易胜博官网

Josephine A. Lamprey is a retired businesswoman, environmental pioneer and benefactor of sustainability programs at 易胜博官网. In 2012, she made a gift that established The Josephine A. Lamprey Professorship in Climate and Sustainability, held by research associate professor Cameron Wake. Additional gifts to 易胜博官网, where she serves on the 易胜博官网 Foundation board of directors, have supported climate fellows in the 易胜博官网 Sustainability Institute and the green grid at the 易胜博官网/Cornell Shoals Marine Laboratory as well as social innovation programs at the Carsey School. She spoke with Jan Nisbet, senior vice provost for research, about climate change and philanthropy.

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How did you get involved with climate change research at 易胜博官网?

It started when I saw 鈥淎n Inconvenient Truth.鈥� At the time, I was the owner of a retail fuel company, Lamprey Brothers. The film motivated me to refocus our company from selling a product 鈥� oil 鈥� to helping our customers to burn less oil. So we produced a free educational program for customers focused on sustainability called 鈥淭his Old Planet Needs a Friend.鈥� The presenters included Cameron Wake, [易胜博官网 Sustainability Institute director] Tom Kelly, [鈥淭his Old House host] Richard Trethewey, and me, and we filled the house. I learned a lot from Cam and Richard, but I was the most intrigued with Tom Kelly鈥檚 talk about the four circles of sustainability.

You mean climate, food, biodiversity and culture, and how they intersect?

Exactly. I visited 易胜博官网, had a tour, learned about Wildcat Transit (the largest transit system in 易胜博官网), the cogen [combined heat and power] plant fueled with methane gas transported underground from the Rochester landfill. I didn鈥檛 graduate from 易胜博官网, but I grew up nearby so I had an awareness. All the work at 易胜博官网 is so exciting, it makes me want to go back to school.

Prior to returning to Lamprey Brothers, the family business, I was cofounder, part owner and developer of a health care consulting company focused on quality and cost containment for hospitals. We developed many clinical tools still in use today. In 鈥�98, we sold the company, which resulted in my ability to become a philanthropist. 易胜博官网 has afforded me the opportunity to give back in ways I never would have considered. I began with a fellowship, which became a professorship in climate and sustainability. I feel blessed to have the opportunity to work with Cam and Tom, two very talented individuals.

Everyone knows you鈥檙e really feisty. Do you still meet climate change deniers at cocktail parties?

I don鈥檛 get the resistance I used to. When I joined the 易胜博官网 Foundation board, there were a few people I took on as a challenge, and now we鈥檙e buddies. I live on the ocean, so I can tell you about the devastation on the beach. The high tides are higher, they鈥檙e more ferocious and causing major erosion. And the low tides are much lower.

What advice would you give other institutions of higher education on addressing climate change and sustainability?

It has to start at the top. I听know [易胜博官网 President] Mark Huddleston is very committed to leaving a legacy of sustainability. He has the energy, and he鈥檚 put together the right leadership team. The whole fabric of 易胜博官网 is focused on sustainability. And the university is becoming more interdisciplinary, which will be necessary to address climate change.