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Kingston Air Quality Initiative at Bard College Reports After Five Years of Monitoring

The Center for the Environment Sciences and Humanities at Bard College (CESH) is pleased to announce the findings of the Kingston Air Quality Initiative (KAQI) after five consecutive years of research and data collection. This is the first year that Hudson Valley Air Quality Coalition (HVAQ) has joined in producing the report, marking the first ever “Kingston Community Air Quality Report,” which is based on data produced through the Hudson Valley Community Air Network (HVCAN), a regional, community-powered outdoor air monitoring project.

Kingston Air Quality Initiative at Bard College Reports After Five Years of Monitoring

The Center for the Environment Sciences and Humanities at Bard College (CESH) is pleased to announce the findings of the Kingston Air Quality Initiative (KAQI) after five consecutive years of research and data collection.

KAQI began in January 2020 as a partnership between Bard’s Community Sciences Lab and the City of Kingston Conservation Advisory Council’s Air Quality Subcommittee. Since then, Kingston residents and Bard College students, staff, and faculty have facilitated both indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring projects throughout the Hudson Valley. The first air quality study of its kind in Kingston, KAQI’s monitoring efforts focus on a regional assessment of air pollution as measured from the rooftop of the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center on Broadway in Kingston.

“As a compact urban city, with a large percentage of our community living in either disadvantaged communities designated areas and/or potential environmental justice areas, we are acutely aware of the localized impacts of air pollution on our community members and quality of life,”said Julie L. Noble, sustainability coordinator for the city of Kingston. “The partnership we have had with Bard has been tremendously positive for us, providing sound, local data that we have been able to share, in real time, with our residents, to help them stay safe, plan accordingly, and make better choices for their own health and for the health of our environment.”

This is the first year that Hudson Valley Air Quality Coalition (HVAQ) has joined in producing the report, marking the first ever “Kingston Community Air Quality Report,” which is based on data produced through the Hudson Valley Community Air Network (HVCAN), a regional, community-powered outdoor air monitoring project. The newly released Community Air Quality Report for Kingston will be used as a model for other municipal areas where HVCAN has sensors. These annual air quality reports are intended to emulate the Drinking Water Quality reports that are issued by municipalities every year.

“Kingston residents should feel proud that we are one of the rare US communities that produces an annual report on the air we breathe! The information it contains may be new to many people, such as the outsized effect woodburning has on our air quality, our health and the climate,” says Lorraine Farina, long-time community scientist and HVAQ Coordinator. “This report, along with the extraordinary partnership between HVAQ and the Bard Community Sciences Lab and the new JustAir alert system will help us make well-informed decisions that are within our local control to preserve and improve our air quality.”

Additionally, Bard’s Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities, through the Community Sciences Lab, is excited to announce that the success of KAQI has led to an expansion of air quality initiatives in the Hudson Valley, including the recent launch of a new online tool that allows people in the Hudson Valley community to have better access to information about their air. CESH has partnered with JustAir, an environmental justice tech start-up, to create the Hudson Valley Community Air Network x JustAir platform that gives direct access to real-time, validated air quality data in an accessible format. Air quality monitoring is critical to people’s knowledge of what they are breathing, and the more hyperlocal data, the better. Both street level data and regional data are essential for a complete picture of air quality.

“The Just Air app is an exciting next step in our collaborative efforts to protect air quality, residents' health, and the health of our environment,” said Farina. “During these times of increased wildfire activity, knowledge is increasing that fine particulate matter, from wildfires and from local wood burning, are major challenges to these goals. This app will make it more apparent and easier for people to  keep track of their air quality and to recognize we have control of local contributions to poor air quality.”

KAQI’s main monitoring efforts focus on a regional assessment of air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM2.5), made up of microscopic particles from burnt fuel that are released into the air from oil burners, gas burners, automobiles, cooking, grilling, and both indoor and outdoor wood burning. PM2.5 particles are so tiny, they stay suspended in the air for long periods of time, allowing them to travel long distances before depositing. When these particles are inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream through the lungs, creating or worsening health issues. There is no safe level of exposure. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “small particulate pollution has health impacts even at very low concentrations – indeed no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed.”

Residential wood burning is the largest source of PM 2.5 in Ulster County. It is responsible for more than half of emissions from all sources combined (including all types of vehicle emissions and all types of fuel source emissions). Burning wood is more polluting than burning oil, gas, or coal.

After five years of comprehensive monitoring in Kingston, we continue to uncover valuable insights into our air quality and its connection to our daily activities and decisions as citizens. Kingston air quality in 2024 slightly improved from 2023 (based on PM 2.5 concentrations). This was likely due to a decrease in ground-level Canadian wildfire smoke, although we detected increased wood smoke pollution during several Ulster County wildfires in November 2024. 

