Troy, N.Y. - Governor George E. Pataki has announced that Rensselaer will manage the Upper Hudson Satellite Center that will be part of the Rivers & Estuaries Center on the Hudson - a world-class institute for the study of rivers and estuaries. Columbia University will manage the Lower Hudson Satellite Center.

The central Rivers & Estuaries Center will be located at Dennings Point in Beacon, N.Y. The Upper Hudson Satellite Center will be located on the waterfront in South Troy.

"The establishment of the Rivers & Estuaries Center on the Hudson is scientific, educational, and community collaboration at its very finest," said Rensselaer President Shirley Ann Jackson. "I commend Governor Pataki for this initiative, and I believe this Center will bring international import and vital economic significance to the region, and to New York state. Rensselaer is proud to be a partner in this collaborative effort, bringing our broad expertise in environmental research, advanced instrumentation, and information systems to bear in securing the future of this great river."

Expertise in Freshwater Research
Rensselaer is building on an established history of expertise in the areas of freshwater research and discovery. The Darrin Fresh Water Institute (DFWI) has done seminal research on the effects of acid rain and exotic species on lakes in the Adirondacks. Sandra Nierzwicki-Bauer, director of the DFWI and Rensselaer professor of biology, has been a principal collaborator on the Hudson River project.

"The Upper Hudson Satellite Center will extend the reach of the Rivers & Estuary Center programs to support study of the unique issues associated with the Upper Hudson and watershed," said Nierzwicki-Bauer. "The Upper Hudson, in particular, is critical to our understanding of the river, since it is the location of the headwaters, contains the major tributaries into the Hudson, and is at the head of the estuary for the river in Troy."

"The collaborative nature of the research the Institute brings to bear is unique. It will include roboticists, chemists, biologists, geologists, visualization, modeling, and simulation specialists, and social scientists, who have focused their work on issues affecting the Hudson River," said Art Sanderson, vice president of research at Rensselaer.

In addition, Rensselaer will bring together institutions throughout the Upper Hudson Region to fully realize the facilities' research, education, and outreach goals.

In the past year, Rensselaer and Columbia have developed and begun to utilize advanced monitoring and sensing techniques on the Hudson River with support from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Science Foundation.

Continuous, real-time monitoring of the river using remote sensing, robotics, and simulation, for example, will allow researchers to define the ever-changing river environments and the effects of human activity upon them.

About the Rivers & Estuaries Center on the Hudson
Governor Pataki first proposed the development of the Rivers & Estuaries Center on the Hudson in his 2000 State of the State Address. The Center is dedicated to advancing the understanding of rivers, estuaries, and their watersheds through integrated, collaborative research and education designed to guide policy for conservation and management of these natural systems, from the Hudson River to the rivers and estuaries of the world.

"The creation of the Rivers & Estuaries Center on the Hudson will allow us to build upon the history of this vital waterway and develop strategies and programs to protect and enhance rivers around the world," Governor Pataki said. "The City of Beacon is an ideal location for studying the Hudson River, and these funds will help to make this great vision a reality."

Once it is fully operational, the Rivers & Estuaries Center will comprise scientific and research facilities that also will offer unique educational programs, including seminars designed specifically for teachers, students, and citizen scientists. Each complex will consist of a main office, conference center, docking facilities, classrooms, laboratory facilities, and residential/hospitality buildings. A series of public lectures, forums and special events will be offered, utilizing the expertise of Center staff and visiting professionals at each location.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu