Public Policy
One of the major
challenges of contemporary environmentalism is how best
to integrate science, technology
and policy. Inherent in the
Institute’s mission is the specific effort to link basic research
with public education and the
formulation of policy.
The Beacon Institute’s first
step in responding to this
challenge is the River and
Estuary Observatory Network
(REON). This far-reaching and
unprecedented initiative will
provide real-time watershed
data that scientists, educators
and policy makers will use for
public education and policy
development. With data from
REON, researchers could have
the ability to measure and
predict the availability and
quality of water for drinking,
fishing and food production—
critical information to better
guard public health at the local
and regional levels. REON also
could help detect the river’s
response to sudden, episodic
events, such as storms, floods,
earthquakes or biological
disturbances (such as algal
blooms).
The Beacon Institute employs
a “circle of consultation”
approach that involves an expert
team of scientists, engineers,
policy specialists and educators
sensitive to the delicate and
complex balance between
human needs and the watershed.
This dialogue is generating the
research questions that inform
the Institute’s research plan,
and ultimately will provide the
scientific basis from which policy
decisions can be made.
Global Climate Change
The science of global climate
change, and its economic, social
and environmental impact on
future generations is becoming
more prominent with each
passing year. Choices made in
the United States, and by leaders
in the Northeast will have
great consequence in areas of
research, technology innovation
and policy around the world.
The Beacon Institute’s initiatives
include a strategic thrust to assist
in climate change research by:
- Developing smart sensors to improve modeling of water movement in the river;
- Informing policy makers about the economic impact on civilization-critical estuaries that are susceptible to rising ocean levels;
- Assembling collaborative teams to examine the complex solutions that require multidisciplinary representation; and
- Raising the collective educational literacy necessary to understand global climate change and appropriate responses.
Although the Institute takes an
active role in collecting and
disseminating information, it does
not promote specific advocacy
positions with regard to policies
or management actions in
order to maintain its role as an intellectual hub with international credibility.
The Environmental Consortium
of Hudson Valley Colleges and
Universities
Developed by The Beacon
Institute and Pace University,
the Environmental Consortium
includes more than 49
institutions of higher learning.
The Environmental Consortium
is dedicated to transforming the
Hudson Valley into an extended
laboratory and classroom
for policy analysis, multiinstitutional
field programs and
cooperative regional studies.
