As climate activism at Mount Holyoke heats up following the U.S. presidential election, a recent Community Commitment to Climate Justice meeting and a Mount Holyoke News interview with the director of the Miller Worley Center for the Environment highlighted a College administration perspective on the role of higher education institutions in climate action, and the need for clear communication between community members for effective change in climate action.
The past year brought Mount Holyoke College some difficult campus departures—first with Dwight Hall's 120-year old copper beech tree in July, and again with the loss of beloved unofficial mascot, Jorge the goose. In a tragic accident, the pilgrim goose — a critically endangered species — died on Dec. 9, 2024 in front of staff and students after flying into a Blanchard Hall window.
Professor Ben Boatwright’s course, Topics in Planetary Science: The Moon, recently hosted a guest lecture delivered by planetary scientist Dr. Charles Hibbitts as part of a bi-monthly guest scientist speaker series in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The series has included an impressive list of planetary science experts including Debra Buczkowski, Angela Stickle and Lauren Jozwiak. Their groundbreaking work at the JHUAPL offers valuable insights into planetary science and provides students with an exceptional opportunity to engage with leading researchers in the field.
After an eventful day of Family and Friends Weekend programming, students and their guests concluded the evening of Oct. 26 by enjoying a tradition of cosmic conversations and observations with astronomy faculty and students in Mount Holyoke College’s oldest continuously-used academic building, Williston Observatory.
