'Transition to Sustainability’

Steven Cohen, an expert on sustainability and public policy who is the executive director of the Columbia University Earth Institute, will speak at the Ross School next Thursday on topics ranging from global economics to the effects of climate change on New York’s coastal areas. His talk is titled “A Positive Vision of the Transition to Sustainability: the Role of Research, Education, Communities, and Institutions.”

“I know that many projections of our environmental future seem bleak, but these projections do not account for the brainpower, creativity, and ingenuity of the next generation of sustainability professionals,” Mr. Cohen said in an announcement from the school.

Columbia University’s Earth Institute brings together researchers and collaborators from international organizations to study the complex issues facing the planet. In addition to his role as executive director of the institute, Mr. Cohen is a professor of public affairs at Columbia University who  directs its master’s degree programs in sustainability management and environmental science and policy. He is the author or co-author of a dozen books and writes a weekly blog for The Huffington Post.

The free talk is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the school, which is on Goodfriend Drive in East Hampton. Those interested in attending have been asked to respond by calling 907-5300 or emailing [email protected].