News
Tehreem Qureshi successfully presented her senior thesis at the annual Senior Thesis Poster Session on April 24th. In addition to marking this important milestone, Tehreem was also awarded the Walter C. Pitman III Award. This award "acknowledges excellence in research and presentation as expressed by the senior thesis, and allows the recipient to attend an international scientific meeting and present his/her research results." Congratulations to Tehreem on a fantastic accomplishment and recognition, and to Anson and Yelin who worked as her primary mentors on her senior thesis!…
The Columbia Climate School Office of Undergraduate Programs recently hosted its third annual Alumni Career Conversations Panel, featuring three alumni from the Sustainable Development Program (SDEV). The event offered an opportunity for current Columbia students to learn about the various sectors and future career paths open to students interested in pursuing climate and sustainability-related careers. Kayran Abasali (CC’13), Annie Evangelakos (Block) (CC’19) and Anthony Perez (CC’21) shared their diverse experiences during and after the program, including work spanning both the public and…
The Midwinter Climate Institute 2025 has just concluded, leaving behind a wave of inspiration and new resources for 500 New York City Public School (NYCPS) educators committed to integrating climate change education (CCE) into their classrooms. Held over three days—two in-person sessions at Teachers College, Columbia University, and one remote learning day—this Institute provided a collaborative space for K-12 teachers to engage with experts, exchange best practices, and explore multidisciplinary approaches to climate education. Funded by the NYC Mayor’s Office, anc co-sponsored…
On January 9, as deadly wildfires raged across the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of structures and displacing tens of thousands of residents, Columbia University hosted the first day of its Attribution Science and Climate Law Conference. Co-organized by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the Columbia Climate School, the conference brought together scientists, legal experts, policymakers and advocates to explore how advancements in climate attribution science can shape litigation, policy and governance.
Attribution science is a rapidly evolving field that…
More than 13,000 droughts spanning years have overwhelmed our planet across nearly four decades. These severe droughts are becoming hotter, longer and more devastating as our planet’s global temperature increases, new research has found.
Some of the worst drought effects appear in grassland areas — such as in eastern Australia as well as in the western United States, where Los Angeles is battling a spate of deadly and destructive wildfires. Additionally, researchers recently identified thousands of other multiyear droughts that may be overlooked on a global scale.
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Still, assessing…
As we grapple with climate change’s devastating and escalating effects, it’s logical to ask why past administrations didn’t take steps to mitigate the crisis well before it escalated. Yet one of the most compelling, if unheeded, voices of caution came from Jimmy Carter, the country’s 39th president, who passed away on December 29.
“Jimmy Carter’s recognition of the climate threat in the 1970s was in some ways prescient, but also a recognition of the sound scientific evidence that existed even at that time,” says Jason Smerdon, a professor of climate at Columbia Climate School…
The Center for Science and Society is pleased to announce four new members to our Executive Committee. These faculty members join a diverse community of researchers and scholars from across Columbia University who provide oversight on the Center's programming, fundraising, and future directors. Read More
Our group had a big week at AGU! There was lots of activity in the poster halls and many excellent sessions. Check out all of the action shots below.
Check out all of our lab presentations at AGU. They are listed below in chronological order. Come by and say hi!
MONDAY
Tehreem Qureshi, Anson H Cheung, Yelin Jiang, Jason E Smerdon
Zhaoxiangrui He, Ernesto Tejedor, Jason E Smerdon, Mathias F Vuille,…
The Columbia Climate School’s Office of Undergraduate Programs, previously known as the Undergraduate Program in Sustainable Development (SDEV), is undergoing changes that reflect the Climate School’s growing multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to sustainability.
The new Office of Undergraduate Programs will encompass all undergraduate programs administered through the Climate School, which now include a new major in Climate and Sustainability—jointly offered with the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences—and a minor in Sustainable Development. These expanded offerings…
The Columbia Climate School announces the launch of a new dual degree program with the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP). Commencing in September 2025, students enrolled in this dual degree program will receive both a Master of Science in Climate and a Master of Science in Architecture and Urban Design upon successful completion of their studies.
Addressing the climate crisis requires leaders who can synthesize knowledge and skills across different fields, and bring those perspectives together to create interdisciplinary climate solutions…
Just in time for New York City’s Climate Week, the Columbia Climate School is proud to announce a new master’s degree program: the M.S. in Climate. This is a two-year, 50-credit degree that will prepare young and mid-career professionals and future academics to be climate leaders at community, state, national and international levels. The first cohort will begin classes in fall 2025.
The new degree program expands the scope of what the Climate School can offer students, while allowing them to explore important new opportunities within the climate sector.
“The M.S. in Climate…
We hosted our second annual lab potluck (thanks for organizing Aandishah!) with an expanded group of members from the Smerdon and Seager labs. It was a nice chance to welcome the new semester and Shane with good food and some excellent frisbee skills! There was even a cameo appearance from Aandishah's kitten. We are already hungry for next year's event!
The Smerdon Climate Lab is excited to welcome Shane Russett as a new graduate student in the group! Shane joined Columbia in fall 2024 as a first-year graduate student in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He has interests in paleoclimate, hydroclimate variability and human history and will be working in collaboration with Rhiannon Stephens in the Columbia History Department.
Shane earned a B.A. in Atmospheric Science from the University of California, Berkeley in 2022. His senior honors thesis, advised by Whendee Silver, investigated soil carbon stocks…
Group members Aandishah and Ibuki are attending the 2024 CESM Tutorial at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado this week. But it hasn't been all tutorializing! They are also getting the chance to enjoy a little outdoor time and even had the chance to connect with Ari Varuolo-Clarke, a recent group alumna. It's nice to see them all in the same grid cell!