilized and managed. Ethnobotany Ina Vandebroek, New York Botanical Garden This course is an introduction to ethnobotany — the study of all mutual interrelations between plants, people and the environment — and the ways in which plants are perceived, used and managed by different societies and cultures. It examines methods of ethnobotanical study; traditional plant use and dynamic changes as a result of modernization; conservation of plants and plant knowledge; and the use and management of plants in agriculture, forestry and wildlands. Relevant policies and legislation regarding resource use, indigenous knowledge, health care, bioprospecting, intellectual property rights and research will be examined. Government in the Planning and Approval Process John Folchetti, Folchetti & Associates An understanding of how local government functions is essential to participation in any discussion of how we as humans affect our environment through development. The focus of the class will be on developing a practical understanding of how development and approvals work in New York State. Participants are introduced to: the various levels of government in New York State; how local government functions in the planning and approval process; where approvals are rendered in New York State communities; who has oversight authority and how members get their seats on local planning and zoning commissions; Home Rule; an overview of SEQRA procedures and input; what laws are significant and why; and an interactive practical exercise. At the conclusion of the course, participants will be prepared to participate from an informed position in the local planning process. A Pathway to Sustainability in Local Decision-Making. A Case Study of the Nexus Between Socioeconomic and Environmental Well-Being: Brewster, NY John Degnan, Folchetti & Associates / Former Mayor of Brewster, NY The reservoir systems of New York City supply one billion gallons of drinking water a day. The NYC watershed is the largest unfiltered water source in North America. This course offers a case study of a municipality within the watershed and its journey down the path of sustainability. Participants examine the transitions in Brewster, New York; in 10 short years Brewster has moved from being one of the worst polluters of the watershed onto a path of sustainability and environmental stewardship. Participants will be required to attend a Saturday field trip to Brewster. Conservation Law and Policy in the U.S. Lisa Garcia, Environmental Protection Agency This course will examine the law and policy of environmental conservation in the United States, with special emphasis on federal laws and regulations. Topics covered include: common law precedents; federally owned lands; the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Clean Air and Water Acts; the Endangered Species Act; protection of wetlands and freshwater aquatic resources; and recent legal and policy innovations to tackle environmental justice and climate change issues.
- 17. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Water, Ecosystems and Sustainability Michael Puma, NASA/Goddard Institute of Space Studies, Columbia University Ecosystems provide many water-related services, ranging from water supply to flood control. These hydrologic services are interrelated to other essential services (e.g., air quality, CO2 sequestration and soil generation) in dynamic and complex ways. The objective of this course is to examine these interactions in order to understand the impacts of human activities and climate change on hydrologic services. Students are asked to think critically and to use basic quantitative skills to answer questions related to sustainable development. The knowledge that students obtain from this course will ultimately allow them to make informed decisions on the sustainability of water resources. Approaches to Conservation I: Strategy & Management Jeffrey Potent, Environmental Protection Agency This survey course on the business aspects of environmental conservation will explore the emerging incorporation of environmental factors into core business decision-making. It examines several of the available management tools and how these tools are being applied within the context of key business functions. The overarching theme of the course will be to gain an understanding of an emerging strategic approach to environmental conservation that is beginning to be embraced by many businesses, both large and small. This strategic visioning is facilitating a movement beyond regulatory compliance and the generation of corporate goodwill toward sustainable business practice. Approaches to Conservation II: Workshop Jeffrey Potent, Environmental Protection Agency This course is a practicum addressing the challenges of making the transition toward corporate sustainable development. The class functions as a consulting team to a corporate client, charged with assisting the company to address an issue or apply a tool that will support sustainable business practice. The client and the general topic of the assignment are determined before the class commences. However, the team is expected to refine the charge based on preliminary research and the knowledge that the team members bring to bear. The instructor helps refine the charge, provides guidance and expects regular progress briefings. The course ends with a written and possibly an oral presentation to the client. Sustainable Investing I: Foundations Cary Krosinsky, TruCost Inc. Sustainable investing is a burgeoning investment philosophy that represents a positive methodology, one that is in sharp distinction from the previous generation of socially responsible practices, which tended to be primarily negative. Sustainable investment can also be a key driver that can help solve global inequity. This course will cover the asset classes, trends, performance analysis and metrics involved in sustainable investing. Participants will actively contribute in the creation of a model sustainable portfolio while reviewing how sustainability affects asset classes, regions and public policy. Guest speakers may include CSR/Sustainability officers from leading corporations, experts on fiduciary duty, shareholder advocacy and corporate governance, as well as fund managers and other practitioners. Sustainable Investing II: In Practice Cary Krosinsky, TruCost Inc. Sustainable investing involves finding the unique opportunities being generated from a resource- constrained and increasingly damaged world while mitigating risks to one’s portfolio from unsustainable business models and practices. This course is the second of a two part series, but it can be taken by itself, drilling down further on the financial measurement of environmental factors, including ample guest speakers. Participants who took Sustainable Investing I will take the portfolio constructed in that course