We also found that air quality measured from a rooftop is helpful as a regional air quality indicator, but that street-level air quality often has worse air quality, since PM 2.5 and other air pollutants can settle and move more slowly amongst city buildings. This phenomenon has confirmed our need for more street-level sensors in all Kingston area neighborhoods to be able to help our community make informed decisions when it comes to air quality. Having this public information would allow us to protect ourselves and our families when air quality worsens, and also allow us to make informed decisions about helping to improve air quality during those times.

One consistent observation over the past five years is the seasonal trend of higher PM 2.5 concentrations in the winter and summer months, likely attributable to wood and fuel used for heating and recreation. Another critical factor and ongoing research subject is atmospheric inversions and their implications for ground-level air pollution in Kingston. These events occur when the temperature of the atmosphere increases with altitude and surface level air parcels are unable to rise up, trapping air pollution at ground level. Given Kingston's location in the Hudson Valley, where air circulation is restricted, awareness of these events is crucial for informed decision-making to mitigate air pollution.

As we continue to research the complexities of air quality management, it's essential for Kingston residents to stay informed and engaged. By adopting sustainable practices, supporting clean energy initiatives, and advocating for policies that prioritize air quality, we can work together to create a healthier environment for all. More details about KAQI’s findings can be found at the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities website: https://cesh.bard.edu/kingston-air-quality-initiative-kaqi/

“This unprecedented partnership with the city of Kingston is a model for Hudson Valley cities building resiliency in the face of climate change,” said Eli Dueker, associate professor of environmental studies and biology, and director of the Bard Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities. “By monitoring our own air quality, we, as a community, can together make decisions about the air we breathe. As last year’s Canadian wildfire smoke, and Ulster County wildfires reminded us, we cannot take clean air for granted. The air we breathe relates directly to our health, and it is important that we as a community ensure that everyone has access to clean, healthy air. Each of us can contribute to this effort, by making decisions about what we contribute to the air, including respecting city laws related to outdoor woodburning in city limits, decreasing indoor woodburning (particularly during inversion events), biking and walking more, and participating in city-led efforts to move to sustainable (and less polluting) energy sources as we further climate-proof our city.”

​​“At the Community Sciences Lab, democratizing access to local, real-time and historical environmental data is what we do, said Desirée Lyle, Community Sciences Lab Manager at Bard College. “And working to make that data digestible and actionable is a critical step toward environmental justice and empowering communities to protect their health, improve and extend their quality of life, and advocate for a safer, more resilient Hudson Valley.”

The Center for the Environment Sciences and Humanities at Bard College, through the Community Sciences Lab, has been working on a handful of air quality related projects centralized around community needs and concerns. These include:
  • Neighborhood-level air quality monitoring, through the fast-developing Hudson Valley Library Air Quality Network. Using outdoor real-time air quality monitoring devices stationed at public libraries, air quality data is free and accessible online. If any libraries are interested in joining, please reach out to [email protected].
  • In partnership with SUNY-Albany and the EPA, conducting indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring in homes with woodsmoke, mold and structurally-related air quality challenges.
  • In partnership with SUNY-Albany, tracking air pollutants such as Ozone, Black and Brown Carbon, and VOC’s from HVCAN’s four Hudson Valley regional air quality stations.
For more information or ways to get involved, please visit https://cesh.bard.edu/kingston-air-quality-initiative-kaqi/

Further coverage:
Bard College expands Hudson Valley air monitoring initiative, details findings in Kingston (WAMC)
How's the Air? How's the Water?? (Radio Kingston)
Bard College measures air quality in four areas of region (Mid Hudson News)

 

Post Date: 06-26-2025

Bard College Launches New Online Platform in Partnership with JustAir to Give Public Access to Real-Time Hudson Valley Air Quality Information

The Center for the Environmental Sciences and Humanities at Bard College (CESH) is thrilled to announce the launch of a new online tool that allows people in the Hudson Valley community to have better access to information about their air. CESH has partnered with JustAir, an environmental justice tech start-up, to create a platform that gives direct access to real-time, validated air quality data in an accessible format.

Bard College Launches New Online Platform in Partnership with JustAir to Give Public Access to Real-Time Hudson Valley Air Quality Information

The Center for the Environmental Sciences and Humanities at Bard College (CESH) is thrilled to announce the launch of a new online tool that allows people in the Hudson Valley community to have better access to information about their air. CESH has partnered with JustAir, an environmental justice tech start-up, to create a platform that gives direct access to real-time, validated air quality data in an accessible format.

