- News from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society

If you're having trouble seeing international characters or other parts of this html page, click here to view online.

Climate-Smart Public Health
In its four years of existence, the Summer Institute on Climate Information for Public Health has brought together dozens of experts in public health, climate science and meteorology from more than 20 countries. They've learned how to use climate information to make better decisions for public health planning and disease prevention.
Read more about this year's course.

Research In Context: IRI scientists discuss East Africa Drought

Economist Dan Osgood explains how index insurance and how it is helping to reduce hardship in some poor rural communities. Climate scientist Tufa Dinku discusses his work on combining weather station data with satellite information to generate high-resolution data sets that could be used for making forecasts and feed into climate risk management activities. See these, and the rest of our videos about the crisis in East Africa on our multimedia page.

Planning for Future Disasters

Last week, Senator Harry Reid invited more than 30 teams of researchers from the physical and social sciences to Washington to present their research findings on hazard preparedness and mitigation. A team from the Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED) spoke with NSF and Senate representatives about a virtual hurricane simulation that allows them to study the ways people seek out and use information when preparing for a possible storm.
Read more about the research here.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND SEMINARS

Sept. 23: Columbia Water Center/Earth and Environmental Engineering Seminar: Water, Land and Food in China. view

October 1st: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Open House

The Open House at Columbia University's Lamont campus, where the IRI is based, provides an exciting opportunity for adults and children of every age to learn about Earth in fun and engaging ways. Stop by the IRI tent and listen to presentations on how climate information can be used to improve practices in areas such as public health, agriculture. We'll also have activities geared for children ages 8 to 88 (or younger children, with their parents' assistance). Learn more.

IRI IN THE NEWS

Scaling Up Innovative Climate Change Adaptation And Insurance Solutions In Senegal
(Reuters AlertNet). view

Would nature too do a ‘double dip' act on US? (Hindu Business Line). view

Benjamín Orlove: Cómo las Pléyades pueden guiar la agricultura (EarthSky). view

Daniel Ruiz Carrascal: Impactos del cambio climático en los páramos (EarthSky). view

CURRENT SEASONAL RAINFALL FORECAST

The International Research Institute for Climate and Society was established as a cooperative agreement between
the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Program Office and Columbia University.
It is part of The Earth Institute, Columbia University.