This week, Columbia School of Climate presented seven interdisciplinary research teams to receive grants through the 2025 seed funding program. The selected project is an exploratory, mission-lined initiative aimed at moving the school forward. Action cooperation Maintain long-term impact. Awards range from $1,000 to $7,000.
“We are thrilled to be able to support these teams in pursuit of bold ideas and collaborative research to address some of the most urgent challenges of our time,” he said. Janice Savageassistant dean for research at Columbia Climate School. “This year’s project reflects the school’s commitment to supporting change science, promoting innovation and strengthening connections across the research community.”
Find out more about the project below.
Examining the impact of land management on ecosystem services in the Hudson Valley region
PI: Yush XiaAssistant Professor Lamont, Biology and Paleoenvironment, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory | CO-PI: Gyam Doan
Action collaborators: Build environment, disasters
The project aims to improve land management in Hudson Valley by developing a data-driven modeling system tailored to the diverse landscapes of the region. The team will integrate local field data, research, remote sensing and environmental data to create a modeling framework that is particularly suitable for Hudson Valley. The project will provide valuable insights to deepen partnerships between Colombia and local organizations and better support American farmers, ranchers and land managers.
Living in a traumatic landscape: an investigation into the joint response to social and environmental changes on the West African coast.
PI: Christina DouglasColumbia Climate School, Associate Professor of Climate | CO-PI: Abiola Ibilogba
Action collaborators: Build environment, disasters.
This research project integrates data through historical and geoscience and models how marginalized communities around these events adapt and survive. Specifically, we propose a survey of immigrant coastal communities that emerged on West Africa’s coast during the Atlantic period (the past 500 years of humanity), examining reconciliation and mobility strategies, resource use patterns, and human decision-making. This study will help to explore the historical context of mass migration and continuous demographic changes that emerged, and provide new data on patterns of island colonization across the coast of West Africa.
Urban Sustainability: An International Case Study
PI: Anyi WangColumbia Climate School, Research Scholar, Research Scholar on Sustainability Policy and Management
Action collaborators: food, energy, water, construction environment, disasters
In the urban context, sustainability means meeting the needs of the current urban system without compromising the needs of future generations within (and outside) that system. This study seeks to assess and analyze six world cities with a set of five sustainability metric domains. 1) Economic development. 2) Social welfare and livelihoods; 3) Environmental resources. 4) Emissions and consumption. 5) Environmental management. By analyzing and comparing these cities, this project contributes to the knowledge base needed to create a more sustainable urban environment around the world.
Pilot research using existing fiber optic lines to record NYC HUM: Towards hazard assessment and improved smart city applications
PI: Andrew J. LloydAssistant Professor Lamont, Seismics, Geology, Tectonophysics, Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory | Co-Pis: Felix Waldhauser, Folarin Kolawole
Action Cooperators: Disasters, Build Environments
This project will implement a Distributed acoustic sensing Pilot research using dark fiber cables that run from the Manhattanville campus to the Morningside campus. It crosses the 125th Avenue fault on both Broadway and Amsterdam. Recorded data are analyzed to identify earthquakes and anthropogenic sources, assess spatial and temporal changes in noise, and image shallow underground seismic structures. Through this work, the team aims to image the underground structures of the 125th fault and explore the possibilities of “.Smart City“application.
Exploratory sampling and thermal overview of the Gerlock fault in Southern California
PI: Stephen CoxProfessor Lamont Assistant Research, Professor Geochemistry, Lamont Daugherty Earth Observer
Action Cooperators: Disasters, Build Environments
The Garlock Fault is an important part of the Southern California structural regime. In the state, it is second only to the San Andreas Fault in length, poses a major earthquake risk to some densely populated areas. The project aims to improve the structural histories of faults and related structures using multiple advanced geochemical dating techniques. The ultimate goal of this work is to improve hazard models in areas where major earthquakes are exposed.
Cactus adaptation and knowledge exchange (cake)
PI: Zain AlabwehStaff Associate II, National Center for Disaster Prevention
Action collaboration: Food
This project explores the possibilities of expanding cactus cultivation in Jordan by focusing on edible cactus pads known as cladodo, widely used in Mexico. By learning from Mexican experts, farmers and researchers, researchers who have experienced cactus cultivation and processing aim to bring valuable knowledge about the use of cactus cladodos back to Jordan. The goal is to assess how these techniques can be tailored locally to improve food security, nutrition and economic opportunities. This project will consider using cactus cladodos for food, animal feed and other commercial uses.
Comprehensive climate mitigation and adaptation: A case study of a commuter van in New York City
PI: Jacqueline CropDirector and Research Scholar, Center for Sustainable Urban Development
Action Coordinators: Energy, the Building Environment
Vehicle electrification efforts have recently been extended to shared mobility systems such as public and school buses, and in New York City, to commuter (“dollar”) vans that serve low-income people and communities. Research is currently emerging exploring the implementation and effectiveness of electrification of public transport and school buses, but these studies have not been extended to unique commuter vans in New York City. This study focuses on this gap and opportunity using strong community engagement and a co-production approach.
