FAQs
Following pre-development work, construction is anticipated to begin in 2025. Collaborative projects, including research initiatives, programs with community groups, workforce training programs, and K-12 outreach will begin earlier, with a specific date to be announced.
The kind of research undertaken will no doubt evolve over time as we work to address the needs, ideas and challenges faced by those communities most impacted by climate change. While specific research projects are to be finalized, what we do know is that from the start, The Exchange will tackle the most important elements of the climate challenge: air, water, food, and energy studies. Some initial areas of focus include:
-
Green infrastructure for coastline resilience
-
Electric vehicle-to-grid integration
-
Circular organic waste management
- Climate resilient hydroponics
-
Data visualization of extreme event impacts
-
Policy strategies for implementation of solutions
-
Advanced aquaculture for urban food security and carbon capture
More information about specific ideas in development can be found here.
-
SBU and The Exchange has been selected as the anchor institution of the Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island. SBU is the anchor institution of the New York Climate Exchange and holds the greatest number of seats on the governing board so the university will certainly have influence on the priorities of The Exchange. That said, we are committed to a true partnership among our coalition of organizations that form The Exchange and we are excited about what we can achieve together.
The Exchange is an opportunity to amplify and expand the research already being done at Stony Brook in the areas of climate and sustainability. It will also offer a Climate Solutions Fellows program for graduate students, a Climate Solutions Semester for undergraduates, and a plethora of opportunities for our faculty across disciplines to engage with the mission of The Exchange.
No, it will not and it has not up to this point. While leading the 24-month long effort to compete for this opportunity, Stony Brook also successfully achieved flagship status. Additionally, The Exchange is a separate, non-profit organization with its own leadership team managing its operations on a day-to-day basis.
As The Exchange takes shape, we will continue to offer opportunities to get involved on our website stonybrook.edu/theexchange or please reach out to Kevin Reed, Associate Dean of Research, School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at kevin.reed@stonybrook.edu.
Absolutely. Climate solutions are not limited to the so-called hard sciences and require an “all-of-the-above” approach including across the humanities, social sciences and healthcare. The Exchange envisions many interdisciplinary projects on Governors Island and welcomes ideas and inspiration from all fields of study. Additionally, we expect that the arts will be well-represented through performances, art installations, and other possibilities.
The funds used to support our bid came from the Presidential Innovation and Excellence Fund, a philanthropic gift that is allowing us to invest in our ambitions. No SBU general funds were used.
The development of facilities on Governors Island will be funded through The Exchange, a separate non-profit organization. Each partner in the coalition has committed to fundraising to support those efforts. The Trust for Governors Island through the City of New York is committing $100 million to the project. Remaining monies for construction and operations will come from partners, grants and philanthropic donations. SBU already has secured an initial commitment from a private foundation to match up to $100 million in other donor support. SBU research conducted at The Exchange will be supported by the usual array of grants and philanthropic support.
No, our Advancement team continues to work to fund the important projects underway on campus. It’s important to note that Stony Brook’s involvement in the competition to create The Exchange has already enabled us to build relationships with potential new partners and benefactors who may have not otherwise known about Stony Brook and the outstanding work we do here.
A Stony Brook team worked to find partners who shared our vision for The Exchange and were committed to centering the same ideas to effectively confront climate change – social justice, economic opportunity, and world-class research. We made a concerted effort to seek out partners with diverse areas of experience and complementary skill sets in order to strengthen our coalition.
The goal of The Exchange is not only in the discovery of new solutions but effective implementation. Partnerships with government and industry are vital to achieve scalability and affordability in the communities we want to serve.