ECo Greece - Activity Update May 2024

Update #1

May 2024

AN UPDATE FROM

THE EARTH COMMONS GREECE AN INTERNATIONAL HUB OF GEORGETOWN'S EARTH COMMONS INSTITUTE

1ST COURSE LAUNCHES IN MAY

54 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR INAUGURAL EARTH COMMONS GREECE COURSE

The Earth Commons Institute (ECo) and Georgetown University in Qatar are launching our first summer course in Greece. Titled "Adaptation in a Climate Change Hotspot," the symposium will host 15 students, competitively selected from 54 applicants. Participants will explore climate change's impacts on water resources, wildfires, agriculture, coastal ecology, as well as the intricate balance between tourism and sustainable development in Greece.

In preparation for the course, the ECo Greece team together with Professor Raha Hakimdavar conducted scoping visits in March to a number of course locations including Andros, Paros and Athens whilst continuing to build relationships with local authorities, Greek university faculty, practitioners and civil society organizations that will be active collaborators on the course.

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PARTNERSHIPS LAUNCH WITH 3 LEADING GREEK COMPANIES ON EARTH COMMONS MASTERS CAPSTONE RESEARCH PROJECTS In April 2024, ECo’s Masters of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management, offered jointly with Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, launched partnerships with 3 Greek private sector companies.

These partnerships will engage Georgetown students in capstone projects addressing real-world sustainability challenges faced by businesses. 13 Georgetown Masters of Science students will act as consultants for these companies, which include Greece's top technology company, one of the country’s largest integrated energy companies, and the nation's largest electric power company (the nation’s 4th, 7th and 12th largest by market cap respectively).

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS The Earth Commons continues to build partnerships as the institute develops a global strategy for education, research, and action for the environment. So far, the team has cultivated relationships with faculty and senior leadership at 3 Greek universities and continued to meet with government officials, NGOs, think-tanks, environmental scientists and practitioners for discussions around joint and collaborative research and education ventures, including during Dean Peter Marra’s most recent visit to Greece in March 2024. The Earth Commons will collaborate with the University of Athens on an ECo Science Day during the summer course.

Left: ECo Greece Managing Director, Katerina Downward and Professor Raha Hakimdavar on a scoping trip to a desalination plant on Paros for this summer’s course. Below: Dean Marra and the ECo team meet with University of Crete Vice-Rectors and Heads of Departments on his recent visit to Greece in March.

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THE EARTH COMMONS AT “OUR OCEAN” CONFERENCE IN ATHENS Greece hosted the 9th “Our Ocean” conference on April 15th-17th, 2024, gathering delegates from more than 120 countries to discuss and pledge commitments to global ocean matters, including on marine protected areas, sustainable blue economies and marine pollution. Government delegates were joined by NGOs, international agencies, universities and philanthropists dedicated to ocean protection. The Earth Commons’ Raha Hakimdavar spoke on two panels—one on the future of ocean science studies at universities and the other on the role of universities in multi-disciplinary knowledge production for ocean sustainability — alongside distinguished professors and practitioners from Greek academic and research institutions, with a surprise appearance from former Secretary of State, John Kerry.

GEORGETOWN PARTNERS WITH THE FULBRIGHT FOUNDATION GREECE TO OFFER A JOINT SCHOLARSHIP Partnering with Fulbright Greece, Georgetown University now offers one Partnership Award to a student from Greece to enroll in the Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management allowing them to obtain their degree tuition-free.

Right: Greek MS-ESM students present at an ECo Greece— Fulbright webinar on the joint scholarship program to 30+ Greek students. Below: John Kerry speaks at an Our Ocean panel where Professor Raha Hakimdavar presented, joined by ECo Greece Managing Director, Katerina Downward.

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MORE FROM THE EARTH COMMONS NEW DEGREES ECo is proud to introduce two new interdisciplinary joint degrees, including the new MS in Environment & International Affairs with the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, and the new BS in Environment & Sustainability with the College of Arts & Sciences.

Meanwhile, robust interest in the MS in Environment & Sustainability Management with the McDonough School of Business led to a larger and more competitive cohort of 53 students this year.

FACULTY RESEARCH ECo faculty-led research programs have thrived, obtaining over $2.6 million in funding from prestigious sources including the National Science Foundation and NASA in addition to producing significant publications.

This has been supported by the hiring of 11 faculty members in key research areas, such as environmental toxicology, water security, and environmental innovation, further bolstering the institute's research capabilities. Over 120 Georgetown Faculty members have jointed the ECo Faculty Network to promote environmental and sustainability research, education, and action across the university.

Left: ECo faculty Professor Jesse Meiller and a student gather samples on the shore of the Potomac River, near Georgetown’s campus.

ABOUT THE EARTH COMMONS The Earth Commons is helping to shape the future of our planet by building, supporting, and infusing environmental and sustainability research, education and action throughout the Georgetown University community and beyond.

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