The College of Staten Island’s Department of Engineering and Environmental Science has concluded its inaugural Earth and Environmental Science Speaker Series, drawing enthusiastic participation from over 120 students, faculty, and community members throughout the spring semester. The well-received series, organized by Lecturer Sean Thatcher, Earth and Ocean Science Coordinator, offered a dynamic and diverse platform showcasing the scope of work being done in the earth and environmental sciences.

Designed to broaden students’ understanding of the field, the speaker series brought in professionals from academia and industry to present on topics ranging from geothermal energy and volcanic response strategies to climate history, field science education, and renewable energy careers.

“The vision for this speaker series was to provide students within and beyond the Earth and Environmental Science program with a better understanding of the diverse scientific fields they could enter, the avenues of research they could pursue, and identify opportunities they could apply for between internships and research programs,” explained Thatcher. “This speaker series aimed to allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the field, learn about the career journeys of our speakers, and develop a deeper understanding of the skills that will make them successful after graduation.”

Spring 2025 Speakers Included:

  • Greg Koumoullos (Con Edison) – Utility Thermal Energy Networks
  • Dr. Lis Gallant (University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo) – Collaborative Efforts to Respond to Hawaiʻi’s Volcanic Eruptions
  • Dr. Gerry Rustic (Rowan University) – Mid-Holocene Climate Variability and the End of the Green Sahara
  • Dr. Lauren Neitzke Adamo (Rutgers University) – Preparing the Next Generation of Field Scientists
  • James Bennett (CUNY, College of Staten Island) – Offshore Wind Energy and Career Development

Attendees were encouraged to explore diverse subfields within environmental science, connect with active research and professional practices, and consider their own paths forward.

“The Earth and Environmental Sciences Speaker Series was extremely beneficial for me,” said student Iris Ditre. “I am looking forward to the next annual event. Being able to speak to esteemed professionals in various fields allowed me to see how diverse this career path is, and I received valuable advice on how to make myself more noticeable to employers to ensure success in landing a job in the future.”

The series was evaluated by attendees at an average score of 8.8 out of 10, with 31 participants attending multiple events.

“Students loved seeing how broad the field is and that not all positions are in the lab, in remote field settings, or sitting at a computer or desk,” noted Thatcher. “Knowing that you don’t need to be an expert on all fronts and that a place in science exists for you really matters. This was especially true concerning fieldwork because it can be challenging, and not all conditions are fair-weather or accessible to everyone based on individual needs. Learning how science can be conducted in teams with diverse learners, professionals, educational backgrounds, and career interests allowed them to better see how they can fit into this career field through collaboration, teamwork, and technological innovation is exactly what I was hoping our students would get from this event.”

Seeing student involvement in the series was rewarding for Thatcher, but he admits the series was a personal pride point as well, noting: “Watching students come together, learn, and make connections between how they could overcome their own challenges and limitations to identify as scientists and have a better understanding of the numerous opportunities available to them is a measure of success that cannot be quantified.”

The success of this first year lays the groundwork for future speaker series aimed at continuing to inspire and inform students at CSI. Organizers hope to build on this momentum to expand the event in future semesters and draw in an even broader array of voices and expertise.

“We plan to incorporate student feedback from post-event surveys and informal discussions. Students are most interested in learning about their career journeys, how our speakers can help them identify opportunities for skill development, external research, internship opportunities, and make connections with future employment after graduation,” Thatcher said. “We intend to reach out to an assortment of academics, environmental organizations, and consultants to build upon the initial vision and incorporate student interests.” For more information, to express interest in speaking at a future event, or if you know of someone who would make a great guest for the Spring Speaker Series in 2026, please contact Sean Thatcher at Sean.Thatcher@csi.cuny.edu.