Chancellor King Kicks Off SUNY Climate Research Task Force as Part of New York Climate Week

September 24, 2025

Multidisciplinary Research Task Force Holds First Meetings to Advance SUNY's Research Leadership in Sustainability and Climate Solution

Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today celebrated the kickoff of SUNY's STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force as part of New York Climate Week. STRIVE stands for Strategic Research Investment and is focused on supporting efforts to accelerate SUNY's and New York State's leadership in research, innovation, and associated workforce and economic development.

"New technologies and innovative approaches are critical for growing our economy while simultaneously addressing climate change," said SUNY Chancellor King. "SUNY research will play a critical role in ensuring our communities' resilience in the context of global warming and rising sea levels. We are already seeing that most of the new energy sources built worldwide and in the United States are from renewable sources, and the extraordinary research happening in SUNY labs right now will ensure New York remains a leader and thrives in the clean energy future."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "To address the climate change crisis, we need bold vision and committed leaders, and that is what SUNY has organized with the STRIVE Climate and Research Task Force. Under Governor Kathy Hochul's leadership, New York State has become a leader in research and investment to build a more sustainable future. SUNY will continue to help lead New York forward in the fight to address climate change."

The Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force will help develop SUNY's blueprint for energized and scaled research and innovation, aligned with SUNY's commitment to positively impact the health and well-being of New Yorkers and economic vitality of the state. The task force is co-convened by SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development Dr. Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik and Chief Sustainability Officer Carter Strickland.

The task force advances the educational and research aspects of SUNY's Climate & Sustainability Action Plan.

The committee's chairs are:

  • Dr. Michele Grimm, Dean of the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering at the State University of New York at Albany
  • Dr. Atul Kelkar, Dean of the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science at the State University of New York at Binghamton
  • Dr. Minghua Zhang, Distinguished Professor at the State University of New York at Stony Brook

The Climate Research Task Force's Working Group Leaders are:

  • Climate Science and Predictive Modeling
    • Dr. Sophie Nowicki, State University of New York at Buffalo, Director of the Center for Geological and Climate Hazards and Empire Innovation Professor at the RENEW Institute
    • Dr. Kevin Reed, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Chief Climate Scientist at the New York Climate Exchange and Associate Provost for Climate and Sustainability Programming
  • Environmental Data Collection and Analytics
    • Dr. Heather Lynch, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Endowed Chair in Ecology and Evolution at the Institute for Advanced Computational Science
    • Dr. Christopher Thorncroft, State University of New York at Albany, Professor and Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center
  • Clean Energy Systems and Smart Infrastructure
    • Dr. Devinder Mahajan, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Graduate Program Director of Chemical and Molecular Engineering, and Director of the Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology
    • Dr. John (Ziang) Zhang, State University of New York at Binghamton, Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Sustainable Manufacturing and Materials Innovation
    • Dr. Tara Dhakal, State University of New York at Binghamton, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Director of the Center for Autonomous Solar Power
    • Dr.Mark Swihart, State University of New York at Buffalo, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Empire Innovation Professor, RENEW Institute
  • Climate Mitigation, Adaptation, and Resilience Strategies
    • Dr. Sean (Seokheun) Choi, State University of New York at Binghamton, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
    • Dr. Tim Volk, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Sustainable Resources Management
  • Economic Impacts and Policy, Social, and Equity Considerations
    • Dr. DeeDee Bennett Gayle, State University of New York at Albany, Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Research, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
    • Kim Diana Connolly, State University of New York at Buffalo, Professor of Law, Vice Dean for Innovation, Interdisciplinarity and Community Impact
  • University-Industry-Government Collaboration and Outreach
    • Dr. Kartik Gopalan, State University of New York at Binghamton, Interim Associate Dean for Research, Corporate Engagement, and Entrepreneurship, and Professor, School of Computing
    • Dr. Nina Maung, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Senior Associate Vice President for Research Development and Partnerships
  • Education and Workforce Development
    • Dr. Justin Minder, State University of New York at Albany, Professor, Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences
    • Derek O'Connor, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Workforce Development Manager, Office of Economic Development

During Phase I, from September through November, the co-leads will draft an executive summary outlining the overarching strategy. Phase II begins in early 2026 and will convene a larger group of SUNY experts across the System to develop a 3-5-year strategic plan. This plan will fully engage a wide range of internal and external stakeholders – including government, philanthropy and industry leaders. The task force was included in Chancellor King's 2025 State of the University agenda.

The work of the STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force will complement the work of previous STRIVE task forces convened by Chancellor King on artificial intelligence, biotech, microelectronics packaging, and quantum whose recommendations are already accelerating SUNY's research leadership.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "New York State is driving climate innovation in ways that also fuel economic growth. This climate- and sustainability-focused task force will connect SUNY's research leadership with industry and government partners to deliver solutions that cut emissions, create good jobs, and strengthen communities all across the state."

State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, Chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee said, "I am delighted that SUNY is at the forefront of Climate Week. The Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force shows how our campuses can be laboratories for innovation, turning research into real solutions for our environment, our economy, and our workforce. By investing in this work, New York is preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers, and policy leaders who will help us meet the challenge of climate change and create a more sustainable future.

State Senator Patricia Fahy said, "Thank you to SUNY for prioritizing strategic research and innovation that will positively impact New Yorkers. Since SUNY accounts for more than 40% of state-owned buildings, their leadership on this front is essential and will help New York work toward its long-term sustainability goals. SUNY's new STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force will demonstrate how economic development and research in sustainability go hand in hand, and advancing SUNY's research will benefit not only their students, but all New Yorkers."

State Senator Rachel May said, "We are so lucky to live in a state with abundant natural beauty and resources. It is our responsibility as New Yorkers to do everything possible to protect our state from the effects of climate change. I'm excited about the launch of SUNY's Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force, which will be an important tool in our efforts to study climate impacts and find solutions. I am proud to represent SUNY ESF, a jewel of an institution that conducts incredible research in this field. Thank you to Chancellor King and everyone in the SUNY system who are working hard to ensure we have a healthy planet to pass on to future generations."

State Senator Pete Harckham said, "Establishing the SUNY STRIVE Climate Research Task Force comes at a critical moment, as we grapple with the immense consequences of a warming planet caused by the use of fossil fuels, including $65 billion in losses to our economy from severe weather events in 2023. The formidable research capabilities within the SUNY system will benefit our efforts to mitigate this climate crisis, and I applaud Chancellor King for this initiative."

Assemblywoman Alicia L. Hyndman, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee said, "I commend Chancellor King and SUNY for launching the STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force during New York Climate Week. This Strategic Research Investment is an important step in accelerating New York's leadership in climate solutions, fostering innovation, and developing our workforce. This initiative has the potential to significantly benefit the health and well-being of New Yorkers by addressing critical environmental challenges, while also boosting the economic vitality of New York State through job creation and sustainable development."

State Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles, Ph.D. said, "Climate change is a reality. There are cities, states and countries that are leading the way in confronting and minimizing its societal harms by supporting research from basic science to targeted engineering and innovation. The strength of commitment by our educational systems and governments will dictate who leads the way to creating climate solutions that will benefit our environment, our economy and our democracy. I applaud the SUNY leadership in their continued commitment to support the climate research currently being done in New York that attracts and will continue to attract the most brilliant minds of today and tomorrow."

About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.

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