Mission Statement

  • Construct an extensive and well-organized educator network and a systematic education structure from high school and undergraduate school [community colleges, 4-year colleges].
  • Provide an effective platform to share information and resources of education opportunities – such as research activities at the proper level, extracurricular activities (etc. science camp), and pathways to the next level of education (entrance and/or transferring).
  • Provide ongoing research-related technical training courses or activities for students that are more interested in hands-on technology rather than academic research. (Example: installing/maintaining the weather station instruments).

Vision and Goals

Formal Education

  • Assess, evaluate and develop courses (need base): Earth Science, Environmental Science, Data Sciences, Remote Sensing/GIS (advance)
  • Continuing education at CUNY: Above courses and digital literacy 
  • Certificate Courses for international partners
  • Work with NYC-DOE: Teacher training program

Informal Education

  • Informal Education: Write grants and build infrastructure for informal education
  • Undergraduate Students: Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE)
  • Teachers Training: Research Experiences for Teachers (RET), Teachers Training (NYCDOE)
  • High School Students: HIRES (Pinkerton Foundation), Bridge to College Program, Weather Camp, CAHSEE / NASA, STEM ELL Initiative (NYCDOE)

Informal Education and Training

The CUNY CREST Institute offers several programs aimed at providing students with research experience and increasing diversity in STEM fields. HIRES provides NYC high school students with STEM research opportunities, REU offers undergraduates research experience in Remote Sensing, CiPASS aims to increase underrepresented minorities studying STEM at City College, JPSS SPARKS is a workforce development initiative for graduate or upper-level undergraduate students in satellite science, and Weather Camp is a two-week program for high school students focused on meteorology. All programs offer hands-on learning experiences and opportunities to work with scientists and mentors in their respective fields.

Formal Education and Training

The CUNY CREST Institute provides research faculty and affiliated faculty in several interdisciplinary departments, serving as mentors to students interested in studies related to Earth System Science and engineering fields with emphasis on remote sensing technologies. The institute does not directly offer undergraduate and graduate degrees but is either a faculty on those programs or affiliated with the relevant departments and programs. Prospective students interested in remote sensing and Earth System Science are encouraged to contact the relevant departments, such as the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Physics Department, Department of Civil Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, Earth System Sciences and Environmental Engineering Program, Department of Computer Sciences, Data Science Program, Department of Economics and Business, and Earth and Environmental Science Program at The Graduate Center. These programs offer a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctorate majors in various STEM fields with an emphasis on Earth System Science and remote sensing technologies.