Joining the platform offers Hudson Valley residents the option to subscribe to “favorite” monitors based on locale. Subscribing enables users to receive updates on their phones when air quality reaches unhealthy pollution levels so people can take precautions and protect their and their family’s health. This feature will also include guidance on ways people can help to reduce local air pollution levels during that time. For example, community members can know when to avoid wood burning or to limit car and other exhaust.

Large swaths of the United States, especially in rural regions like the Hudson Valley, have been identified as air quality monitoring deserts, relying on remote data from monitoring sites, which may be located far from the actual locations where people are living. This can result in misleading data that can be harmful to public health. People make day-to-day decisions that impact their health, like whether to exercise or wear a mask outdoors, based on inaccurate air quality readings.

The new Hudson Valley Community Air Network x JustAir platform provides far more accurate readings using validated, real-time data from Bard College Community Sciences Lab’s four Regional Air Quality Stations located at the Stevenson Library on Bard campus in Red Hook, Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center in Kingston, Adriance Library in Poughkeepsie, and Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. These stations are equipped with sensors from PurpleAir and QuantAQ which measure particulate matter concentrations in the air. The weather stations also collect weather data on rainfall, barometric pressure, temperature, wind direction, wind speed, and solar radiation.

Each regional air quality station will host a launch event where local community members can join and learn more about the impacts of air pollution on their lives. Event dates and details are listed below.

Since 2020, Bard College Community Sciences Lab has worked to establish Bard’s Hudson Valley Community Air Network (HVCAN), an outdoor air quality monitoring network of 45 street-level sensors spanning from Albany to Newburgh that capture data on a hyperlocal neighborhood level. Through the support of municipal, private, and community sponsors, Bard plans to implement the next phase of the JustAir platform resulting in the complete onboarding of HVCAN’s hyperlocal sensors, which will serve as a model for air quality monitoring that is functional for community needs and free from national-level tampering. The City of Kingston and Ulster County have already committed to sponsoring several street-level sensors, and more municipal involvement across the Hudson Valley is anticipated. The localized data provided through this app will be the first ground truthing—assessing the accuracy of remote sensing data—of air quality in the Hudson Valley.

“Knowledge is power, and access to real-time air quality data gives people the tools they need to protect their health and the health of their families,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “This new platform empowers Hudson Valley residents to make informed decisions about their daily activities, whether it’s choosing when to exercise outdoors or taking precautions on high-pollution days. Ulster County is proud to be a partner in this initiative and we look forward to bringing our street-level sensors online so residents can access even more local data. Expanding air quality monitoring across the region is a crucial step toward ensuring cleaner air and a healthier future for all.”

“The City of Kingston has been proud to partner with the Bard College Community Sciences Lab and to host air quality monitors on one of our most prominent buildings in Kingston,” said Julie Noble, Project Manager and Sustainability Coordinator of the City of Kingston. “The new JustAir platform is going to be so valuable to our residents and continues to help us advance our sustainability as well as health and wellness goals for the City.”

“Introducing this seamless public access to real-time outdoor air quality comes after years of unique collaborations between Bard College and Hudson Valley leaders. Although we often don’t think about it, clean air is a precious resource that needs to be protected in the same way we protect our beautiful waterways,” stated Eli Dueker, Associate Professor of Bard Environmental Studies and Director of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities. “Bard students and faculty are thrilled to participate in ongoing community work to equitably address both indoor and outdoor air quality in our region – forming the Hudson Valley Community Air Network is a big step in this process.”

“In Newburgh, we face serious environmental challenges and often lack the information needed to protect our health. This platform changes that. It gives our community real-time air quality data so families can make informed decisions. At Outdoor Promise, we believe knowledge leads to action, and this partnership with Bard and JustAir puts that power in the hands of the people,” said Ronald Zorilla, cofounder and CEO of Outdoor Promise in Newburgh.

“The Poughkeepsie Public Library District is thrilled to be part of this important quality-of-life program offered through a collaboration with Bard College. Public libraries play a critical role in providing information, and this is another innovative way in which we can bring the information to our residents,” said Tom Lawrence, director of  the Adriance Memorial Library in Poughkeepsie.

“The Just Air app is an exciting next step in our collaborative efforts to protect air quality, residents' health, and the health of our environment,” said Lorraine Farina, coordinator of HVAQ.  “During these times of increased wildfire activity, knowledge is increasing that fine particulate matter, from wildfires and from local wood burning, are major challenges to these goals. This app will make it more apparent and easier for people to  keep track of their air quality and to recognize we have control of local contributions to poor air quality.”

