LDEO November 2025 Newsletter: Earth & Environmental Science News
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Forging Ahead
Hiking along the shoreline to find fossil reefs during June 2019 fieldwork on Long Island, Bahamas to map and sample last interglacial sea level indicators. Credit: Jacky Austermann
As American science faces cuts in research funding, your support is more important than ever. By making a gift to Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory today, you help advance our mission, strengthen our community of researchers, and expand our education and outreach initiatives—ensuring that Lamont continues to push the boundaries of scientific discovery. At a time when research funding is increasingly uncertain, your support is more important than ever. Every dollar donated stays at Lamont, supporting Lamont science and scientists.
Archaeologist Kristina Douglass Named 2025 MacArthur Fellow
Douglass's research uses lessons from the past to help communities understand how to adapt to climate change.
Nine Lamont-Doherty Researchers Honored by Leading Scientific Organizations
Scientists connected with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, which is part of Columbia Climate School, received notable accolades from renowned national and international research societies.
Earth’s Continents Stabilized Due to Furnace-Like Heat, Study Reveals
The new discovery has implications beyond geologic history, such as the search for critical minerals and habitable planets beyond Earth.
Where Soil Meets Data: Yushu Xia's Mission To Support a Healthier Planet
Xia discusses her research projects, mentorship goals, and the importance of staying ahead in a changing scientific landscape.
Bridging the Gap: How AI Can Help—or Hinder—the SDGs
The issue is no longer whether AI matters for sustainable development, but how to apply it in ways that decrease costs, expand access, improve decision-making and avoid further deepening inequality, writes Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory climate scientist Marco Tedesco.
Ripple Effects: Water, Youth and Climate Action
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory’s Margie Turrin and Marisa Annunziato, discuss how climate change is impacting water systems and what can be done in response.
Rising: Why Emissions of This Deadly Neurotoxin May Soon Increase
The EPA is proposing changes to the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS), which would weaken mercury emissions limits from U.S. fossil fuel power plants by 70 percent.
Columbia Climate School's Global Impact Scholars Confront Urgent, Real-World Problems
Faculty and students worked together on ideas for climate solutions, which were then presented at the Climate School showcase as part of Climate Week NYC.
Will New Areas Uncovered by Glacier Melt Boost Swiss Hydropower and Clean Energy Goals?
A Swiss government report reveals that efforts to locate major hydropower resources on land exposed by glacier retreat are entangled with ecological and legal challenges.
As a Glacier Retreats, a Gold Mine Advances. Why Are Some Locals Angry?
A Canadian mining company is seeking approval to renew gold mining operations in northwestern British Columbia, but they face opposition from First Nations, environmental nonprofits and downstream Alaskan communities.
Lamont researchers are in the field studying the dynamics of the planet on every continent and every ocean. Journalists may join and cover expeditions when possible. Learn more about this essential fieldwork.
Events
On December 3 6-8pm ET, join us for our next Public Lecture, Uncovering Hidden Earthquake Faults: New Insights into the Greater New York Region Seismic Hazards, with Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory structural geologist Folarin Kolawole who will unveil the discovery of a previously hidden active fault zone in New Jersey. Hosted by Lamont interim director Steven L. Goldstein, this in-person event begins with a reception from 6-7pm ET followed by the discussion from 7-8pm ET. Learn More/RSVP
Save the Date: On December 10 12pm ET, join us for a conversation with geological oceanographer Brendan Reilly and geochemist Sidney Hemming hosted by Arthur Lerner-Lam. This event is part of our virtual series Earth Observations: Conversations with Lamont Scientists. Stay tuned for registration information / visit our Events Calendar.
