NCDP Perspectives

A high school intern reflects on the Columbia Climate School Showcase and its key takeaways.

Written by Michelle Rozenfeld, High School Intern at NCDP, Senior at Bergen County Academies

As a society, it is evident that we are experiencing more exceptional extremes, both environmentally and socially, than we could have previously imagined for this time in human existence. For example, the wettest day annually retains 50% more rainfall than several generations ago in the Northeast US. Socially, 1 in 11 people were affected by hunger worldwide in 2023. As much as we are learning about the planet, much of the Earth remains unknown, with only 26% of the ocean being mapped so far. These insights and examples of contemporary complexities, along with many others, were shared during the NYC Climate Week at the Columbia Climate School (CCS) showcase on Wednesday, September 25th, 2024. This event was an important opportunity for groundbreaking research to meet real-world solutions in climate science and sustainability and was led by renowned scholars in this sector. 

As a high school intern at one of the CCS centers, below are some key takeaways from this inspiring exchange of global experts and future change-makers. This began with a welcoming call-to-action from CCS Chief Academic Officer Ruth DeFries to co-create and pioneer a sustainable and equitable future. 

Earth Systems and Sustainability

CCS Professor of Climate and Co-Director of the M.S. in Climate program, Mingfang Ting, reminded us that climate research is crucial to mitigate and alleviate the worst consequences as we face the warming of our planet by 2•C. How do we envision Climate School students bridging the gaps in finance, climate science, and action? She noted that the MA in Climate and Society program provides students with foundational science and practice opportunities, empowering them to make a difference in the real world as they collaborate on solutions to address this challenge. 

Vicki Ferrini, a Senior Research Scientist at CCS, described the lack of current data on the characteristics of the sea floor. She works with the International Hydrographic Commission and invites the academic community to collaborate with the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory to make this data available to the public and enhance our understanding of the offshore environment. 

Analytics for Action

Kara Lamb, an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, integrates machine learning with earth system models to enhance climate modeling. Her research background in aerosol measurement and her pursuit of advanced methods at Columbia University reflect her commitment to improving model accuracy and accelerating impactful climate science.

Social Systems and Justice

Sheila Foster, Professor of Climate at CCS, described the work she does with the NYC Panel on Climate Change to enhance resilience in marginalized communities. She highlighted the need for rapid climate finance adaptation and energy transformation, seeing universities like Columbia as ideal for interdisciplinary collaboration to address scientific, technological, and financial challenges in climate justice.

Lisa Sachs discussed her work as Director and Research Scholar at the Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment (CCSI), where she leverages applied research to influence investment policies for sustainable development. She works on bridging financing gaps through a better understanding of stakeholder incentives and legal frameworks. The center offers executive education programs to empower leaders, collaborating with scientists to identify financial needs, and it encourages students entering governmental and legal roles to drive positive societal and environmental impact. 

The panel guided students and participants to focus on their unique contributions rather than trying to solve every challenge. By leveraging team expertise, staying open-minded, and embracing educational opportunities, students can find collaborative solutions. The panel also mentioned embracing complexity and different perspectives with a critical mindset for addressing climate change.

Catalyze Knowledge for Action

Sandra Goldmark, Associate Dean, Interdisciplinary Engagement, Columbia Climate School

Professor of Professional Practice, Barnard College, started the next session by introducing the work in various focus areas referred to as Acton Collaboratives. She started the session with the following quote that resonated with me:

“Faculty leaders are amazing artists in their own way, but in the world, they become a curator.” – Dr. Goldmark

The relevance of this statement was further highlighted in the discussion of the 5 Action Collaboratives, eloquently introduced by Sandra Goldmark and Johanna Loveccio, who is the Director of Program Design in the Office of Interdisciplinary Engagement at CCS. Dr Goldmark highlighted the three key characteristics of and ideas behind an action collaborative:

1. Leverage the breadth and depth of expertise of Columbia University
2. Curate and synergize, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts
3. Collaborate with partners beyond Columbia to augment the collaborative’s impact to “tell a stronger and greater story.”

The 5 Collaboratives are led by various Climate School faculty, and they address diverse climate change pillars that need urgent action. They incorporate educational initiatives to help train future leaders and foster other collaborations, like a food and climate certificate and the novel MS in Climate program at Columbia University. The collaboratives invite participation from the outside community in building these efforts:

1. Disasters – Jeff Schlegelmilch
2. Water – Radley Horton
3. Built Environment – Kate Orff
4. Food – Jessica Fanzo
5. Energy – Michael Burger

The Columbia Climate School Showcase highlighted the importance of collaboration across disciplines to tackle climate change. Key insights included improving climate data, using machine learning for better models, and addressing finance gaps for sustainability. Students are encouraged to leverage expertise across multiple disciplines and work together towards solutions.

Questions/points to consider after reading:

• How do I build a more holistic framework that considers social justice, the capacity to cope, and building science together? 
• How do I engage in food systems each day?
• “We need to stop things” versus “We need to create things and transition our strategies.”
• How do I relate to institutional inertia and the various aspects of it (generational, cultural, social)?
• Rather than thinking about how one person can address all challenges, think instead about what type of impact you can make. 

Final Reflections 

It is an exciting time in climate research, especially in understanding how to mitigate and alleviate the effects of climate change. From my experience, I know of many high school students like myself who are interested in creating learning opportunities to educate others on this topic. The interdisciplinary work at the Climate School, from disaster preparedness to sustainable energy solutions, has shown me the power of collaboration and the importance of tackling climate change from multiple angles. I believe there is something for everyone in the climate space, and I encourage youth to learn about anything that may be of interest; after all, niche spaces often have the most room for novel ideas! By leveraging expertise from others, staying open-minded, learning the science, and embracing the complexity of this challenge, youth will be able to work with multiple stakeholders in a way that will reorient us all to a more sustainable path. As Mingfang Ting wisely stated, “You can gain lots of hope through education.” 

Moving forward, I am eager to dive deeper into the science and policy aspects of climate change. Coupling my extracurriculars with my time as an NCDP high school intern, I plan to seek opportunities to get involved in local initiatives and stay curious about the field. I look forward to each Wednesday at NCDP, where I can collaborate on a project, learn the ins and outs of hurricane monitoring or grant proposals, or provide a youth perspective to a manuscript. Overall, the Columbia Climate School Showcase has not only deepened my understanding of the climate crisis stakeholders and systems but has also instilled in me a sense of hope and empowerment that I will carry forward as I continue my journey in the climate space.