Call for Proposals: Earth Network Initiative, Spring 2022
The Columbia Climate School is pleased to open a call for proposals for its Earth Network initiative. The program provides a supportive framework for Columbia’s interdisciplinary collaboration to promote new approaches to research, education and impact on topics related to climate, sustainability and the future of the planet.The network can revolve around any interdisciplinary topics this involves climate school mission.
Currently there are nine active networks, covering a wide range of topics. This year, while proposals for funding on any topic will be considered, the Climate Academy is particularly interested in network proposals around energy storage, carbon management, artificial intelligence and climate, and climate finance and risk.
The Earth Network program is modeled after a successful program by the Columbia Center for the Study of Social Difference; learn more about their program and various outputs here.
How the Earth Network Works
The vision for each network is to be led by two co-directors, each from a different discipline and
Units at Columbia University that will guide the overall strategic direction, goals, and outputs of the network, in collaboration with a core group of at least 6 to 10 participating faculty members and/or researchers. The core group will then involve a wider range of participants in its activities; these participants can come from a variety of disciplines/units/departments within and outside Columbia.
Under the leadership of Sandra Goldmark and Kathryn Lattimer, the Climate School Staff Manager will provide coordination support for all networks and provide direction for related activities such as event planning, online webinars, web development, distribution to the Earth Network email list server, and Hire a student assistant.
The network has no prescribed outputs or products. In fact, it is expected that the final output of each network may look very different and may be centered around research, education, practice, and/or communication and outreach. Nonetheless, a typical evolution of a network might look like this:
- Year 1: Integrate core working groups, develop output ideas, group meetings, exploratory workshops.
- Year 2: Regular meetings of core working groups, participation of more participants, workshops or events, finalization of outputs/products/projects, etc.
- Year 3: Implement projects, public events or other outputs and disseminate results.
qualified:
- Proposals will be accepted by full- or part-time teaching staff and researchers at Columbia University (though the network itself can attract people outside of CU).
- At least one proposed co-director must be affiliated with the Climate School/Earth Institute.
Selection criteria:
- Relevance to the Climate School mission;
- Relevance to themes highlighted in this year’s conference call;
- Innovative/novel approaches to problem solving;
- Diversity Core Working Groups for Transgender, Ethnicity, Disciplines, Career Stages, CU Departments, etc.;
- Activities that demonstrate interdisciplinary potential;
- Utilize existing resources (e.g. funding, staffing, space);
- Leverage existing networks if topics are related/overlapping;
- A clear plan to build network members from across the University;
- Clear goals for the network over a three-year period; and
- Co-Directors from various disciplines and Columbia University.
Provide more details on the Request for Proposal hereand the proposal budget table is here. The full proposal is due May 27.
