From the Director

IBES Director Kim Cobb shared opening remarks for the event, speaking to the Institute’s rapid growth over the past 12 months. Such development can be attributed to recent progress on IBES’ five-year Strategic Plan, which is “ambitious in scope and vision,” Cobb said. She also outlined upcoming priorities for the year ahead, such as expanding student internship and professional development opportunities, increasing cross-campus collaboration, and developing an IBES communication plan.

Cobb encouraged the audience to attend IBES' 10th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held during Commencement Weekend (May 24) on Brown’s South Walkway.

Undergraduate Studies

Dawn King, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies for IBES, noted that the Institute has almost tripled its annual number of ENVS concentrators over the past five years. She also introduced significant changes to the ENVS curriculum, which include streamlined Sc.B. tracks — climate and energy, conservation science and policy, environmental justice and health, and sustainable development and governance — and a more interdisciplinary A.B. track. Students receiving an A.B. ENVS degree will have to take one Earth or Biological Science course, as well as an Environmental Justice and Equity course. 

“We’re really excited about this interdisciplinary and flexible schedule for our students, one that guarantees they know a little bit about all sectors of the environment,” King said.

Early Career Training and Development

James Kellner, associate professor in IBES and biology and IBES’ director of early career development and training, spoke to the importance of training outside the classroom. Emphasizing how environmental topics are connected to every professional field, he noted that he aims to help students answer the question, “what does the dream version of you look like?”

Research

Cobb shared updates on behalf of Scott Frickel, professor in IBES and sociology and IBES’ director of research, who administers IBES’ annual seed grant program. Having invested nearly a million dollars to date, the program is able to serve a diverse array of University departments, from Anthropology to Engineering. The upcoming fiscal year will also see the launch of a new seed grant program rooted in transdisciplinary research and forming partnerships beyond academia.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

IBES Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Director Daniel Ibarra emphasized to attendees that the Institute’s Diversity, Inclusion, and Action Committee will work to ensure “best DEI practices permeate through everything we do within IBES.” He also introduced the IBES 2024 Climate Survey, which was recently launched. 

“We hope to take the key issues [identified] and bring them to the IBES community for future workshops and events,” Ibarra said.

Following the presentations, in-person attendees met fellow members of the IBES community and discussed their aspirations through a few rounds of “academic musical chairs.”

To conclude the event, Cobb fielded a quick question and answer session, during which new IBES Affiliate Michael Kennedy, a professor in the Watson Institute and sociology, lauded Cobb’s leadership and the community that has been fostered within IBES. 

“The positive energy in this room is just extraordinary,” he noted. “Thank you for enabling me to … see this community so inspired.”