Ramapo College Institute of Environmental Studies (IES)
Ramapo College Institute of Environmental Studies (IES)
The Institute was created in 1984 to facilitate faculty research, hold conferences and other events, and to foster efforts to make the campus sustainable. The IES managed a four year project in the 1990s funded by the U.S. Department of Education to green Ramapo's curriculum. It also held four large scale regional sustainability conferences. The IES developed and was the original host for the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership for Sustainability.
The Institute is currently chaired by Professor Michael Edelstein, Ph.D. In recent years, the Institute faculty have shepharded the development of the new Ramapo College Sustainability Education Center, to open in fall 2008.
Current research and outreach projects relate to a 2007 grant to the Institute from the New Jersey Bureau of Public Utilities with Clean Energy Funds from the federal Department of Energy. The Grant is directed by Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D. There are three projects under this grant.
- The first project, under the direction of William Makofske, Ph.D., has involved pilot research and field intervention to promote energy conservation in public buildings historically omitted from conservation projects: churches, libraries and small businesses.
- The second project under, the direction of Joseph Porrovecchio, P.E., is being undertaken to evaluate the NJ LEED for Existing Buildings initiative to ascertain factors influencing its past success and changes needed to facilitate future success. When completed, we will post the results here.
- The third project, under the direction of Michael Edelstein, Ph.D., was a major public education event, the fall 2007 'Green Meets Green' EXPO and A Climate for Change' conference. A major feature of Green Meets Green was the signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment by President Peter Mercer at the Climate for Change conference. Institute faculty are deeply involved in the campus response to the climate challenge under the direction of Emma C. Rainforth, Ph.D.
Other projects related to the IES
Meadowlands Enviromental Education Center
Environmental Science program (major and minor)
Environmental Studies program (major and minor)
