Report of the Environmental Research Council Available for Comment

Dear Colleagues,

We are writing to let you know that the report of the Environmental Research Council (ERC) -- Implementing the MIT Global Environment Initiative -- is now available for public review and comment:

• Executive Summary
• Report of the MIT Environmental Research Council
• Appendix to the Report
• Comment on the report (MIT certificates required)

The ERC has performed exemplary work in providing a clear and compelling proposal to implement a new MIT-wide initiative focused on "...integrating the Institute’s core strengths in scientific, engineering and social research to better understand the global environment and manage our role in it through technological and social innovation." We commend the entire ERC for its service to the Institute. In particular, we celebrate the coalition of committed faculty from across all five schools that have been forged through the ERC process and we enthusiastically support the thrust of its efforts. The breadth, unity and enthusiasm of this coalition are impressive and necessary for the success of this effort.

The ERC will host a full-day public conference on Thursday, December 15th, 2011 in the Kirsch Auditorium (32-123). Details for the MIT Environmental Research Forum are available on the MIT Events Calendar at http://events.mit.edu.

The draft report is now open to the MIT community for a comment period. Please submit your views no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, February 10th, 2012.

We look forward to working with all of you over the coming year in building something truly special at MIT for the world.

Sincerely,

L. Rafael Reif
Provost