The New York Climate Exchange Seeks SBU Experts
for First Climate Summit

Stony Brook University faculty, staff, and students are invited to help guide the conversation and present their research and ideas at the inaugural Climate Solutions Summit NYC hosted this spring by The New York Climate Exchange.

The Exchange, based on Governors Island, is seeking experts to submit topics and possible sessions, so that organizers can develop an agenda based on the feedback. 

Potential participants can express interest in attending and submit ideas for discussion topics and presentations by completing this form before Tuesday, February 18. Ideas could be for break-out discussions, lightning talks or research poster presentations, and pitch sessions that prioritize projects that could be deployed on Governors Island.

“Stony Brook’s participation in this first-ever Climate Solutions Summit underscores our commitment to advancing conversations on climate change and its implications for our state, nation, and the world,” said Stony Brook University Interim President Richard L. McCormick. “As the anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange, we are uniquely positioned to lead these dialogues, foster partnerships, and further the impactful research and innovation taking place at our university. We are thrilled to contribute to this inaugural summit and remain committed to our dedication to this vital work.”

McCormick serves as co-chair of the board of The Exchange.

Kevin Reed, Stony Brook’s associate provost for climate and sustainability, and chief climate scientist at The Exchange, said the summit will offer opportunities to explore climate science and emerging research, build relationships with a dozen university partners, and develop collaborations with external organizations.

“I’m excited to see our community share interdisciplinary research, leadership, and expertise in climate science and coastal environments, especially as it affects the New York City area and surrounding region,” Reed said.

The Summit, on April 23-24, is hosted in collaboration with the New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) and the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN).

Reach out to summit@nyclimateexchange.org for more information.  

In addition to climate science and the planetary and human impacts, the summit seeks to focus on topics of equity, environmental justice, and community engagement and education, as well as emerging innovative technologies and energy transitions.

“We need to get all of our experts across universities, partners and disciplines in the same room to share and innovate solutions to climate change,” Reed said. 

For Stony Brook, the summit builds on the expansive work done during the Fall 2024 semester by faculty, students and staff who participated in the three town hall sessions hosted by the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E).

Earlier this month, Carl Lejuez, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, announced a university-wide strategic effort, led by Reed and Heather Lynch, C4E director and endowed chair for ecology and evolution in the Institute for Advanced Computational Science (IACS), to discuss and determine how Stony Brook can optimize its efforts in support educating the next generation of scholars and professionals to address climate change.  

“The goal is to empower collaboration and further solidify Stony Brook’s leadership in climate, environment, and energy,” Lejuez said. “This work is by necessity a collaborative effort, drawing expertise and perspectives from across a diverse range of fields and academic disciplines. As a state flagship and leading research institution, we must play an active role in helping our society address this complex and pressing challenge.”