Briefs: Bill Nye, Sciencenter, voter guide, more

Bill Nye “the Science Guy” visits Cornell Borehole Observatory

Earth Source Heat (ESH) is Cornell University’s version of a deep geothermal system that would use the Earth’s internal heat to warm the Ithaca campus without the use of fossil fuels. The project is a research collaboration across several academic departments along with campus facilities staff, and it is a major component of the university’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. If viable, ESH could also become a scalable solution for renewable heating in New York and in cold-climate regions across the globe.

The next phase in this exciting project is to drill an exploratory borehole, called the Cornell University Observatory Borehole (CUBO), which will allow scientists to further explore deep surface rock conditions and heat output.

Bill Nye “the Science Guy,” a Cornell alum, visited the site of the CUBO project on June 10 and offered some insight into the project via a video on Cornell’s YouTube page (youtube.com/watch?v=scwFOyKRDGE).

“Traditional[ly], people drill in 500 feet in English units, something like that, where it’s warm, and then you exchange heat with that warm place or that cool place with your building,” he said. “That works OK. But what we want to do is go down really deep where it’s hot. When it’s hot, then you can take much better advantage of the temperature difference between deep in the Earth and up on the surface. And here, in Ithaca, New York, where my beloved Cornell University is, you have to go down very deep to get to this, about not quite boiling, 90 degrees Celcius rock, and then that will be enough heat to heat the whole campus.”

Nye explained the significance of the project.

“If this works, and of course, we’re trying it because we think it will work, … you’d have about five wells, five pairs of wells around campus, and you’d heat the whole place,” he said. “It’d really be extraordinary, and it could be the future.”

Learn more about the project at earthsourceheat.cornell.edu.

In this photo: Lynden Archer, Cornell’s dean of engineering (left), talks with Nye at the drilling site for the project.

 

Women’s Opportunity Center holds open house

With legislative funding from Assemblymember Anna Kelles, and under guidance of Executive Director Jan Bridgeford-Smith, the Women’s Opportunity Center (WOC) is celebrating its newly redesigned, family-friendly offices at an open house event June 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. at 315 N. Tioga St., Ithaca.

“Our revitalized look is a reflection of our campaign dubbed New Look, New Vision, which emphasizes the role of the Women’s Opportunity Center as a haven for growth and change,” Bridgeford-Smith said. “Our presence in the community is just as important today as it was when the center was first imagined in the late 1970s.”

As part of its new image, the center is utilizing aesthetics that enhance relaxation and peace, including soothing colors, comforting chairs, custom painted earth-toned murals, warm rugs and a tranquil electric fireplace. The center took special care to create child-friendly areas, replete with kid-friendly colors, soft animal chairs, child-sized tables and ample books, games and toys.

“I am thrilled that I was able to deliver funding to the Women’s Opportunity Center to support the refurbishment of their space so that it could truly function as a haven for growth and change,” Kelles said. “This critical community support offered by WOC includes training in professional development, financial and computer literacy and health and wellness. It is so important that children have a place to play while their parents and caregivers access these essential resources.”

Together with its forward look, WOC is expanding community outreach, embracing all women, including those who seek to achieve personal and professional goals or discover new directions to enhance their overall health and well-being.

To learn more, visit WOC’s website at womensopportunity.org.

 

Sciencenter introduces new farmers’ market exhibit

The Sciencenter recently announced the opening of its newest exhibit, Little Sprouts Farmers’ Market. This exhibit, located on their Curiosity Corner playground, allows kids to plant and harvest toy vegetables in a garden bed and take them to the market to sell.

They can use the cash register to sell their vegetables, weigh them with a scale, and transport them with toy wheelbarrows. This fun exhibit features artwork by local artist Audra Lisner.

The new exhibit is already open to the public and has been a hit with children and adults alike! The new farmers’ market exhibit was made possible in part with a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program.

This exhibition is one of several exciting changes happening at the Sciencenter this summer. Currently, local muralist Molly Reagan is working on a mural in the Sciencenter lobby area that will showcase an upcoming exhibit. There is also a new bubble exhibit out on the Science Playground.

In addition, the Sciencenter Exhibits Team is working on upgrades to their popular Watergates exhibit. They also have animals on the move at the museum. A group of popular Sciencenter animals are moving to a space upstairs that will feature interactive animal experiences led by staff and volunteers.