“We at JustAir are proud to be partnering with Bard College's Community Sciences Lab to publicly launch the Hudson Valley Community Air Network,” said Darren Riley, cofounder and CEO of Just Air. “In this project, our platform will support the work that residents and researchers with the Hudson Valley Air Quality Coalition have been doing in their communities for years. We expect this data will further encourage community science and provide a basis for actions to improve residents’ health. We look forward to where this partnership will lead.”

Bard College Community Sciences Lab’s work is conducted with the idea that academic institutions can be powerful community partners in developing climate resilience locally. One focus of the lab is quantifying and tracking energy-related aerosols linked to activities such as commercial and residential heating, construction, and transportation at the local scale. Bard collaborates with communities by providing them the data they need in order to move forward on the development and implementation of unified community response to pollutants that may pose a public health concern. The JustAir Bard College Community Sciences Lab platform builds on prior projects including the Kingston Air Quality Initiative (KAQI), which released a four-year air quality study report with the city of Kingston last year.

Bard College is grateful to work in partnership and collaboration with Hudson Valley Air Quality Coalition, Outdoor Promise, City of Kingston, Poughkeepsie Adriance Memorial Library, Mount Saint Mary’s College, Ulster County, Kingston Air Quality Initiative, Town of Red Hook, and all of the libraries participating in the  Hudson Valley Library Air Quality Network.
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JustAir Bard College Community Sciences Lab Launch Events

Poughkeepsie JustAir Launch Event
Tuesday, June 24
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Adriance Memorial Library
93 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601

Newburgh JustAir Launch Event
Wednesday, June 25
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Desmond Center at Mount Saint Mary College
330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550

Kingston JustAir Launch Event
Thursday, June 26
5:30 to 7:30 pm
Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center
467 Broadway, Kingston, NY 12401

Further reading:
What’s the air quality in the Hudson Valley? There’s a tool for that. [originally published in Times Union]


Learn more about HVCAN and join the JustAir x Bard platform

Post Date: 06-10-2025

Bard College Hosts Symposium on PCB Contamination and “Bomb Trains” Threatening the Hudson/Mahicantuck River on April 11

On Friday, April 11 from 10 am to 4 pm in Olin Hall, Bard College will host “The Fate of the River,” a symposium centered on two major environmental threats facing the Hudson/Mahicantuck River—high levels of PCB contamination in the river and “bomb trains,” overloaded freight trains carrying Bakken shale oil and unidentified chemicals along the eroding west bank of the river. Students, faculty, staff, and members of the Hudson Valley community are welcome to attend for all or part of the symposium.

Bard College Hosts Symposium on PCB Contamination and “Bomb Trains” Threatening the Hudson/Mahicantuck River on April 11

Bard College will host “The Fate of the River,” a symposium centered on two major environmental threats facing the Hudson/Mahicantuck River. The symposium will take place on Friday, April 11 from 10 am to 4 pm in Olin Hall at Bard College. “The Fate of the River” will call attention to high levels of PCB contamination in the river and “bomb trains”—overloaded freight trains carrying Bakken shale oil and unidentified chemicals along the eroding west bank of the river. General Electric’s dumping of toxic material in the river over 30 years and its subsequent clean-up between 2009 and 2015 that did not meet agreed upon environmental benchmarks has resulted in the river’s high levels of PCB contamination. Continuing PCB contamination causes human health risks, ongoing extinction and disease to fish and wildlife, and damages river ecosystems, wetlands, ground water, and soil. The other symposium topic is the environmental threat of “Bomb Trains” carrying highly explosive fossil fuels, which if derailed, spell catastrophe in impacted communities.

The purpose of this symposium is to facilitate public discussion informed by science, environmental law, and best citizen advocacy practices and to explore how members of the community can effectively address and work together to curtail these threats. Morning presentations will be followed by an afternoon panel and public discussion. Members of the Hudson Valley community are welcome to attend for all or part of the symposium.

Key speakers include writer, filmmaker and adventurer, Jon Bowermaster; Associate Director of Government Affairs at Riverkeeper Jeremy Cherson MS ’15, who is working to advance Riverkeeper’s priorities in Albany and Washington; Senior Staff Attorney at Food & Water Watch and Bard faculty member Erin Doran; public health physician and Director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at SUNY Albany David O. Carpenter; and lawyer Florence Murray, whose practice specializes in traumatic brain injuries and wrongful death actions, civil rights violations with severe injuries, trucking collisions, and railroad derailments—such as the one in East Palestine, Ohio.

