Home - Cloned

An Interdisciplinary Investigation

Restorative and ruinous, excessive and scarce, water sustains life on Earth, alternatively fueling or undermining ecosystems, biodiversity, the global economy, and technological innovation.

To highlight this most precious resource, Columbia is proud to announce the Year of Water. Throughout the next two semesters, the University will hold art exhibits, concerts, lectures, and symposia focused on water in all of its social, political, cultural, economic, and environmental complexities.

 

"It is exciting for the School of the Arts to spearhead the Year of Water and to play a central role in convening the institutes, schools, and programs at Columbia engaged in important research and action around these vital concerns."

Carol Becker, Dean, School of the Arts
A woman, wearing a dark teal dress and standing in front of a sea blue background, rests her head on her hand and smiles into the camera.

More Events

Upcoming Events

A composite photo of the Earth inside a drop of water
No-Boundaries International Art Exhibit

August 2019 – January 2020

Five hundred selected artworks from children from all over the world will be shown in galleries in Beijing, Paris, Nairobi, New York, and Rio de Janeiro. “A Drop of Water” encourages exploration of the relationship between people and water through art. 

A large group of people process down a pathway holding aloft large, lanterns shaped like animals and flowers illuminated against the dark sky.
Morningside Lights: Island

Saturday, September 21
8:00 pm

The beloved neighborhood tradition returns for its eighth consecutive year. Starting September 14, Miller Theatre opens its doors for a week of free lantern-building workshops, culminating in a magical, illuminated procession through Morningside Park.

A collage of images of the ocean, glaciers, and groups of people talking
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House

Saturday, October 5
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Whether you’re an aspiring young scientist or a long-time science enthusiast, you’re sure to enjoy Lamont-Doherty’s Open House. Tour a lab, participate in hands-on earth science demonstrations, and learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries.

Open House is free and open to the public, with a $5 suggested donation.

A man in a dark suit and tie sits on a stool, looking downward slightly and smiling into the camera.
Miller Theatre Composer Portrait: Vijay Iyer

Thursday, October 24
8:00 pm

A MacArthur Fellow, a Doris Duke Performing Artist, and four-time recipient of DownBeat Magazine’s Artist of the Year, Iyer will perform the world premiere of his Song for Flint and the New York premiere of Trouble, written for violinist Jennifer Koh. The Knights, a Brooklyn-based ensemble, will make their Miller Theatre debut.

stream of water running alongside a dirt road
Climate Change, Water, and National Security

Tuesday, September 24
7:00 pm

The Sabin Center for Climate Change presents a panel discussion on what the combination of water scarcity, social tensions, and political conflicts mean for Israel, Jordan, and Palestine. 

This event is open to the public without charge but registration is required.

Choppy ocean waves hitting against a rock formation.
The Causes of Atlantic Climate Variability

Thursday, September 26
2:45 pm

The School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) presents a colloquium focusing on the Atlantic. This academic seminar will discuss the challenges to diagnosing the drivers of climate change,  and question this longstanding assumption.

Woman with dark hair standing in front of her black and white paintings
1919: Black Water Exhibition Opening

Friday, September 27
6:00 pm

For the opening reception of 1919: Black Water, the artist Torkwase Dyson will discuss how her latest project explores Chicago's tragic "Red Summer" of 1919 and the historical framework it provides in thinking through the contested geography of water, and the relationships between race, climate migration, and architecture. This exhibit is organized by the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation, and is free and open to the public. 

colorful cartoon images
Lenfest Kids: H20 Presents 'Inside Out'

Saturday, September 28
11:00 am and 3:00 pm

This Oscar-winning animated film follows five personified emotions – Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – as they help a young girl named Riley adjust to her changing life. The screening is free as part of Manhattanville Family Day, which includes other free programs and events on the Manhattanville campus.

Woman with back to camera looking out to the sea.
Water, Sound, and Indigenous Film: 'Ushui'

Thursday, October 10
6:30 pm

Ushui is about Sagas—women shamans—and their wisdom and relation to water. Produced by the Bunkuaneyuman Communications Collective of indigenous Wiwa people of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia. Screening will be followed by a conversation with experts. 

Cartoon character of a little girl standing in the water on a beach.
Lenfest Kids: H20 Presents 'Song of the Sea'

Saturday, October 19
11:00 am and 3:00 pm

Ben, a young Irish boy, and his little sister Saoirse, a girl who can turn into a seal, go on an adventure to free the fairies and save the spirit world. This 2014 animated film was directed by Tomm Moore. Ages 7+.  $7 for tickets purchased in advance;  $9 for tickets purchased at the door.

 

Centers on Water Research

Dozens of research centers and departments across Columbia are engaged in interdisciplinary research on water. Here are a few of them.

globe icon
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Seeking fundamental knowledge about the origin, evolution, and future of the natural world

snowflake icon
International Research Institute for Climate and Society

Improving the resilience of water systems worldwide

tint icon
Columbia Water Center

Our mission is to creatively tackle water challenges of a rapidly changing world where water and climate interact with food, energy, ecosystems, and urbanization.

envira icon
Kartik Chandran Lab

We develop technologies that provide clean water and sanitation to populations worldwide, while concurrently transforming wastewater into resources, including water, energy, and fertilizer.

tree icon
Gentine Lab

Investigating continental water and carbon cycles using big data

cloud icon
Environmental Tracer Group

Research on water movement in natural systems, oceanography, rivers and estuaries, and paleoclimatology