Stop by the Sciencenter this summer to explore the museum and see all the fun changes happening! Visit sciencenter.org for more information.

 

Ithaca Area Economic Development moves offices

Ithaca Area Economic Development (IAED) recently announced it has moved offices to the former Tompkins Community Bank headquarters located at 119 E. Seneca St. in Ithaca. The second-floor suite features 5,000 square feet of office space, which will house IAED’s growing team and its partner, the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board. Tompkins Community Bank coordinated several updates to the space in advance of the move.

IAED President Heather McDaniel said, “The move keeps us centrally located downtown, close to The Commons and our community partners. Tompkins Community Bank has really made this an easy process for us. We’re grateful for their help and excited about maintaining our presence downtown. This is a win-win situation for everybody.”

IAED administers the Tompkins County Industrial Development Agency (TCIDA). In 2015, the TCIDA approved tax incentives to Tompkins Community Bank for construction of its new corporate headquarters, located immediately across Seneca Street. The entire project was a $35 million capital investment by the bank and paved the way for IAED’s move.

Tompkins’ Central New York President Greg Hartz shared, “IAED is a critically important member of our community, and we are thrilled to now welcome them as our neighbor.”

The Gateway Building, site of IAED’s former office, is being renovated for residential housing. IAED plans to host an open house at its new location in the coming months.

IAED is a private nonprofit economic development organization serving Ithaca and Tompkins County. It is New York’s first and only Accredited Economic Development Organization. For more information, visit IthacaAreaED.org.

 

Grant to fund repairs to old mill at Treman State Park

The Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park has been awarded a $36,140 matching grant from the Environmental Protection Fund’s Park and Trail Partnership Grants program to replace the failing roof of the historic grist mill built in1839 by Robert H. Treman’s ancestor, Jared Treman.

The Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park have raised $5,000 in additional matching funds, for a total of $41,140. The volunteer organization said it may need to raise more funds for the project if costs have increased this year due to inflation and supply chain issues.

The grant is one of 27 awards totaling $900,000 for organizations dedicated to the stewardship and promotion of New York’s state parks and historic sites, trails and public lands. The grants will be matched with private and local funding and will support projects to strengthen Friends groups and enhance public access and recreational opportunities.

Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park President Tony Ingraham explained the importance of preserving the mill.

“The Old Mill and its museum in the upper portion of Robert H. Treman State Park is an outstanding relic of the age of water power in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. The building itself is a rare example of Greek Revival architecture, and the structure and the surrounding area (site of the former hamlet of Enfield Falls) are on the National Register of Historic Places. Exhibits in the mill explain its function, history and its place in the local agricultural community of the 19th century. Preserving the integrity of the mill’s structure will protect this irreplaceable educational and interpretive resource for future generations of park visitors.”

The Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park is incorporated as a 501(c)3 educational, non-for-profit organization. It is chartered through the State Education Department of the State of New York.

More information on Park and Trail Partnership Grants can be found at ptny.org or by calling (518) 434-1583.

To find out more about The Friends of Robert H. Treman State Park, visit their website at tremanparkfriends.org or write them at tremanparkfriends@gmail.com.

 

Manufacturing hardware accelerator focuses on food, agtech startups

Rev: Ithaca Startup Works is launching a new AgTech Manufacturing Hardware Accelerator, funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s University Center program and offered in partnership with Cornell Engineering.

This free, cohort-based program leverages university assets to build a regional agrifood ecosystem that supports innovation, high-growth entrepreneurship, resiliency and inclusiveness, improving the economic conditions for the ag sector in New York state and the Northeast.

The new AgTech Manufacturing Hardware Accelerator, which will operate in tandem with Rev: Ithaca Startup Works’ successful Manufacturing Hardware Accelerator, is designed for hardware and physical product startups based anywhere in the U.S. that are ready to bring innovations in agricultural areas such as farming operations, animal husbandry and food processing to market.

This year marks the third year that Rev: Ithaca Startup Works has operated its manufacturing program and supported the efforts of hardware and physical product entrepreneurs as they bring their prototypes to the production phase.

“Manufacturing products in the agtech space poses some unique challenges that can include food safety, rugged operating environments and integrating into existing operations,” said Rev Director Kevn Rother. “The Manufacturing Accelerator will assist companies in identifying these unique requirements and strategies to address to enable a smooth product launch.”

