Tag: <span>policy</span>

From a Classroom to the Wilderness

All the hype about Alaska is real: it is BIG, BEAUTIFUL, and WILD. I don’t know how to begin to describe it after that. Adjectives fail at capturing whatever *it* is here. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to live, work, and play here for the summer. …

Failure is a Badge of Honor: Leadership at the United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is a leading organization addressing complex and interdisciplinary issues on a global scale. My key areas of interests focused on by the UN are conflict, disaster response, environmental security, peacekeeping, and cooperation. During my internship experience at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, …

Growing Up in New York City

Since my last post, my internship has moved from the Manhattan Borough President’s Office to Agritecture. Yes, you are reading that right. It’s a play on agriculture and architecture. Agritecture is a small company based out of Brooklyn with a mission of integrating agriculture with the built environment. In other …

The End of My Wilson Era

Recently, my internship organization, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C., was ranked the #1 Transdisciplinary Research Think Tank in the world. After spending six months learning and absorbing information from the world’s top minds, I fully understand why they deserve such a ranking. A similar transdisciplinary …

Bard National Climate Seminar: Dr. Michael Neuman on Urban Storm Risk and Sustainability

By Vanessa Kichline This year’s hurricane season has been one of the worst on record. We’ve already seen two Category 5 hurricanes make landfall in the United States, wreaking havoc to the tune of some $200 billion in damages—and the season isn’t over yet. Dr. Michael Neuman, professor and award-winning researcher of …

Tomorrow May Be Too Late: Military Leaders Testify on National Security Challenges of Climate Change

This post was originally published on the New Security Beat: Tomorrow May Be Too Late: Military Leaders Testify on National Security Challenges of Climate Change By: Amanda King, MS in Environmental Policy Student, Research Intern at the Wilson Center As the Senate returns from recess, passing the annual National Defense …

Working for the President (of Manhattan)

NYC Government The governmental apparatus of New York City is probably more complicated than you think, unless you happen to have worked in it before. There are various city agencies, boards and judiciaries – and that’s all before we get to elected officials. The elected positions of New York City …

Leadership: The Balance of Empathy and Strength

Given the unusual political climate we find ourselves in, I wanted to learn from an expert who has many years of experience overcoming political barriers. Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sharon Buccino from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Sharon is the Director of the Land …

Microhydropower: Part of New York’s Clean Energy Future?

Hydropower has a long history in New York State. There are more than 6,000 dams in New York, some dating back to the 1700s. Even through the industrial revolution of the 19th century, dams were the main source of power for running mills and powering machinery. As electric power replaced …

Promoting Science-Based Policies in the Era of “Alternative Facts”

In one episode of NBC’s Parks and Recreation, Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) tries to pass a bill adding fluoride to the town’s water source.  She’s opposed by a councilman/dentist who wants to continue making money off of the many cavities that occur in the town.  As she discusses the debate, …