Art Meets Science
On display at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory are three fascinating art exhibits:
Research as Art featuring works by Lamont researchers (Monell Building through Oct 15, 2026)
Paradise featuring oil paintings by Selva Ozelli and photographs by Ian Hutton (Lamont Café through June 30, 2026)
Climate Disasters Inspired by Great Masters featuring works by Palisades, NY artist Mary Tiegreen in collaboration with BingAI for Climate Change Resources (Monell Building through June 30, 2026)
Contact Miriam Cinquegrana for more information/appointments.
Education
Summer 2026 Pre-College Program
Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains (July 5-17, 2026) is a two-week, campus-based program in Vermont that empowers high school students to take action on climate change through hands-on learning and community impact.
As part of the program, students dive into focused tracks exploring intersections of climate and sustainability. For example, in summer 2025’s Biodiversity & Conservation track, students visited the ECHO Leahy Center on Lake Champlain to learn how climate change impacts the Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle, an endangered species with fewer than 300 adults remaining in the lake. Students learned how flooding winters and scorching summers have impacted egg survival, and how ECHO’s Headstart Program helps hatchlings grow stronger through the winter before being released back into the wild each summer. It’s a powerful example of local climate action in practice!
Apply now to join a community of young changemakers creating solutions for a sustainable future in the Green Mountains Program!
Lamont’s Polar CAP Internship
Our high school Polar CAP interns spent their summer studying Earth’s climate system and developing innovative ways to communicate data from our warming world to the public. Several of the interns leveraged Ed Hawkins, Reading University #ShowYourStripes, by developing interactive art activities for the public. Their pieces were recently displayed as part of the 2025 Research as Art Exhibit, and won an award for their climate communication. From here their art pieces will travel to their different high schools, hoping to inspire other youth to consider ways that they can creatively and effectively communicate to others about climate change.
Climate LIVE K12 features live lectures and interactive activities with our scientists and experts for K-12 students, educators, families, and the public! FREE! Check out our YouTube archive of all past workshops.
Up Next: On November 12, 4-4:30pm ET, join us for When Collective Action Works: Revisiting the Montreal Protocol with Ben Baraga of Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment! Learn how international coalition-building brought the world back from the brink of global climate disaster and how their success bodes well for our newest bout with global warming. RSVP today (free but registration required)!
Lamont-Doherty Hudson River Field Station
We are located at 200 Ferry Road, Piermont, NY at the eastern end of Rockland County's Piermont Pier. Community science programs, school education, and special events continue throughout the year, however, Field Station drop-in hours end in October for the off-season, and will re-start in late May/early June. Our many educational resources and all our sampling data are regularly updated and always available on the Field Station website! For questions about our community science programs, school and group education programs, or upcoming events at the Lamont-Doherty Hudson River Field Station please contact Marisa Annunziato.
A Day in the Life of the Hudson & Harbor
During the 23rd annual Day in the Life of the Hudson and Harbor, we hosted over 170 Rockland County high school students at the Piermont Field Station with the help of many Lamont scientists and students over 4 days of sampling. The watershed-wide event is co-organized by the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory as an immersive place-based learning experience for students of all ages. The Field Station was among 100 sites connecting close to 5,000 students and educators to their local waterfronts, spanning over 150 miles of the Hudson River, and including the East, Bronx, Harlem, and Mohawk Rivers.
Our students delved into learning about the Hudson River Estuary System by being immersed in a day-long trip to collect field data and increase their understanding of the Hudson in Piermont. Students jumped into a wadable section of the Hudson off Piermont Pier to catch fish and crabs, and to collect sediment cores. They measured the tides and currents over the course of the day, tested the chemical properties, measured turbidity, and learned about the microscopic world of the Hudson by identifying plankton. Visit our Day in the Life website to learn more about the event and the amazing data that has been collected by students of all ages over the years.
Lamont in the Media (Select Stories)
Drought Mutes Northeast Leaf-Peeping Season
New York Times
Earth’s Continents Stabilized Due to Furnace-like Heat, Study Reveals
Penn State
Schmidt Sciences $45 Million Backs Carbon Cycle, Climate Research
Philanthropy News Digest