During the intensive yearlong program, which will run from September 2022 to August 2023, selected participants will be provided with specialized training tailored to the ag tech industry and one-on-one mentorship. Additionally, startups will be connected to experts and potential partners in the region’s robust agrifood ecosystem, including manufacturers and investors.

Major goals of the AgTech Manufacturing Hardware Accelerator include leveraging the existing agriculture and food production ecosystem to foster innovation and create opportunity, strengthening the connective tissue between players in the Grow-NY region agrifood system and planting the seeds for future Grow-NY business competition winners.

“Grow-NY represents a top-notch enrichment opportunity for startups ready to scale their technology,” said Jenn Smith, program director of Grow-NY. “The AgTech Accelerator is a kind of feeder school to the program, training participants to develop their ideas into viable material and conceptual plans.”

For more information, visit revithaca.com/hardware or email rev@revithaca.com.

 

County League of Women Voters launches electronic voter guide

Vote 411, the Tompkins County League of Women Voters’ electronic voter guide, is now live. Candidate information is available for all candidates running in the New York state gubernatorial, lieutenant governor and Assembly primary races June 28. The information includes biographical details and responses to questions posed by the league, as well as links to candidates’ social media and campaign websites.

All of this can be accessed online at vote411.org in an easy-to-use electronic format. New Yorkers can enter their address to compare candidate information and print a customized sample ballot. Candidates who have not yet submitted their information are listed with “Candidate Has Not Responded.” Their responses will be posted as soon as the candidates provide the information.

More information on where and when you can vote early in Tompkins County is available at the league’s website at lwvtompkins.org and at tompkinscountyny.gov/boe. Early voting for the June primary will take place from June 18 to June 26 across the state.

The League will be launching a voter guide on Vote411 for the Aug. 23 State Senate and congressional primary races in early August.

 

IC names inaugural dean of School of Music, Theatre and Dance

Longtime arts educator and administrator Anne Hogan has been named the inaugural dean of Ithaca College’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance, joining the college on Aug. 1. She has been the dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts (CCFA) at the University of Memphis since 2017.

In announcing Hogan’s appointment, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Melanie Stein called her an inspiring, strategic and creative leader who will bring a distinctive vision for the future while maintaining an unwavering commitment to building upon the proud legacy of the college’s founding as the Ithaca Conservatory of Music.

“She understands the necessity of engaging with faculty, staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders and will work collaboratively to design and implement a strategic plan that will ensure the school’s long-term success and impact,” Stein said.

In addition to her current role as CCFA dean, Hogan was the founder and acting director of the University of Memphis Institute for the Arts and Health, designed to foster and secure funding for transdisciplinary research and community engagement bridging the arts, social sciences, humanities and STEM (science, technology, economics and math) disciplines.

She previously held teaching and administrative positions at the Royal Academy of Dance, London Metropolitan University, London Contemporary Dance School and American University of Paris, among other institutions.

Hogan says that IC’s excellent reputation for music and theater arts is what first caught her attention.

“There are so many opportunities for the School of Music, Theatre and Dance to explore, including more cross-disciplinary training and creative activities, both within the school and across IC, and in partnership with higher education and/or arts institutions, nationally and internationally,” Hogan said. “An essential opportunity will be to establish the school as a leader in diverse and inclusive practices in the arts and education, and as a school that at once respects the history and traditions of its respective disciplines and embraces novel directions and as yet unimagined possibilities for them. Promoting IC and the school, furthermore, as a place that empowers emerging artists to be agents of positive change will only accelerate its visibility and renown.”

Ithaca College had announced in January that two of its most renowned programs — the School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts (currently located within the School of Humanities and Sciences) — will be joining together on July 1 to establish the new School of Music, Theatre and Dance. The incoming dean will be supported by two associate deans, Ivy Walz from Music and Steve TenEyck from Theatre and Dance.

Hogan said she is eager to start her new position.

“The first order of business, and one I am really looking forward to, will be to engage with the people and the programs and to work closely with the faculty, staff, students and stakeholders to design and implement a strategic plan that will ensure the school’s long-term success and impact,” Hogan said. “A collaborative process will enable the school community to shape together an inspiring and sustainable vision and to clarify the finer points of what, exactly, success for the new School of Music, Theatre and Dance will look like.”

Hogan received her Ph.D. and master’s in English literature from Brown University and a bachelor’s in English Literature from Harvard University.