The Climate School at Columbia University is committed to its goal of international education and its mission to develop and inspire knowledge-based solutions to educate future leaders, and a climate literate population, for just and prosperous societies on a healthy planet. The Earth Network: Climate Education for a Resilient Future aims to address the urgent need for climate education and empowerment through education co-development and partnerships. We convene and foster connections and collaborations amongst the existing and ongoing efforts on public and K-12, non-formal and informal climate education approaches across Columbia University and in the worldwide communities engaged by our researchers and educators. We will also take a life-long learning approach and will focus on all ages as we expand our network. In doing so, our Earth Network will help identify, map, and establish a database of ongoing and active programs, partners and collaborators, best practices, as well as developed products, resources, and tools. By sharing ideas and recognizing overlaps and gaps, Earth Network members can better co-develop and apply ideas for research and funding proposals to scale and expand our reach with policy and practice.
Coming Soon
Our Earth Network participated in a panel discussion for the 2025 Learning Planet Festival. This event highlighted innovative programs and strategies developed at Columbia University’s Climate School to advance climate education across multiple levels – from K-12 students to teachers and community organizations. Learn more and watch the session recording for Beyond Anxiety: Turning Climate Emotions into Collective Action.
Organized by Climate Education for a Resilient Future Network at the Climate School and the Center for Sustainable Development (CSD) of Climate School at Columbia University. Watch the recording of the Earth Day Virtual Panel Series
The Climate Education for a Resilient Future Network is partnering with the Secondary School Field Research Program (SSFRP) of Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) to immerses high school students, undergraduates, and science teachers in six weeks of hands-on scientific research each summer.
For more than 20 years, SSFRP has hosted approximately 50 high school students and 20 undergraduate students annually, guiding them through hands-on scientific research projects each summer. Working alongside researchers at the LDEO, participants conduct field and laboratory studies primarily focused on the Piermont Marsh, exploring topics such as wetland ecology, carbon sequestration, invasive species management, and sustainable energy innovations. SSFRP provides students and educators with a unique opportunity to engage in real-world environmental science while building advanced research and analytical skills.
This year, the Climate Education for a Resilient Future Network is supporting projects on new research questions introduced by the Food for Humanity Initiative at the Columbia Climate School, led by Michael Puma. This collaboration brings a new interdisciplinary research project to the SSFRP program, emphasizing both scientific inquiry and real-world impact.
Our goal is for students to understand:
The Climate Education for a Resilient Future Network is partnering with researcher Joaquim Goes of Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) to immerses high school students in local research on harmful algal blooms in a neighborhood park in Morningside Heights.
Joaquim Goes and the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation are studying harmful algal blooms in Morningside Park Pond to better understand how environmental conditions such as temperature, nutrient levels, sunlight, and water flow contribute to ecosystem imbalance and water quality issues. Their work explores how climate change and urban conditions can intensify algae growth and investigates possible strategies for improving freshwater ecosystem health. This particular site received city wide attention and a New York Times article was even written about the project.
Building on this research, high school students will support Dr. Goes and his team of Columbia University Engineering Graduate Students in hands-on investigations of urban water quality and climate impacts. Students will collect and analyze environmental and water quality data to better understand the conditions that influence algal blooms. They will also test potential management strategies, such as shading and water circulation, to explore how scientific research can inform real-world environmental solutions.
Through this project, students will connect climate science, ecology, and public health while developing evidence-based recommendations for building more resilient urban ecosystems.
The Mid-Winter Climate Institute is a large-scale professional learning experience for K–12 educators across New York City, convening more than 500 NYC Public School teachers each year. This two-day, in-person institute brings together educators from across grade levels and content areas with the goal of identifying meaningful entry points for climate education within existing curricula.
The Institute is hosted by NYC Public Schools Office of Energy & Sustainability, Columbia University Teachers College, and Subject to Climate, with sponsorship from the Columbia Climate Education for a Resilient Future Earth Network.
The Columbia Climate School contributes to the Mid-Winter Climate Institute by leading select sessions that highlight the School’s interdisciplinary climate scholarship. These sessions connect educators with current research, real-world climate solutions, and practical insights to support engaging, classroom-relevant climate education.
Participants will select a content-area track— 1. STEAM, 2. Math, 3. ELA, 4. Civics/Social Studies, or 5. Health/Wellness/Electives—for deeper exploration of climate education aligned to their teaching context.
For questions, please contact Kailyn Fox, Education & Training Manager, at kfox8@schools.nyc.gov.
The Climate Education for a Resilient Future Network developed the Climate Education Resource Hub to offer a range of lessons, activities, and training events designed to enhance science education for learners of all ages. These resources, grounded in cutting-edge research, real-time data, and hands-on learning experiences, are accessible to students, educators, and the general public eager to deepen their understanding of climate science and the world around us.
| Name | Title | |
| Van Geen, Alexander | Lamont Research Professor | avangeen@ldeo.columbia.edu |
| Kruczkiewicz, Andrew | Senior Staff Associate II | ajk2207@columbia.edu |
| Curtis, Ashley | Assistant Director of Open Enrollment Programs | aec2107@columbia.edu |
| Shin, Haein | Education Technical Adviser | hs2587@columbia.edu |
| Verdeli, Helen | Associate Professor of Psychology and Education | verdeli@tc.columbia.edu |
| Schlegelmilch, Jeffrey | Associate Professor of Professional Practice in the Faculty of Climate | js4645@columbia.edu |
| Scherling, Laura | Director, M.S. Program for Applied Analytics | lss2165@columbia.edu |
| Vasquez, Leticia | Director, College Acess Program, The Roger Lehecka Double Discovery Center, Barnard College | lv2452@columbia.edu |
| Turrin, Margie | Senior Staff Associate II | mkt@ldeo.columbia.edu |
| Pizmony-Levy, Oren | Associate Professor of International and Comparative Education | op2183@tc.columbia.edu |
| Merchant, Rashawn | Lecturer | rkm2151@columbia.edu |
| Parks, Robbie | Assistant Professor (tenure track) | rmp2198@columbia.edu |
| Newton, Robert | Lecturer | bnewton@ldeo.columbia.edu |
| Wells, Sasha | Executive Director, The Roger Lehecka Doble Discovery Center, Barnard College | smw2183@columbia.edu |
