How We Got Here
History
In January 2000, former Governor George Pataki announced his idea to establish a one-of-a-kind research and education institute dedicated to the study of rivers and estuaries worldwide, headquartered on the banks of the Hudson River. He established a commission of more than sixty experts and practitioners, including both regional and national leaders in science and education, plus representation from five state agencies, to develop a detailed strategic plan for the Institute.
Following the release of the strategic plan in 2001, the Institute solicited site nominations from Hudson Valley municipalities, as well as interested private individuals and organizations. An intensive review process of an initial list of over twenty proposed sites led to the 2003 announcement that Beacon, New York, would become home to the Institute's headquarters.
In 2006, Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries (formerly known as the Rivers and Estuaries Center) adopted its present name, affirming its commitment to Beacon and the region that surrounds it. In 2011, the Institute formalized a strategic alliance with Clarkson University, while retaining its separate 501(c)(3) designation.
Beacon Institute's River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON), in partnership with Clarkson University and IBM, is a first-of-its-kind real-time monitoring network for rivers and estuaries. REON allows for continuous monitoring of physical, chemical and biological data points in New York's Hudson, Mohawk and St. Lawrence Rivers via an integrated network of sensors, robotics, mobile monitoring and computational technology deployed in the rivers.
Since its inception, Beacon Institute, has been a bold voice for 21st century environmentalism. "Imagine the extraordinary advances to the environment, education, and the economy if we could know, in real time, the chemical, physical and biological conditions of any water body," says Founding Director and Beacon Institute Fellow John Cronin. "This new way of observing, understanding and predicting how large river and estuary ecosystems work will allow us to translate that knowledge into better policy, management and education for the Hudson River, and for rivers and estuaries worldwide."