“The Fate of the River” symposium is the first in a series of public discussions entitled Environmental Injustice Across the Americas that focuses on state-sanctioned pollution, the poisoning of water, destruction of the commons, and the fight for justice. “The Fate of the River” is cosponsored by Bard College’s Human Rights Program, Center for Civic Engagement, Center for Environmental Policy, Environmental Studies, and the Office of Sustainability.
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“The Fate of the River” Symposium Schedule
Friday, April 11, 2025
Olin Hall, Bard College


10:00–10:10 am Introduction to “The Fate of the River” symposium
10:10–10: 35 am Introduction and screening of Jon Bowermaster’s film A Toxic Legacy about General Electric’s contamination of the Hudson/Mahicantuck River
10:40–11:00 am Jeremy Cherson, Associate Director of Government Affairs, Riverkeeper
11:05–11:25 am Erin Doran, Faculty in Environmental Law, Bard Center for Environmental Policy, and Senior Staff Attorney, Food & Water Watch
11:35–11:55 am David Carpenter, Director of Institute for Health and the Environment, SUNY Albany
Noon–1:00 pm LUNCH BREAK
1:05–1:25 pm Eli Dueker, Associate Professor of Environmental and Urban Studies, and Director of Bard Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities
1:25–1:40 pm Introduction to and screening of Jon Bowermaster’s film Bomb Trains
1:40–2:00 pm Jeremy Cherson, Associate Director of Government Affairs, Riverkeeper
2:00–2:20 pm Florence Murray, Partner of Murray & Murray Law Firm, represents stakeholders affected by the toxic aftermath of the 2023 derailment of a Norfolk Southern train in East Palestine, Ohio
2:20–2:40 pm COFFEE BREAK
2:40–4:00 pm Panel and Public Discussion: “Next Steps Toward a Healthier
River”

Refreshments graciously provided by Taste Budds and Yum Yum of Red Hook.

Post Date: 03-31-2025
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    “This funding is an important investment in community-directed stewardship of Hudson River waterways, and I applaud the DEC for recognizing this,” says Bard Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental and Urban Studies M. Elias Dueker, who is also codirector of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities, and head of the Community Sciences Lab. “With the increased pace of climate change, current policies regarding nutrient loading, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment simply are not keeping up with the increasing likelihood of algal blooms in our waterways as temperatures rise and precipitation regimes shift. Community scientists with a true sense of connection to these resources are a vital bridge between on-the-ground, real-time realities and the capacity for regulatory agencies to keep communities local to vulnerable waterways like the Wallkill safe. Community science is key to true climate adaptation and resilience, and I am thrilled to be part of this collaboration.”

    Executive Director of Hudson River Watershed Alliance Emily Vail said: “The Hudson River Watershed Alliance is excited to be collaborating with scientists, local and regional organizations, and community members on this challenging and important issue. Harmful algal blooms can put people and pets at risk, and are an emerging threat in lakes and rivers. We’re looking forward to better understanding the latest science and communication strategies to keep people informed.”

    Science Director of Riverkeeper Shannon Roback said: “Harmful algal blooms can pose health problems for both humans and animals who are exposed. As climate change progresses, we expect this risk to increase as blooms become more common. Effective public communication will be essential in reducing the harms. We are very excited that the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program has funded our proposal to develop strategies to improve public outreach, communication and education around HABs, which we expect to have significant impacts to public health.”

    “New York State is investing in projects that will improve resiliency and protect our natural resources both in the Hudson River Valley and across the state,” Governor Hochul said. “These 26 local grants will provide dozens of communities support to improve recreation, expand river access and education, and preserve and protect this iconic river for future generations of New Yorkers.”

    Now in its 21st year, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Hudson River Estuary Grants Program implements priorities outlined in the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025. To date, DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program awarded 643 grants totaling more than $28 million. Funding for DEC’s Estuary Grants program is provided by New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects. Governor Hochul’s proposed 2024-25 Executive Budget maintains EPF funding at $400 million, the highest level of funding in the program’s history. 

    Post Date: 03-05-2024
  • Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking Hosts Conference on “Climate Change in the Classroom: Embracing New Paradigms” on April 26

    Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking Hosts Conference on “Climate Change in the Classroom: Embracing New Paradigms” on April 26

    Bard College’s Institute for Writing and Thinking (IWT) will host its annual April Conference and welcomes educators of all disciplines on Friday, April 26 from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. This year’s IWT conference will focus on “Climate Change in the Classroom: Embracing New Paradigms.” The conference will be hybrid, and participants can join online or in person at Bard’s Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, campus. Participants can learn more about the conference and register here.

    The rate and severity of extreme climate events can bring on a feeling of numbness and resignation rather than catalyzing responsive resilience in the classroom. How can we refocus the conversation from crisis to education and adaptation? The 2024 IWT April Conference will conduct a deep dive into layered and often contradictory pedagogies about the natural world. This day of shared writing and reflection invites participants to join together in small, interactive workshop groups in order to explore a range of written, audio, visual, and hybrid texts—on topics from manifest destiny to global climate strikes—that are creating a new ecology of education.

