Lunch & Learn: Bard Student Presentations - Politics of Solutions, Spring 2026

A screenshot from the Lunch & Learn with Bard College Center for Environmental Policy’s Politics of Solutions class.

In spring 2026, the Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network partnered with the Bard College Center for Environmental Policy’s Politics of Solutions class. The students conducted original research and interviews with FRN Members and Partners. On 5/8/26, graduate students from this class presented findings from two projects to help advance Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network goals.

A team of Environmental Policy students worked to better understand how municipalities across the Hudson Valley are using different types of plans– such as climate vulnerability assessments and watershed-based flood mitigation plans – to address flood risk, how communities are moving from planning to implementation, what challenges they face, and what has helped with successful outcomes.

A team of Climate Science and Policy students worked towards creating an online flood resilience “data hub”/toolkit that Members can use for long-term planning and real-time response to flood events by better understanding what resources are most important and how to make it easily accessible and understandable to Network members.

The Lunch & Learn program included time for Q&A, discussion, and community updates. 

This program is sponsored by the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University.

***

The Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network connects local governments committed to taking actionable steps to manage current and future flood risks. The Flood Resilience Network is co-facilitated by New York Sea Grant and the Hudson River Watershed Alliance.

Hudson Valley Flood Resilience Network programs and trainings are open to Members and Partners. Members are representatives from municipal and county governments in the Hudson River estuary watershed. This includes elected and appointed officials, staff, and volunteers. Partners are staff from agencies, regional organizations, or private-sector consulting firms working in the Hudson River estuary watershed that support Members’ flood resilience goals.

To join the Network and gain access to upcoming programs, visit https://www.hvfloodresiliencenetwork.org/join and complete the Member or Partner form based on your role. The Network is free to join.