IBES: 2023 in Review

Dive into a year of accomplishments at IBES, where community-engaged scholarship, cutting-edge research, student-led projects and events, and more highlight the many ways that our community is rising to meet the 21st century’s climate, sustainability, and environmental challenges.

Revolutionizing Coastal Climate Research

In 2023, IBES secured an EPSCoR federal grant to fund the Community-driven Coastal Climate Research and Solutions (3CRS) project. Led by Professor Emanuele Di Lorenzo and IBES researcher Sarah Lummis and supported by four other IBES faculty members, this novel initiative unites experts and stakeholders to tackle climate challenges in New England's coastal communities.

IBES Ushers in Five-Year Strategic Plan

Earlier this year, IBES launched a new strategic plan charting a course for groundbreaking research and education. As part of the plan implementation, IBES formed a new leadership team, hired new faculty and staff, and launched the IBES Alumni & Family Network. IBES also played a leading role in creating Brown's new Equitable Climate Futures initiative (see below) and was proud to sponsor the student-led Future of Sustainable Investing Conference and inaugural College Climate Gathering.

Empowering Providence Communities through Climate Education

Voss Postdocs Jayson Maurice Porter and Lina C. Pérez-Ángel designed and taught a comprehensive four-class learning module to the fifth graders at SouthSide Elementary Charter School. Their Climate Histories lesson plan is now available on the IBES website.

Additionally, Breathe Providence, a hyperlocal air monitoring network housed at IBES, organized events at local libraries where community members constructed their own Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, small indoor air filters that are effective for home use.

Convocation Keynote: “Your Climate Inheritance”

On September 5, IBES Director Kim Cobb had the honor of delivering the keynote at Brown’s 260th Opening Convocation, calling on students to unite across disciplines and take action against climate change: “Let us work together, in community and shared purpose, to ensure that our climate inheritance to the next generation is as large and enduring as it can possibly be.”

IBES DIrector Kim Cobb at podium delivering Convocation speech

Expanding the IBES Community

At IBES’ Open House and Panel Discussion, held during Family Weekend, alumni panelists explored the private sector's role in climate action and helped launch the IBES Alumni & Family Network with the goal to foster global connections among Brunonians passionate about climate and sustainability solutions.

More Event Highlights

This fall, IBES and Brown's Center for Latin American Studies screened and discussed the first two movies in the Consumable Commodities Film Series: "Soyalism" and “Maya Land: Listening to the Bees."
During the week of Indigenous Peoples Day, two Russian scholars presented on Indigenous Russia and the War in Ukraine in a discussion moderated by Bathsheba Demuth, associate professor of history and environment and society.
In March, Dr. Sacoby Wilson, a renowned environmental health scientist, led a two-part series on environmental justice: The Promise of Community-Engaged Scholarship and Community-Engaged Scholarship at IBES & Beyond.

Sakha environmental scientist and social justice advocate Vera Solovyeva&nbsp;addresses an audience in Rhode Island Hall — Sakha scholar Vera Solovyeva, Dean's Visiting Professor in the Humanities, speaks on Indigenous Russia and the War in Ukraine.

Read All About It

Two members of the IBES community published books this year: Stephen Porder, Brown's associate provost for sustainability, released “Elemental,” and Elizabeth Rush, an IBES fellow in the Department of English, published “The Quickening.”

“Residues,” co-authored by Professor Scott Frickel, won the Robert K. Merton Book Award from the Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section of the American Sociological Association.

headshots of four award winners — Clockwise from top left: Jim Kellner, Dawn King, Rachel Wetts, and Brian Lander

Faculty Awards and Appointments

Associate Professor Jim Kellner received the University’s Elizabeth LeDuc Award for Excellence in Teaching in the Life Sciences for his exceptional instruction of BIOL 0210: “The Diversity of Life.”
Senior Lecturer Dawn King was celebrated with two awards: the Howard R. Swearer Engaged Faculty Awards for Teaching and for Research and the Karen T. Romer Prize for Undergraduate Advising & Mentoring.
Assistant Professors Rachel Wetts and Brian Lander were recipients of a Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and an Early Career Research Achievement Award, respectively.
IBES Director Kim Cobb was elected as an American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Fellow.
IBES faculty Daniel Ibarra, Stephen Porder, and Meredith Hastings were appointed to endowed chairs.

