UAlbany Researchers Selected for SUNY Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force

Students in purple hats and yellow shirts plant a tree on South Pearl Street.

UAlbany students from the Hudson-Mohawk Climate Corps plant a tree on South Pearl Street. (Photo by Zach Durocher)

ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 30, 2025) — University at Albany researchers from across campus are joining SUNY’s STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force.

Announced last week, the 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 Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik and Chief Sustainability Officer Carter Strickland.

UAlbany researchers selected for the task force are:

Michele Grimm, dean of the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (Task force co-chair)
Chris Thorncroft, director of the Atmospheric Sciences Research Center (Working group co-lead: Environmental Data Collection and Analytics)
DeeDee Bennett Gayle, associate dean for research at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity (Working group co-lead: Economic Impacts and Policy, Social, and Equity Considerations)
Justin Minder, professor in the Department of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences (Working group co-lead: Education and Workforce Development)

"New technologies and innovative approaches are critical for growing our economy while simultaneously addressing climate change," said SUNY Chancellor King. "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 University at Albany’s expertise in AI, atmospheric sciences, environmental science, emergency preparedness, and engineering will be essential to the work of SUNY’s STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force,” said President Rodríguez. “UAlbany is proud to leverage our research expertise to support this important initiative to improve the health and well-being of New Yorkers. In all our work at UAlbany, we strive to benefit the public good and this initiative is a perfect example of research’s potential to drive positive change.”

Over the next few months, the co-leads of the task force will draft an executive summary outlining the overarching strategy. Phase II begins in early 2026 and will convene a larger group of SUNY experts to develop a three-to five-year strategic plan.

The work of the SUNY Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force will complement previous task forces convened by Chancellor King on artificial intelligence, biotech, microelectronics packaging, and quantum computing.

UAlbany hosts the largest concentration of atmospheric, climate and environmental scientists in New York State and recently launched new academic programs in climate science. Earlier this month, hundreds of industry experts and decision-makers convened at ETEC to discuss renewable energy development and innovation.

UAlbany also hosts the nation’s first College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity and the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering, a newly expanded academic unit that launched in 2023.