    The day will feature a plenary conversation by two Bard colleagues on the topic of climate change in the classroom from the perspectives of the humanities and STEM, respectively. Visiting Writer in Residence Jenny Offill is the author of three novels, Last Things, Dept. of Speculation, and most recently, Weather, which was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Eli Dueker is associate professor of biology and environmental and urban studies at Bard, codirector of the Center for Environmental Sciences and Humanities, and head of the Community Sciences Lab. 

    Tuition fees are from $450 to $575, with Early Bird (before March 26) and Group discounts. Scholarships are available by application here. The IWT conference is Continuing Teacher and Leader Education 5.5 credit hours. Register here.

    Post Date: 02-20-2024

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2023

Friday, December 8, 2023
Reem-Kayden Center  2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Join the Bard College Ecology Field Station interns for a student-led workshop to learn about the (non-human) mammals that can be found on campus and the surrounding areas. Find out how we use trail cameras to locate and identify local species and how you can get involved in our efforts to map campus biodiversity. Snacks will be provided!
The workshop will be held in RKC 114.


Tuesday, November 28, 2023
  Gabriel Hetland, Associate Professor of Latin American, Caribbean, and Latina/o Studies
Faculty Affiliate, Sociology Department, SUNY Albany

Olin 102  5:00 pm – 6:30 pm EST/GMT-5
This will be a book talk. In case you want an image of the book or other details, click here.Is democracy possible only when it is safe for elites? Latin American history seems to suggest so. Right-wing forces have repeatedly deposed elected governments that challenged the rich and accepted democracy only after the defanging of the Left and widespread market reform. Latin America’s recent “left turn” raised the question anew: how would the Right react if democracy threatened elite interests?
This book examines the complex relationship of the Left, the Right, and democracy through the lens of local politics in Venezuela and Bolivia. Drawing on two years of fieldwork, Gabriel Hetland compares attempts at participatory reform in cities governed by the Left and Right in each country. He finds that such measures were more successful in Venezuela than Bolivia regardless of which type of party held office, though existing research suggests that deepening democracy is much more likely under a left party. Hetland accounts for these findings by arguing that Venezuela’s ruling party achieved hegemony—presenting its ideas as the ideas of all—while Bolivia’s ruling party did not. The Venezuelan Right was compelled to act on the Left’s political terrain; this pushed it to implement participatory reform in an unexpectedly robust way. In Bolivia, demobilization of popular movements led to an inhospitable environment for local democratic deepening under any party.

Democracy on the Ground shows that, just as right-wing hegemony can reshape the Left, leftist hegemony can reshape the Right. Offering new perspectives on participation, populism, and Latin American politics, this book challenges widespread ideas about the constraints on democracy.


Saturday, November 11, 2023
Blithewood Lawn  10:00 am – 12:00 pm EST/GMT-5
Join the Bard College Ecology Field Station for a student-led Overwintering Bird Walk. Help us map campus biodiversity by learning how to identify and document local birds! Meet at Blithewood Lawn. Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather.


Friday, October 13, 2023
Parliament of Reality  6:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join the Bard Ecology Field Station for a Friday the 13th owl and bat walk led by Field Station interns. We'll meet at the Parliament of Reality at 6 pm to look for bats and then head out for the owl walk around 6:45 pm.


Sunday, October 1, 2023
Walk/Hike
Montgomery Place Estate  10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Long before there was online shopping, there were print catalogs; before the internet there were journals; before social media there were social circles; and before podcasts there were dinner parties. Meet some of the visitors and residents who made significant contributions to life at Montgomery Place while also shaping a wider worldview of their special field of interest. Highlighted personalities will include: A. J. Downing, landscape designer and founding journalist; A. J. Davis, architect and A-list invitee; Alexander Gilson, descendent of slaves, businessman, and groundbreaking gardener; Violetta White Delafield, scientist, pioneering mycologist, and outdoor wellness advocate. Walk will be postponed until October 8 only if heavy rain is forecast. Wear comfortable walking shoes and long pants. Difficulty: Moderate. Not suitable for children under age 7.


Wednesday, September 27, 2023
(2023 Film, Second Screening)
Campus Center, Weis Cinema  9:00 pm – 11:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
A crew of young environmental activists execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline, in Daniel Goldhaber's taut and timely thriller that is part high-stakes heist, part radical exploration of the climate crisis. Based on the controversial book by Andreas Malm.


