Center for Environmental Research and Conservation
Encyclopedia
The Center for Environmental Research and Conservation (CERC) builds environmental leadership and emphasizes the essential role of the natural world in sustainable development. Through the synthesis of research, applied research and education and training, CERC aims to stem the loss of biological diversity and cultivate leadership to address the ecological challenges of the 21st century.
CERC is a consortium of five world renowned scientific institutions based in New York City: Columbia University
, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Botanical Garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust. Each member of the consortium contributes to developing environmental leadership through a variety of education and research programs. Collectively, this work is conducted in over 60 countries.
CERC is headquartered at the Earth Institute, Columbia University
. This strategic location facilitates multidisciplinary work within the university and with external collaborators.
CERC is also responsive to the non-science community, providing training and education through the application of understandable, robust conservation science.
life began. Yet only recently has our thinking shifted toward a deeper understanding of the
value of our Earth’s natural capital. Ecosystems both support and are supported by a tremendous diversity of plant and animal
species—biodiversity. Extinction is not just about losing a particular species, nor is deforestation
simply about habitat loss; they are about reducing the capacity of ecosystems to
function effectively and provide the natural goods and services humans, and our national
and global economies, need to survive.
Collectively, the consortium's research covers the globe with programs in over 60 countries.
Throughout CERC’s 13-year history, consortium researchers, volunteers, interns, students, faculty and staff have been involved in:
In addition to research activities and projects, CERC adjunct scientists teach science courses in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B) and in the Certificate Program. All instructors are faculty and staff at consortium institutions and the consortium often provides research opportunities for Columbia's undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. students, especially those in E3B.
Teachers are central to many of CERC’s programs and provide an important bridge to the youngest generation. The Inquire Institute, formerly the Teacher Training Institute, is a summer course in which participants build a strong foundation in ecology and conservation, conduct their own scientific inquiry in the field, and develop an integrated ecology-based curriculum unit. In addition, teachers can earn up to six graduate credits in just three weeks. Other K-12 Programs include the Learning through Ecology and Environmental Field Studies Program (LEEFS, an NSF GK12 project), Technology, Research, Ecology and Exchange for Students (TREES), the Middle School Partnership (MSP), and Integrated Project Week (IPW).
CERC is a consortium of five world renowned scientific institutions based in New York City: Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, the American Museum of Natural History, the New York Botanical Garden, the Wildlife Conservation Society and Wildlife Trust. Each member of the consortium contributes to developing environmental leadership through a variety of education and research programs. Collectively, this work is conducted in over 60 countries.
CERC is headquartered at the Earth Institute, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. This strategic location facilitates multidisciplinary work within the university and with external collaborators.
CERC is also responsive to the non-science community, providing training and education through the application of understandable, robust conservation science.
Biodiversity
Healthy ecosystems are critical to life on Earth. Humans, and all other living things, have benefited from nature’s goods and services sincelife began. Yet only recently has our thinking shifted toward a deeper understanding of the
value of our Earth’s natural capital. Ecosystems both support and are supported by a tremendous diversity of plant and animal
species—biodiversity. Extinction is not just about losing a particular species, nor is deforestation
simply about habitat loss; they are about reducing the capacity of ecosystems to
function effectively and provide the natural goods and services humans, and our national
and global economies, need to survive.
Research
CERC facilitates the development of research programs between its consortium members: the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Wildlife Trust and Columbia University. Some activities are consortium-wide, representing all the institutions, while others can involve just two or three consortium partners.Collectively, the consortium's research covers the globe with programs in over 60 countries.
Throughout CERC’s 13-year history, consortium researchers, volunteers, interns, students, faculty and staff have been involved in:
- Finding new species of plants and animals in biodiversity hotspots
- Mapping the movement of wildlife and zoonotic diseases that pass from animals to humans
- Studying the evolution of primate behavior
- Examining how forests respond to disturbance
- Studying ecosystem processes and ecosystem services like carbon storage by tropical trees and grasslands
- Understanding how to develop participatory conservation programs
- Working on the restoration of damaged habitats
- Exploring models for sustainable development through a balance of good economics, governance and conservation
In addition to research activities and projects, CERC adjunct scientists teach science courses in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology (E3B) and in the Certificate Program. All instructors are faculty and staff at consortium institutions and the consortium often provides research opportunities for Columbia's undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. students, especially those in E3B.
SEE-U
Undergraduate students have the opportunity to engage in ecological field studies while earning up to six credits through Summer Ecosystem Experiences for Undergraduates (SEE-U). Open to students of all majors at all accredited colleges and universities nationwide, SEE-U gives students the opportunity to learn about unique ecosystems and cultures. Students at Columbia University may also pursue an undergraduate special concentration in sustainable development as a complement to their major. Columbia has an undergradutate major in the department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental BiologyInquire Institute
Graduate students looking for field experience to expand their knowledge of ecology, conservation and scientific inquiry may wish to enroll in CERC’s Inquire Institute, an intense three-week course in which students can earn up to six graduate credits through a combination of lectures, fieldwork, labs and the development of an ecology-based project. Interested doctoral students from various ecological and environmental departments may apply to become partnered with New York City public school teachers through the NSF GK-12 Learning through Ecology and Environmental Field Studies Program (LEEFS). CERC does not administer Master's or PhD degrees, for those programs please contact Columbia's department of Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Biology.Teachers are central to many of CERC’s programs and provide an important bridge to the youngest generation. The Inquire Institute, formerly the Teacher Training Institute, is a summer course in which participants build a strong foundation in ecology and conservation, conduct their own scientific inquiry in the field, and develop an integrated ecology-based curriculum unit. In addition, teachers can earn up to six graduate credits in just three weeks. Other K-12 Programs include the Learning through Ecology and Environmental Field Studies Program (LEEFS, an NSF GK12 project), Technology, Research, Ecology and Exchange for Students (TREES), the Middle School Partnership (MSP), and Integrated Project Week (IPW).