Binghamton University
PRE-2: Points of Distinction

In 2013, Binghamton University developed a new approach to hiring faculty and supporting research by creating several Transdisciplinary Areas of Excellence (TAEs). Each TAE is guided by a faculty steering committee of 12-15 members. The steering committees identify new faculty positions necessary to support the work of the TAEs, anticipate in recruitment of TAE faculty, offer seed grants to faculty through a competitive process, organize symposia, conferences, and workshops, and foster research collaboration.
Two of the six TAEs focus on Sustainable Communities and Smart Energy:
- The Sustainable Communities TAE fostered a network that collaborates to discover, create and share ideas that enhance our understanding of how communities can meet the needs of the present without sacrificing the needs of the future.
- The Smart Energy area of excellence builds upon existing strengths in four key areas of alternative energy research: Solar and thermoelectric energy harvesting; Energy storage; Energy efficiency in electronic systems; Sensor development for energy resource management. Notably the University's distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Materials Science M. Stanley Whittingham is one of the proud recipients of the 2019's Nobel Prize of Chemistry for his contribution to the energy storage research (Lithium ion batteries) which is critical for large scale deployment of renewable energy generation and usage.

Biomass Heating: In 2016, Binghamton University successfully transformed a 1965 vintage coal-fired central heating plant into a biomass (wood chips) facility. More original equipment was retained and reused with improvement to the fuel handling system and pollution control equipment. This effort allows the University to source 35% of its heating fuel locally and reduce its fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions by 20,000 metric tons per year.

Clean energy master plan: In order to position our campus to transition into carbon free heating / cooling / transportation, Binghamton University applied for, and was selected for an award, a $5 million dollar grant from NYSERDA to compile a Clean Energy Master Plan. This plan will guide the University's future building renovation / addition planning process such that the entire campus will become carbon neutral by 2050.

Binghamton University's main campus in Vestal, New York was originally established in 1958. Over the past 62 years this campus has grown in student population and building space (by XXXX%) while largely maintaining its footprint. Even with several generous property donations to the university, these adjacent acreages have all been designated as Nature Preserve by which they will not be developed for commercial / institutional use.

Rather than continuing our expansion in the town of Vestal, which has seen tremendous economic growth over the years, Binghamton University made a strategic decision to utilize its economic influence to help revitalize nearby areas that have suffered long and gradual declines. In 2007, our first satellite campus was built in the City of Binghamton, which had tried unsuccessfully to bring in businesses and professional offices for decades. Today, downtown Binghamton has seen a renascence with new businesses opening in previously vacant building space, property value increase, and safety improvement brought by additional tax revenue to the city.

A similar effort is being made in the Village of Johnson City which has one of the highest poverty rates in the state. In 2018 the University constructed a new School of Pharmacy building in Johnson City with a vision to create a Health Sciences campus. Thus far the School of Pharmacy has spurred much needed private investments in student housing and retail business in the area. Our second project in Johnson City is underway to renovate an abandoned factory building to house our Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences. We are hopeful to see the same revitalization of the village in a very near future.