SIPA students successfully engaged with subject-matter experts, environmental leaders, and unique perspectives in this region, leading to a rich, multifaceted, and unique professional experience that will promote positive contributions by these students in future professional and academic endeavors.

On March 10-20, 2016, 48 graduate students led by delegation organizers Stav Gilutz, Andrew Cummings, Scott Kjorlien, and Bethany MacNeil conducted an educational tour of Israel and the West Bank. These students, from a variety of programs at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, engaged in an extensive tour of entities that directly interact with, research, or illustrate the complexities of existing environmental issues within Israel and the West Bank. Students were exposed to systems-based solutions by multiple institutions, agencies, and stakeholders that address water, energy, and food security challenges. In many instances, sustainable resource management policies and programs act to promote conflict resolution, economic development, peace and prosperity in Israel and the region. *

SIPA Israel Environmental Leadership Delegation 2016Introduction

Learning Objective

Site Visits and Dialogue Locations:

Presenters: Tess Arzu, Lia Cairone, Jamie Rae Hanson, Ilinca Kung Parslow, Annabella Kwei, Tianying Lan

Water (1)Food Systems (2)

Energy (3) Biodiversity (4)

Transportation (5)Green Building (6)

To explore models of environmental leadership and better understand environmental challenges in Israel and the West Bank through diverse perspectives including ecological, social, economic, and political.

A Project Wadi Attir: Sustainable Desert CommunityB Ne’ot Kedumim (Restoration Ecology Model)C International Birding and Research Center of EilatD The Arava Institute for Environmental StudiesE The Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv UniversityF The Weizmann Institute of Science, RehovotG Kibbutz Lotan Center for Creative Ecology H Auja Eco Center, West Bank, Area A I Israel Bicycle AssociationJ Eilat Coral Reef Reserve, Israel Nature and Parks Authority- Netafim, Drip-irrigation Company- Bar Kayma, Tel Aviv Cooperative Living Model

1, 4

C

1, 3, 6

D

Contact J. Hanson at Jrh2202@columbia.edu; I. Kung Parslow at imk2119@columbia.edu; or Chief Delegation Organizer Stav Gilutz at sg3267@columbia.edu

*Our many thanks to the organizers, fellow participants, wonderful guides, speakers, Routes Travel, iTrek, the Earth Institute, SIPA Staff and Faculty for their support and diligent work that made this experience possible. **Not all site visits and speakers were able to be listed and we encourage interested individuals to contact us for further detail on this educational adventure.

3, 5

I

1, 2, 3

H

E

1, 3, 4, 6

G

1, 2, 4

1, 2, 4

A

Learning Outcome

Map Credit: Operationworld.org, Image Credits: Lia Cairone, Jamie Hanson , Stav Gilutz, Illinca Kung Parslow, wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il,

For More Information Speakers-Dr. Alon Tal (Ben Guiron University), - Shira Kronich (Arava),-Dr. Assaf Zvuloni (Eilat Coral Reef Reserve) - Dr. Ron Milo (Weizmann), - Professor David Schorr (Tel Aviv University), -MK Yael Cohen Paran (Director, Israel Energy Forum), -Morris Dorfman (Sr. Dep Director Israel Gov. Companies Authority), -Malek Abdualfailat (EcoPeace), -Shalom Boguslavsky (Generation 1.5), Dr. Eilon Schwartz (Hebrew University) **

4

B

1, 2, 3

F

J

1, 4