Wednesday, September 27, 2023
(2023 Film)
Campus Center, Weis Cinema  6:30 pm – 8:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
A crew of young environmental activists execute a daring mission to sabotage an oil pipeline, in Daniel Goldhaber's taut and timely thriller that is part high-stakes heist, part radical exploration of the climate crisis. Based on the controversial book by Andreas Malm.


Wednesday, September 20, 2023
  Field Station  4:00 pm – 5:30 pm EDT/GMT-4
Are you curious about what goes on at the Ecology Field Station down on Tivoli South Bay? Do you want to learn about the natural history of the Hudson Valley and see our collection of mammals, birds, and butterflies? Need an excuse to get out and explore a less visited part of campus?

Just wander down Bay Road (or take the trail along the Saw Kill) to the Field Station during our open house. Drop by to tour the facilities, view selected specimens from the collections, and learn about our programs.

For directions and to RSVP, please visit https://forms.gle/pbisJb2Zo4nRCpsR8.

Follow us on Instagram: @bardfieldstation


Download: FieldStationOpenHouseF23.pdf

Sunday, September 17, 2023
Walk/Hike
Montgomery Place Estate  10:30 am – 12:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
From farmland to pleasure ground, from national historic site to college campus, much has changed at Montgomery Place over its most recent 220 year history. We’ll walk the trails, meander through the meadows, and stroll the gardens while observing modernization’s impact on the land and water, and learning about the diverse peoples whose history here really goes back thousands of years. Enjoy a ramble through the remnants of a once romantic morning walk. Take in spectacular views of the Hudson River and Catskill Mountains while exploring the wilderness trails in the ravine formed by the Sawkill Creek. Historical highlights include cascading waterfalls and the hydropower station, the allée of the arboretum through the east lawn, the coach house, and the rough and formal gardens. Walk will be postponed until September 24 only if heavy rain is forecast.


Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Join an online informational webinar to earn a $65 application fee waiver! 
Online Event  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
RSVP HERE

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds online informational webinars for prospective students to learn more about graduate school options in our MBA in Sustainability and Center for Environmental Policy programs.

Learn about our programs directly from Director Eban Goodstein and the admissions team. There will be a time for questions at the end of the session.

WHAT WE COVER: Overview of graduate program offerings Alumni success and career outcomes Admissions information Prerequisite course information Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs Financial aid and scholarships Tips for a standout applicationA $65 application fee waiver is available to those who participate in the webinar.


Wednesday, April 26, 2023
With Susan Fox Rogers
Montgomery Place Visitor Center  12:30 pm – 1:20 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join Susan Fox Rogers, long-time Bard faculty, avid birder, and author of Learning the Birds: A Mid-Life Adventure, as she leads us on a walk around the beautiful grounds at Montgomery Place. Under her expert guidance, observe and identify the vast and varied bird populations that live here or include this location in their migratory travels.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Susan will have a scope. Wear sturdy shoes. All are welcome!

Meet at the Montgomery Place Visitor Center for a prompt 12:30 pm start. This event is weather dependent. If it has to be canceled, an email will go out the morning of the event, so please check your emails accordingly.


Wednesday, April 19, 2023
With Susan Fox Rogers
Montgomery Place Visitor Center  12:30 pm – 1:20 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join Susan Fox Rogers, long-time Bard faculty, avid birder, and author of Learning the Birds: A Mid-Life Adventure, as she leads us on a walk around the beautiful grounds at Montgomery Place. Under her expert guidance, observe and identify the vast and varied bird populations that live here or include this location in their migratory travels.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Susan will have a scope. Wear sturdy shoes. All are welcome!

Meet at the Montgomery Place Visitor Center for a prompt 12:30 pm start. This event is weather dependent. If it has to be canceled, an email will go out the morning of the event, so please check your emails accordingly.


Friday, April 14, 2023
Campus Center, Lawn  1:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
The EcoChallenge Fair on 4/14 is a chance to: Clean Up Campus from 1–2:30 pm, with Bard Athletics Tune up your bike with the Bike Coop from 1–4 pm Build a Plastic Monster with BardE3s from 1–4 pm Join the contest for No Cig Butts on Campus (prizes!) Pledge to green your commute with 511NY RideShare! Find us at the Campus Center QuadIt's not too late to be part of Bard's EcoChallenge Team—earn points by doing good things for yourself and the planet for the month of April!


Wednesday, April 12, 2023
With Susan Fox Rogers
Montgomery Place Visitor Center  12:30 pm – 1:20 pm EDT/GMT-4
Join Susan Fox Rogers, long-time Bard faculty, avid birder, and author of Learning the Birds: A Mid-Life Adventure, as she leads us on a walk around the beautiful grounds at Montgomery Place. Under her expert guidance, observe and identify the vast and varied bird populations that live here or include this location in their migratory travels.

