Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation Gift Launches Inaugural Columbia Climate School Scholarship
Increase access to world-leading programs
Columbia Climate School and Diamond Spielvogel Foundation Announced on February 1st Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows Program. The program creates the first two full-tuition scholarships at new schools in the University. One scholarship was established in honor of Columbia University President Lee C. Bollinger; another in honor of Alex Halliday, founding dean of the Climate School. The scholarship is designed to give high-achieving students access to Climate Schools regardless of financial circumstances.
“The value that students’ diverse perspectives and experiences bring to innovation and the discovery of new knowledge is undeniable, and this intellectual approach is most urgently needed in the work of the Columbia Climate School,” said Principal Bollinger. “The contribution of this gift to research, scholarship, and practical insight will be enormous, and I am proud to have a personal connection with the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Fellows.”
“We are very grateful to Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel for her incredible forward-looking gift,” Halliday said. Climate change will affect people from different regions and societies. We need to ensure that the most talented students have access to Climate School and its curriculum, and they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Our goal is to develop a new generation of students with an in-depth understanding of how climate change will affect human society. We thank the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation for its cooperation and support. “
“The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation is pleased to expand and continue its commitment to the public good by establishing these new fellowships,” said Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel. “Climate change is one of the most pressing global issues of our time, and it requires new, science-based, and informed solutions. With this support, the Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation hopes to enable members of underserved communities to fully participate Climate School’s innovative program and help bring diverse communities together to address this critical and difficult issue.”
Launched in 2021, the Columbia Climate Institute brings together Columbia’s strengths in climate research to help address this major global challenge.school is now in the middle of it first year at schoolwith 86 master students in its first program, MSc in Climate and Society.
The MSc in Climate and Society is an academically intensive, interdisciplinary, one-year program designed to prepare students to understand and respond to the impacts of climate variability and change. The program helps students translate complex scientific information, understand the risks posed by climate change, and how to exploit the predictable aspects of natural climate variability. Students in the program come from all over the world and bring experiences from a variety of backgrounds. An iconic capstone project brings together groups of students to work directly with external clients, preparing them for real-world impact after graduation.
This gift comes at a time when Columbia University has made increasing student support a major focus.This Student Support InitiativeAnnounced by President Bollinger in April 2021, it is committed to raising $1.4 billion in financial aid for students at 16 Columbia schools.
About Columbia Climate School
Columbia University’s School of Climate is the university’s first new school in 25 years, with the goal of integrating Columbia’s academic resources to address the challenges of climate change. This unprecedented commitment to addressing humanity’s greatest challenges builds on Columbia’s unique history of climate change research. Columbia’s faculty includes some of the world’s leading climate experts across disciplines including science, law, business, policy, engineering, and more. The University is using its talent, infrastructure and influence to meet this unprecedented global challenge.
About the Diamond Stein-Spearfogel Foundation
The Diamonstein-Spielvogel Foundation seeks to encourage informed and vibrant democracy by funding projects that demonstrate innovative ways to strengthen public and civic engagement and democracy in the United States and abroad. The foundation supports programs by recognized leaders in the civic, urban and government sectors who work to support the development of critical thinking, analytical and leadership skills in the public sector, or to foster strategic diplomatic engagement to generate positive change and progress.
