SBU Faculty Share Their Research At Climate Solutions Summit NYC

Stony Brook University faculty members took part in the inaugural Climate Solutions Summit NYC April 23-24 on Governors Island. The Summit offered opportunities to explore emerging research in climate science.

Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck challenge.

In an effort to brainstorm solutions, The New York Climate Exchangeheld its inaugural Climate Solutions Summit NYC April 23-24. Hosted on Governors Island, the Summit offered opportunities to explore emerging research in climate science. Many Stony Brook University faculty members led important discussions and shared their expertise as leaders in this space during the Summit.

"It was a fantastic honor that Stony Brook was chosen as the anchor institution," said Paul Shepson, the dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (S0MAS). "[The Exchange] is a very ambitious organization aiming to transform the way New York City does work - moving people from place to place, producing electric power, as well as heating and cooling buildings. We are going to completely change the way we do all those things in order to protect the Earth from climate change."

At the Summit, Shepson was part of a panel that discussed strategies to improve sustainability on Governors Island. Topics ranged from introducing more indigenous plants to Shepson's idea to create the Governors Island Environmental Observatory (GIEO) to increase data sharing and ecosystem resilience in a changing climate. Kevin Reed, Stony Brook's associate provost for climate and sustainability, a SoMAS professor and chief climate scientist at The Exchange, moderated the panel.

"As The Exchange strategizes about its future research directions, it is important that Stony Brook faculty and staff play an active role in helping to shape priorities," Reed said. "Stony Brook's engagement in the Climate Solutions Summit NYC helps to ensure our faculty play a leading role in Exchange research efforts in the coming year."

In addition, their participation was key:

• Guanyu Huang, an assistant professor in SoMAS, presented an AI-based tool he developed that can address disparities in nitrogen dioxide exposure. This tool can estimate the consequences of different climate and emission resilience strategies for communities and assist them in finding the best strategy that fits their needs. Huang hopes that this tool will facilitate "collaborations to address environmental justice under a changing climate."
• Sixto Taveras Lopez, a PhD student in the Department of Ecology and Evolution, presented his research on how salt marshes and other coastal ecosystems, including Long Island's South Shore, are moving landward in response to climate change. Rising sea levels are increasing the salinity in the soil, causing the trees adjacent to salt marshes to die out. Saltwater salinity is also increasing, which leads to marsh migration - where salt-tolerant marsh grasses begin to grow in these newly barren areas. This can havemajor repercussions on the local wildlifeand people along the coast. "We have evidence that it is happening at varying rates depending on environmental and topographical factors," Lopez said. "We need to communicate these findings with conservation managers, policymakers, and the general public."
• Joshua Rice, a communication lecturer and facilitator at the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, assisted Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the School of Communication and Journalismand executive director of the Alda Center, in giving an interactive presentation on effective climate communication. Attendees were encouraged to exercise cognitive empathy when speaking to their audience of choice. They also brainstormed and exchanged various communication strategies with each other. "The research is incredible," Rice said. "But it means nothing if we cannot communicate it clearly and make it matter to the diversity of audiences we want to reach."
• Pamela Ginex, an assistant professor in the School of Nursing, presented on how large data sets can be used to document the health effects of climate-related disasters. Data on climate change awareness can also help educate healthcare providers on the health impacts of climate change and related disasters. "Health is at the center of climate change," Ginex said. "If we do not have our health, nothing else matters. An aspect of health or health outcomes should be part of any climate change project or discussion."

Regardless of their topic, all of the speakers agree that the Climate Solutions Summit NYC was an important experience to present their research and hear from industry, academic and other external partners. It was also evident that this research has the goal of changing New York City for the better, and Stony Brook University faculty are a key part of this change.

"So many amazing people and organizations are working to combat climate change and prepare/respond to climate disasters in the New York region and beyond," Ginex said. "The Exchange is going to be a leader in bringing these voices together."

- Rachel Lea