- 18. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust and look more in depth at specific issues, focusing on how sustainability can be a driver for positive outcomes within Private Equity. It will also focus on the opportunities and risks found within Alternative Energy Investment, Fixed Income, Community Investing, Microfinance, Carbon as an Asset Class, Water as an Asset Class and Water Efficiency, Energy Efficiency Financing, Ecosystems Valuation and Biodiversity. Environmental Entrepreneurship Stefan Doering, Best Coaches, Inc. Humanity, a single species, appropriates 40% of the Earth’s productivity yet a billion people live in abject poverty on less than $1 a day. Arguably, an effective way to protect and enhance Earth’s precious resources is to find better ways to address human needs. The tools of entrepreneurship can be harnessed to provide powerful solutions to both human and ecological distress. This course explores how to stimulate demand for products and services that serve both people and the planet. Participants are encouraged to come prepared with entrepreneurial ideas of their own. Environmental Intrapreneurship Stefan Doering, Best Coaches, Inc. An “intrapreneur” is defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as “A person within a large corporation who takes direct responsibility for turning an idea into a profitable finished product through assertive risk-taking and innovation.” Intrapreneurs transform creative thoughts into new, innovative products and services. They take risks and trust their potential within an organization, for the organization. This course takes two trends in the competitive marketplace — the environmental movement, one of the fastest trends in the United States today, and intrapreneurship, a key component for corporations to compete in today’s marketplace — and combines them into one concept. Participants examine the necessary components for bringing the two together to successfully build on the corporate triple bottom line: people, the planet and profits. Market-Based Approach to Conservation Richard Weihe, Karbone The purpose of this course is to introduce participants to economic market methods used to address environmental problems, such as acid rain, ozone and air quality issues and climate change. The class will cover the theory and function of large-scale market mechanisms and study specific existing markets. To further develop understanding of the potential of environmental markets, participants will explore the feasibility of applying current methods to existing environmental conditions in order to create new environmental markets.
- 19. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Course List Sorted by Columbia University Course Numbers Science Fundamentals (All 5 Required) Diversity and Conservation ENVB 0300 Introduction to Ecology ENVB 0301 Introduction to Environmental Policy ENVB 0351 Environmental Economics ENVB 0353 Evolution: Darwin to DNA ENVB 0450 Case Study Courses (2 Required) Approaches to Conservation: Populations ENVB 0302 People in the Landscape ENVB 0305 Conservation Medicine: Disease Ecology ENVB 0306 Behavioral Ecology ENVB 0308 Conservation Genetics ENVB 0317 Climate and Biodiversity ENVB 0324 Parks and People ENVB 0335 Forest Management and Conservation ENVB 0338 Case Studies-Landscape Ecology ENVB 0342 Biodiversity in the Lower Hudson Valley ENVB 0352 Issues in International Fresh Water Resources Management ENVB 0367 Green IT: Paradox and Practice ENVB 0388 Biofuels ENVB 0377 Wetland Restoration and Conservation ENVB 0382 Introduction to Ornithology ENVB 0415 International Field Experiences (Optional) Coral Reefs Ecology: Bermuda ENVB 0321 Tropical Field Ecology: Costa Rica ENVB 0430 Practical Tools (1 Required) Addressing Conservation Issues: Education & Outreach ENVB 0311 Introduction to Field Botany: Black Rock Forest ENVB 0344 Geographic Information Systems for Env. Conservation ENVB 0356 Topography and Map Reading ENVB 0365 Ecological Field Methods: Black Rock Forest ENVB 0420 Grant Writing ENVB 0492
- 20. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Environmental Sustainability Policy, Management and Finance (3 Required) Urban Conservation ENVB 0309 Approaches to Conservation II: Workshop ENVB 0314 Water Resources Management ENVB 0325 Ethnobotany ENVB 0345 Environmental Intrapreneurship ENVB 0346 Environmental Entrepreneurship ENVB 0349 Market-Based Approach to Conservation ENVB 0357 Environment and Development ENVB 0358 Conservation Law and Policy in the U.S. ENVB 0359 Approaches to Conservation I: Strategy & Management ENVB 0364 Consumption and the Environment ENVB 0370 Measuring and Communicating Environmental Benefits ENVB 0372 Government in the Planning & Approval Process ENVB 0385 Public & Private Green Decision-Making ENVB 0398 Water, Ecosystems and Sustainability ENVB 0445 A Pathway to Sustainability in Local Decision Making ENVB 0480 Energy and Sustainability ENVB 0482 Sustainable Investing: in Practice ENVB 0485 Sustainable Investing I: Foundations ENVB 0487 An Independent Study Course Project in Conservation: Independent Study ENVB 0400 An Independent Study course can be proposed and needs to be approved by and completed with a faculty advisor. Depending on the research topic of the study, it can replace one course in any category, with the exception of Science Fundamentals.