Screenshot from student summer video — Yuna Sato '24 collects samples during her internship at the Stormwater Innovation Center.

Student Successes

IBES supported 20 internships and research experiences this summer, and this year’s cohort shared their experiences on social media.

Among our concentrators, some other noteworthy endeavors include Caroline Sassan ’24’s community-focused approach to policy research, Eliza Atwood ’24’s data collection in Yellowstone, and Isaac Slevin ’25’s work for Sunrise Brown’s DIRE campaign and College Climate Gathering.

A Sampling of Research Insights

IBES faculty and fellows were engaged in dozens of projects in 2023. Some highlights include:

Dan Ibarra's study on the Himalayas' historical topology as well as the revelation that Venus once had tectonic plates.
Meredith Hastings' work installing a state-of-the-art sensor to analyze Providence air quality.
Tyler Kartzinel's exploration of elephant dietary habits.
Timmons Roberts' Climate & Development Lab publishing Power Play, a report recommending actions people can take to advance an equitable energy transition.
Jon Witman investigating the current state of Cashes Ledge, a marine ecosystem he's been monitoring for decades.
Rachel Wetts delving into climate change coverage in the media.

Marine ecosystem in the Gulf of Maine — Marine ecologist and IBES fellow Jon Witman is driven to pursue permanent protection of Cashes Ledge, a unique ecosystem and natural laboratory in the heart of the Gulf of Maine.

Supporting Brown's “Living Lab” Efforts

Brown serves as a model for other leaders in higher education in many ways. For example, the University is exploring the potential of geothermal energy for campus heating, with three test wells providing crucial data. As IBES supports these efforts, Stephen Porder — IBES professor and associate provost for sustainability — noted, "At Brown we’re leading a transformation of the campus into a living lab, so that we can learn together as a community what it means to live sustainably."

In addition, Elina Pipa ’25 built upon a proposal she drafted in Porder's "Climate Solutions" course (ENVS 0465) to champion energy-generating workout equipment at the Nelson Fitness Center. Meanwhile, students in "Humans, Nature, and the Environment" (ENVS 0110) participated in community-engaged projects, like collaborating with the George Wiley Center to get the word out about moratoriums for utility shutoffs.

One of three campus locations chosen as sites for geothermal test-wells.

Cover of PDF for Equitable Climate Future Proposal

Brown accelerates solutions-focused climate research with IBES-led Equitable Climate Futures initiative

This new Brown University initiative aims to address the urgent challenges posed by the climate crisis through collaborative research. Over the next three years, Equitable Climate Futures will strengthen Brown's climate solutions research capacity by fostering partnerships and engagement with communities most impacted by climate change. IBES is the lead partner in the initiative and a website is in the works.

Looking ahead to 2024

Mark you calendars for these upcoming events:

On January 26, 2024, IBES will host a virtual book talk with Professor Stephen Porder, whose new book “Elemental” discusses how microbes, plants, and people harnessed the fundamental building blocks of life to change the course of life on Earth.
On February 15 at 4:00 p.m., IBES will host a Town Hall & Reception. The event will feature an update from Director Kim Cobb on IBES’ recent progress, a chance to network with others in the community, and an opportunity to provide feedback during a Q&A session.
IBES will again serve as a lead sponsor for the student-led Future of Sustainable Investing Conference (FSIcon), taking place on campus all day on March 8.
IBES plans to host an event on the Friday afternoon of Reunion Weekend (May 24, 2024) in celebration of the institute’s 10-year anniversary. Details to come!

Announcing the new IBES Alumni & Family Network

The new IBES Alumni & Family Network is dedicated to fostering lasting connections and collaboration among Brown University alumni and their families who share a deep interest in climate, sustainability, and environmental matters.

Learn more