Sustainability Students Visit the River Project

A key component of a Liberal Studies education is the opportunity for students to attend and write about events within the New York City community that relate to critical global issues, including field trips to local conservation projects. This week, students in Professor Genia Naro-Maciel’s Living in the Anthropocene and Environmental Studies classes visited the River Project on a guided tour. The group, located on Pier 40 in Hudson River Park, describes itself as working to “protect and restore the ecosystem of the Hudson River Estuary and New York Harbor through scientific research, hands-on environmental education, habitat improvement, and innovative waterfront programs.” Students were given a comprehensive tour of the facility and tanks, and were able to see, and in some cases pick up, living creatures such as oysters, crabs, seahorses, and fish, while learning about the Hudson River estuary ecosystem and urban sustainability.