- 21. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Faculty List Alonso Aguirre CERC, Adjunct Senior Research Scientist Wildlife Trust George D. Amato CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist American Museum of Natural History Felicity Arengo CERC, Adjunct Research Scientist American Museum of Natural History Sarah Aucoin Director Urban Park Rangers Kaitlin Baird Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences Mark Becker Senior Staff Associate Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Columbia University Rajendra Bose Manager, Research Computing Services Columbia University Kathy Callahan Associate Professor of Professional Practice School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University Christina P. Colon CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist New York Botanical Garden James Danoff-Burg Associate Research Scientist Arts & Science Interdepartment, Columbia University Peter Daszak CERC, Adjunct Senior Research Scientist Wildlife Trust, President William Davis President and CEO ZE.GEN Stefan Doering President and Founder Best Coaches Inc. Robin Dublin Senior Consultant Resourceful Results LLC Susan Elbin Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University New York Audubon John Folchetti CEO and Founder Folchetti & Associates Lisa Garcia Senior Advisor on Environmental Justice Environmental Protection Agency Urvashi Kaul Adjunct Assistant Professor School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University Cary Krosinsky Vice President TruCost Inc. Jenna Lawrence Lecturer in Discipline Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University Rich Lechner Vice President, Energy and Environment IBM Shahid Naeem CERC, Director of Science Chair, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University Eugenia Naro-Maciel CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist American Museum of Natural History Christine A. Padoch CERC, Adjunct Senior Research Scientist New York Botanical Garden Matthew Palmer Lecturer in Discipline Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University
- 22. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Miguel Pinedo-Vasquez CERC, Director of International Programs Adjunct Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology (E3B), Columbia University Ana L. Porzecanski CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist American Museum of Natural History Jeffrey Potent Adjunct Professor School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University Environmental Protection Agency Michael Puma Research Scientist NASA/Goddard Institute of Space Studies Center for Climate Systems Research (CCSR), Columbia University Eric W. Sanderson CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist Wildlife Conservation Society William Schuster Adjunct Senior Research Scientist Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)- Biology Paleoenvironment Executive Director, Black Rock Forest Robin R. Sears CERC, Adjunct Associate Research Scientist Dean, The School for Field Studies Eric Slayton Project Coordinator, NY Bird Monitoring Program Wildlife Conservation Society Ina Vandebroek Adjunct Research Scientist Research Associate, Institute of Economic Botany New York Botanical Garden Andrew Voros Adjunct Research Scientist Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University Richard Weihe Managing Director Karbone John Williams Adjunct Assistant Professor School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), Columbia University
- 23. cerc.columbia.edu CERC Consortium Institutions: Columbia University, the American Museum of Natural History, The New York Botanical Garden, Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust Program Fees Please check our website for current tuition. Participants are charged a flat fee per course. CERC awards fellowships to participants who demonstrate need. If you would like to be considered for a fellowship, please fill out the fellowship application on our website. Dates and Deadlines CERC accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year, with several opportunities to enroll each semester. Note that financial support is awarded at the beginning of the semester. Applicants for fellowship are encouraged to apply early. Application Checklist Application A non-refundable $70.00 application fee Payable by check or money order to “Columbia University” An unofficial copy of your most recent transcript Current resume or CV A brief description of why you have chosen to participate in the Certificate Program (no more than 500 words) Letter of recommendation For more information, please contact: Desmond Beirne Center for Environmental Research and Conservation Earth Institute, Columbia University 10th Floor Schermerhorn Extension, 1200 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10027 Tel 212.854.0149 Fax 212.854.8188 E-mail djb2104@columbia.edu www.cerc.columbia.edu