SEI Report 6(9) 1.0

News Briefs:

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, an asset-management firm with $7 trillion in holdings, told his investors in mid-January that climate change has now put us "on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance," indicating the firm's intention to start redirecting its investments away from fossil fuels. Given BlackRock's enormous influence, this could be a very consequential development. (See related news in lead article.)

West LA College has created a district-first Conservation Education non-credit certificate. It's a two-course program that provides students with the knowledge of local ecology, conservation and restoration needed for internships and entry-level jobs in conservation and public education organizations. An emphasis is placed on the role of urban parks in relation to ecological health and the well-being of city residents, and key characteristics of local ecology are taught. The classes take place at the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area and Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. For more information, please contact Vered Mirmovitch ([email protected]).

Scripps Research Institute is partnering with Alan Alda to teach scientists and medical professionals better communication skills. Scripps will become the famed story-teller/science educator's West Coast home for his Alda Communication Training, which relies heavily on improvisational theater techniques. His center at Stony Brook University has already trained 15,000 scientists..

February, 2020