Six faculty and staff members from Stony Brook University have been named to the State University of New York’s (SUNY) newly formed STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force. The task force is part of SUNY’s Strategic Research Investment initiative, which aims to support research, innovation, workforce development, and economic growth in New York State.
The STRIVE Climate and Sustainability Research Task Force is designed to advance both educational and research components of SUNY’s Climate & Sustainability Action Plan. According to SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr., “New technologies and innovative approaches are critical for growing our economy while simultaneously addressing climate change. 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 task force is co-led by Shadi Shahedipour-Sandvik, SUNY Senior Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Economic Development, along with Chief Sustainability Officer Carter Strickland. Minghua Zhang, Distinguished Professor at Stony Brook’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), serves as one of three chairs on the task force alongside Michele Grimm from SUNY Albany and Atul Kelkar from SUNY Binghamton.
Other Stony Brook leaders taking on key roles within working groups include Kevin Reed for climate science and predictive modeling; Heather Lynch for environmental data collection and analytics; Devinder Mahajan for clean energy systems; Nina Maung for university-industry-government collaboration; and Derek O’Connor for education and workforce development.
During Phase I of its work, which runs from September through November 2025, the task force will draft an executive summary outlining its strategic approach. In early 2026, Phase II will begin with a larger group developing a detailed three- to five-year plan that engages various stakeholders including government agencies, philanthropic organizations, and industry partners.
The current effort builds on previous STRIVE task forces focused on areas such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, microelectronics packaging, and quantum technology.
Empire State Development President Hope Knight commented: “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.”
