SIPA students participated in an educational tour of Israel and the West Bank from March 10-20, 2016. The tour engaged 48 graduate students from Columbia University with subject matter experts, environmental leaders, and local perspectives. Students visited organizations addressing water, energy, food, and biodiversity challenges through systems-based solutions. These visits provided diverse ecological, social, economic, and political perspectives on environmental issues in the region and models of sustainable resource management that can promote conflict resolution.

1. 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 2016
Introduction
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 Community
B Ne’ot Kedumim (Restoration Ecology Model)
C International Birding and Research Center of Eilat
D The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
E The Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv University
F The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot
G Kibbutz Lotan Center for Creative Ecology
H Auja Eco Center, West Bank, Area A
I Israel Bicycle Association
J 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