Environmental Consortium

8th Annual Student Summit

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On April 5, 2013, the Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities' held its 8th Annual Student Summit at Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries' Center for Environmental Innovation and Education. Nearly 60 students representing 17 different institutions gathered to hear speakers and panelists who shared their expertise with students in discussions on the expanding role of technology for communicating environmental insights to the public and policymakers. Presenters were experts from Beacon Institute, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Clearwater, NASA, Pace University, Clarkson University and The New York Times. Following presentations, students mingled with presenters and other working professionals for further inquiry into potential future environmental careers. The event concluded with optional field trips.


Following welcome remarks by Consortium Director, Michelle Land, and Timothy F. Sugrue President and Chief Executive Officer of the Beacon Institute, John Cronin, Senior Fellow at Pace University and Clarkson University delivered a keynote.	Andrew Revkin, Dot Earth blogger for the New York Times and Senior Fellow at Pace University moderated the panel discussion after sharing this post.

Panel, "Assessing Environmental Change and Building Societal Understanding." From left to right, Sage Lichtenwalner (Rutgers); Timothy Hall (NASA); Mohammad Shahidul Islam (Clarkson University); Andrew Revkin (Pace University)	Panelists and additional professionals from Cary Institute and Clearwater joined students at their tables for further discussion about the topic and their environmental careers.

Shahidul Islam, River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON)Project Manager discussed the project and the integrated network of sensors, robotics, mobile monitoring and computational technology that is being deployed across the watershed.	Dr. Lucille Lewis Johnson, professor of anthropology at Vassar College, returning with a group from a guided tour and discussion of Denning's Point's rich and historic landscape.
View of the Center for Environmental Innovation and Education with REON "B4" platform.

AGENDA

11:00 am	Student Registration & Buffet Lunch

12:00pm	Welcome Michelle D. Land Director Pace University Academy for Applied Environmental Studies Environmental Consortium of Colleges & Universities Timothy F. Sugrue President and Chief Executive Officer Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries Dean, School of Business Clarkson University

12:15 pm	Keynote - It's 12 O'Clock, Do You Know Where Your Water Has Been? John Cronin Beacon Institute Fellow Clarkson University Senior Fellow for Environmental Affairs Pace University Academy for Applied Environmental Studies

12:45pm	Panel - Assessing Environmental Change and Building Societal Understanding Andrew C. Revkin [Moderator] Dot Earth Blogger The New York Times Senior Fellow for Environmental Understanding Pace University Academy for Applied Environmental Studies “Real-Time Information” Mohammad Shahidul Islam REON Project Manager Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, Clarkson University “Analysis and Knowledge” Timothy M. Hall Senior Scientist Goddard Institute for Space Studies National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) “Communication, Visualization, and Decision-Making” Sage Lichtenwalner Research Programmer Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

1:30 pm	Q&A

1:45 pm	Networking Dessert [Panelists and other professionals, academics, and researchers will be available at different tables for continued discussion with attendees.] Policymaking & Lobbying: John Cronin, Pace University and Clarkson University Modeling Climate Data: Timothy M. Hall, NASA Engineering, Computing & Technology: Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Beacon Institute of Clarkson University Ecological Monitoring & the Community Connection: Victoria Kelly, Environmental Monitoring Program Manager, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Visualizing Data for Educational Use: Sage Lichtenwalner, Rutgers Environmental Justice: Karla Raimundi, Environmental Justice Associate, Clearwater Communication & Journalism: Andrew Revkin, The New York Times and Pace University Student Networking

2:20pm	Closing Remarks

2:30pm	Adjourn & Field Trips

OPTIONAL FIELD TRIPS

River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON):
Join Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Ph.D., REON Project Manager, to learn about the environmental sensing capabilities of a REON advanced monitoring station up close and personal. This robotic platform, along with others of similar and different design, allow for continuous monitoring of complex physical, chemical and biological parameters at points in the Hudson and Mohawk and St. Lawrence Rivers. REON is an integrated network of sensors, robotics, mobile monitoring and computational technology that is being deployed across the watershed.

Archeology and History Walk Around Denning’s Point
Join Dr. Lucille Lewis Johnson, professor of anthropology at Vassar College, for a guided tour and discussion of Denning's Point's rich and historic landscape.

Guided Museum Tour at Dia: Beacon
In May 2003, Dia Art Foundation opened Dia:Beacon, Riggio Galleries, as a museum to house its renowned permanent collection of major works of art from the 1960s to the present. Located on the Hudson River in Beacon, New York, Dia:Beacon occupies a nearly 300,000-square-foot historic printing factory.

DIRECTIONS AND TRANSPORTATION

Event Host:
Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries
of Clarkson University
Center for Environmental Innovation and Education (CEIE)
199 Dennings Avenue
Denning's Point State Park
Beacon, New York

Map and Directions: http://www.bire.org/contact/CEIEDirections.php

PARKING:
Parking is provided at the entrance gate to Denning’s Point State Park, located at the bottom of Denning’s Avenue, adjacent to Beacon Water Treatment Plant. Once you park, the trail after the gate will lead you to CEIE. It is a comfortable, flat, 10 minute walk. [See “Beacon Area Map” for visual.]

If you require handicap parking or special parking arrangements, please contact the Consortium as soon as possible with your request.

BY TRAIN:
Metro North Railroad (Hudson Line)

NYC Grand Central Terminal to Beacon
Poughkeepsie to Beacon
Amtrak from Albany (ALB) to Poughkeepsie (POU). Transfer at POU to Metro-North train to Beacon.

FROM TRAIN TO CEIE:
You have two options to get to CEIE if you take the train into Beacon.

a) WALK VIA KLARA SAUER TRAIL (formerly Beacon Riverside Trail)
There is a pleasant trail leading from Beacon Metro-North train station to Denning’s Point and CEIE. The trail is picked up on the west side of the Beacon Train Station at the end of the southern parking lot closest to the tracks. [See “Beacon Area Map” for visual.] The walk takes approximately 20-30 minutes and is about 1 mile, easy, flat terrain.

b) SHUTTLE
If you would like to reserve a seat on a shuttle from and to the Beacon Train Station, please be sure to indicate your need when you register. The Consortium will follow up with you with details and instructions.

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