Bring binoculars if you have them. Susan will have a scope. Wear sturdy shoes. All are welcome!

Meet at the Montgomery Place Visitor Center for a prompt 12:30 pm start. This event is weather dependent. If it has to be canceled, an email will go out the morning of the event, so please check your emails accordingly.


Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Join an online informational webinar to earn a $65 application fee waiver! 
Online Event  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
RSVP HERE

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds online informational webinars for prospective students to learn more about graduate school options in our MBA in Sustainability and Center for Environmental Policy programs.

Learn about our programs directly from Director Eban Goodstein and the admissions team. There will be a time for questions at the end of the session.

WHAT WE COVER: Overview of graduate program offerings Alumni success and career outcomes Admissions information Prerequisite course information Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs Financial aid and scholarships Tips for a standout applicationA $65 application fee waiver is available to those who participate in the webinar.


Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Wednesday, March 29, 5–8 pm at the MPR. Free Mocktails+Dinner, Panel, Open Discussion: Bard’s Teach-in on Climate and Justice.
Campus Center, Multipurpose Room  5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Worried about climate change? The world is getting to work on climate repair. Find out how! Join the 2023 Bard Teach-in on Climate and Justice. Free Mocktails+Dinner with Hudson Valley Climate Leaders Keynote Panel: People and Planet Working on Climate Repair, with Bard Professors Felicia Keesing and Eban Goodstein Breakout Conversation: Scale of 1–10, Where Are You on Climate? Where is Everybody Else?More Teach-in Events: #MakeClimateAClass in 40 Bard Classes Climate Game Night! March 30, Faculty Dining Room, Kline Commons


Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Free Mocktails+Dinner, Panel, Open Discussion: Bard’s Teach-in on Climate and Justice
Campus Center, Multipurpose Room  5:00 pm – 8:00 pm EDT/GMT-4
Worried about Climate Change? The World Is Getting to Work on Climate Repair: Find Out How!Join the 2023 Bard Teach-in on Climate and Justice. Free Mocktails+Dinner with Hudson Valley Climate Leaders Keynote Panel: People and Planet Working on Climate Repair, with Bard Professors Felicia Keesing and Eban Goodstein Breakout Conversation: Scale of 1–10, Where Are You on Climate? Where is Everybody Else?More Teach-in Events: #MakeClimateAClass in 40 Bard Classes Climate Game Night! March 30, Faculty Dining Room, Kline Commons


Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Join an online informational webinar to earn a $65 application fee waiver! 
Online Event  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EST/GMT-5
RSVP HERE

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds online informational webinars for prospective students to learn more about graduate school options in our MBA in Sustainability and Center for Environmental Policy programs.

Learn about our programs directly from Director Eban Goodstein and the admissions team. There will be a time for questions at the end of the session.

WHAT WE COVER: Overview of graduate program offerings Alumni success and career outcomes Admissions information Prerequisite course information Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs Financial aid and scholarships Tips for a standout applicationA $65 application fee waiver is available to those who participate in the webinar.


Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Join an online informational webinar to earn a $65 application fee waiver! 
Online Event  7:00 pm – 8:00 pm EST/GMT-5
RSVP HERE

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds online informational webinars for prospective students to learn more about graduate school options in our MBA in Sustainability and Center for Environmental Policy programs.

Learn about our programs directly from Director Eban Goodstein and the admissions team. There will be a time for questions at the end of the session.

WHAT WE COVER: Overview of graduate program offerings Alumni success and career outcomes Admissions information Prerequisite course information Peace Corps and AmeriCorps programs Financial aid and scholarships Tips for a standout applicationA $65 application fee waiver is available to those who participate in the webinar.


Wednesday, January 25, 2023
  $65 application fee waivers available to event attendees! 
Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds virtual open houses for prospective students to learn more about graduate school.

Online Event  7:00 pm – 8:30 pm EST/GMT-5
RSVP HERE

Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability holds virtual open houses for prospective students to learn more about graduate school options in our MBA in Sustainability and Center for Environmental Policy programs.

During these open houses, prospective students have the opportunity to meet with current students, alumni and faculty from their program of interest. It's the perfect way to connect with the Bard GPS community, and get any questions answered about the student experience directly from those who know it best - the students and alumni of the programs.

What we cover: Overview of graduate program offerings Student experience Alumni career outcomes General admissions and financial aid informationA $65 application fee waiver is available at the end of the session to those who participate in the webinar.


Contact us

Environmental Studies Concentration
Bard College | PO Box 5000
Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504
[email protected]