Columbia University
ER-15: Sustainability Research Identification

Sustainability, as a term, originated at the 1987 Commission on Environment and Development, or the Brundtland Commission, which defined sustainable development as: “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987). Sustainability links economy, society and environment together; it is long-term economic production and consumption that minimizes environmental impact and maximizes resource conservation and reuse. Approved by: Dr. Steven Cohen, Executive Director, The Earth Institute Alison Miller, Deputy Executive Director, The Earth Institute

The Earth Institute maintains relationships and a listing of centers that perform sustainability research. Further they provide a breadth of internship and research assistant opportunities—part-time during both semesters and full-time over the summer—for graduate and undergraduate students at Columbia. Through these programs, students are engaged in cutting-edge research with influential members of the social science and science community. While this is a valuable educational experience for the students, the researchers also benefit from the enthusiasm and energy of student interns and research assistants. Interns work with scientists from the various centers and departments affiliated with the Earth Institute Many of the centers and researchers performing sustainability research are affiliated with the Earth Institute therefore the information is compiled as part of their operations.