State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry
AC-10: Support for Research

Sustainability research is central to ESF's core mission, and it includes the environmental, social, and economic dimensions of sustainability. A high percentage of undergraduates and virtually all graduate students participate in research activity as part of their educational experience. More than 90% of full-time faculty are actively engaged in funded research, creating many opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to participate in sustainability research with financial support. Additional programs further support student research in sustainability such as the annual “Spotlight on Student Research” poster session, upper and lower division honors programs, capstones, master’s and doctoral thesis research, research experience courses, field and laboratory research components of many sustainability courses or courses that include sustainability, internships, study abroad programs, paid and for-credit opportunities with the ESF Office of Sustainability, etc. http://www.esf.edu/spotlight/default.htm

ESF Discovery Challenge: Pathways to a Sustainable Innovation Strategy, Launched September 2018: Interim President Amberg was asked by SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson to lead a process by which the campus – with strong faculty leadership and ownership – will identify three to five cross-cutting challenges/initiatives (Discovery Challenges) designed to build on the College’s strengths, assets, and partnerships to position it for future growth, enhanced prominence, increased funding streams, new academic/industry/government relationships, and true global impact. A Discovery Advisory Group has prioritized five Discovery Challenges as strategic areas for initial investment by SUNY Administration. Each of these areas is targeted for an investment of up to $200,000 per year for three years from SUNY with additional efforts being employed to attempt to match these dollars. The proposals put forth are highly focused on sustainability, for example: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Threatened Species and Ecosystem Restoration Center Sustainable Food Systems and Environment The ESF Center for Environmental Solutions The ESF Center for Biomass and Solar Energy Conversion The full list and more information about the winners is available here: https://www.esf.edu/dc/discovery.htm

Numerous faculty, and collaborative research institutes and centers at ESF engage in interdisciplinary research (www.esf.edu/research/ric.htm). ESF and its Office of Research Programs provides additional support and incentives for new and existing faculty and centers to develop collaborative interdisciplinary research proposals and strive for formal partnerships with private entities. The Division of Environmental Science is organized as a nucleus for interdepartmental and interdisciplinary education, research, and collaboration. The Division draws upon faculty from across many departments of the college in order to emphasize a multidisciplinary approach to environmental understanding, problem solving, and stewardship. It maintains a strong academic orientation and facilitates student and faculty engagement of fundamental environmental challenges such as resource utilization and sustainability, the uses and limits of scientific prediction and risk analysis, and a holistic concern for the health of the environment.

The Office of Research Programs is closely linked to the College Library. The library subscribes to numerous sustainability-related journals, and maintains ESF Digital Commons, an Open Access repository hosting countless sustainability related research papers and data sets.