CUNY in the UNESCO BRIDGES Program

January 31st, 2020

Contact: Prof. Thomas H McGovern, NABO coordinator: Thomas.h.mcgovern@gmail.com

Background: BRIDGES is a new UNESCO initiative now moving forwards as a sustainability science coalition proposed for integration in their MOST (Management of Social Transformations) intergovernmental science program. The intention of the coalition is to better integrate humanities, social science, and local and traditional knowledge perspectives into research, education and action for global sustainability through development and coordination of resilient responses to environmental and social changes at local and territorial scales. The BRIDGES logo expresses
the aim of connection between knowledge holders, disciplines, and practitioners needed to better coordinate effective responses to rapid large -scale change.

CUNY through the NABO (North Atlantic Biocultural Organization, www.nabohome.org ) has just been approved for UNESCO BRIDGES formal affiliation of two projects.

1) Gateway to the Atlantic: Climate change threats to heritage and island sustainability in the Northern
Isles of Scotland. This is a long running collaboration between CUNY (Hunter College and GC), U Bradford, and U Highlands and Islands in training excavations rescuing multi-phase sites endangered by sea level rise and storms on Rousay Orkney. Hunter College Study Abroad affiliated field school since 2008.

2) Response to Threats to Science and Heritage in Greenland (RESPONSE): This NSF funded project based at Hunter Anthropology Department Archaeology is an extension of prior work in Greenland in collaboration with the Greenlandic National Museum and Archives, National Museum Denmark, Stirling U, Edinburgh U, U Iceland, U Bergen, and Memorial U Newfoundland. It works to rescue sites of all periods endangered by rapid climate change in Greenland and to build capacity and promote co-production of knowledge with our Greenlandic host institutions and communities while supporting two CUNY doctoral projects.

CUNY Field Schools Greenland National Museum Hunter College International Study Programmes Management of Social Transformations (MOST) Memorial University Newfoundland National Museum of Denmark Stirling University UNESCO BRIDGES University of Bradford University of Edinburgh University of Iceland University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI)

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