Institute at Brown for Environment and Society
IBES 10th Anniversary
Join us in celebrating the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society's longstanding legacy of impact.
IBES 10th Anniversary
Join us in celebrating the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society's longstanding legacy of impact.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/X-xQKP36cPM
Celebrating 10 Years
As IBES marks a decade of impact, we reflect on our journey, achievements, and vision for a bright future.
Coming up
IBES Open House & Panel Discussion, October 26
This Family Weekend, join the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society for an Open House and a livestreamed panel discussion on “Climate Action and the 2024 Election: Brown Alumni Innovating at Local, State and Federal Levels,” the second in a two-part series exploring the intersection of climate and electoral politics.
10th Anniversary Celebration: Photo Highlights
On Friday, May 24, 2024 IBES kicked off Commencement Weekend with a celebration of a decade of empowering people and driving solutions for a sustainable world. IBES students, alumni, families, faculty, and friends gathered under a tent on the South Walkway to explore the roots of environmental scholarship at Brown and learn how the extended IBES family is addressing the complex challenges of our time. Attendees heard from Director Kim Cobb, mingled with friends old and new, shared an anniversary cake, and raised a glass to the future of IBES.
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At a Friday celebration of IBES’ 10th anniversary, the Institute honored Harold Ward, an emeritus professor who taught the first environmentally focused courses at Brown, led the University’s first environmental studies center and helped build the UEL.
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IBES Director Kim Cobb said Harold Ward’s name and ideals would live on in the new Harold Ward Community Engagement Fund and Harold Ward Community Engagement Prize.
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Some of Friday’s guests had traveled from just across town, while others had come from across the globe.
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Guests snacked on hors d'oeuvres as they mingled.
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Speaking at a podium, Cobb applauded Harold Ward’s early efforts to develop an environmental studies program and build the UEL, a sustainable dormitory and classroom.
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Cobb presented the first ever Harold Ward Community Engagement Prize to Class of 2024 graduate Logan Torres.
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Amanda Lynch, founding director of IBES, spoke about the hard work of getting the Institute off the ground in 2014.
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The Friday event showcased research posters by graduating seniors Emma Venarde and Isabella Garo.
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Cobb and attendees raised a glass of sparkling cider to Harold Ward and the Institute’s 10th anniversary.
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The Friday event showcased research posters by graduating seniors Emma Venarde and Isabella Garo.
A Decade of Impact in Climate, Sustainability, and the Environment
In 2014, the Hunter Psychology Lab at 85 Waterman Street underwent a significant renovation, completely transforming the building's anatomy and purpose. With the installation of state-of-the art equipment and the relocation of Brown's greenhouse, 85 Waterman became the University's hub for environmental studies. That same year, undergraduate concentrations in environmental research and education were consolidated into the unified ENVS program, which emphasized integrated teaching and research under the leadership of founding director Amanda Lynch. What emerged was the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society, Brown’s center for interdisciplinary learning and research dedicated to tackling the complex climate and sustainability challenges of our time.
Now, 10 years later, we extend a warm invitation to the Brown community with shared interests in climate, sustainability, and the environment to celebrate IBES’ achievements, reflect on the Institute’s journey, and embrace its plans for the future.
IBES’ 10th anniversary is a chance to:
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Recognize and honor the significant contributions in research and teaching made by IBES and led by faculty and students over the past decade.
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Share IBES’ vision for the future: honoring the long history of environmental studies at Brown while also articulating plans for our future.
- Strengthen connections among members of our growing alumni and family community.
10th Anniversary Stories
Recent News
View all 10th anniversary news
The Brown Daily Herald
‘Students built this’: IBES celebrates 10th anniversary
IBES faculty, students, and alumni discussed the institute's rich history and what lies ahead.
October 4, 2024
News from Brown
IBES at 10: A decade of innovative research and teaching in environment and society
Founded in 2014, the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society has become a leader in producing boundary-breaking, solutions-driven research while educating the next generation of environmental leaders.
In celebration of IBES' 10th Anniversary, alumni share how their education in environmental studies and sciences has fueled their curiosity, innovation, and diverse career paths, empowering them to make an impact beyond the classroom.
Join the climate conversation at Brown! The IBES Alumni & Friends Network LinkedIn Group is your gateway to connect with this growing community in real time.
Brown University leaders outlined their comprehensive strategy to coordinate climate change initiatives — emphasizing interdisciplinary research, new faculty roles, and active student and alumni engagement.
During Commencement and Reunion Weekend, IBES celebrated its 10-year anniversary, hosted a discussion on cross-disciplinary climate action and cheered on its largest-ever graduating class.