The CBNS Program

Center for the Biology of Natural Systems
Queens College, City University of New York

The CBNS Program
Table of Contents

1. History and Purpose [Continue Below]
2. The CBNS Mission [Jump Below]
3. Ground-Breaking Studies [Separate Page]
4. Current and Recent Projects [Separate Page]
5. Return to CBNS homepage

History and Purpose

CBNS is a research organization with considerable experience in the analysis of environmental, energy and resource problems and their economic implications. Established in 1966 at Washington University, St. Louis, CBNS moved to Queens College in 1981, where it is organized as a research institute of the City University of New York (CUNY). Over a period of three decades, CBNS has become known for an extensive series of pioneering studies on environmental issues such as trash disposal, agricultural sources of pollution, and environmental carcinogens; on energy issues such as conservation, cogeneration and solar energy; on resource issues such as organic farming and waste reduction; and on the relation of these issues to economy and social welfare.

The resolution of the CUNY Board of Trustees that established CBNS at Queens College in 1981 described its purpose as follows:

"The Center for the Biology of Natural Systems will conduct a program of research and education relative to environmental, energy and resource problems. The program is designed to:

1. Analyze the origins of environmental, energy and resource problems;

2. Devise and assess alternative solutions to these problems, emphasizing those solutions which improve the overall productivity as well as the economic position and welfare of the affected social group;

3. Assist government agencies and community organizations that are concerned with these problems during the source of the decision-making processes that are required to determine how they are to be solved;

4. Monitor, evaluate and report on practical efforts to solve the problems;

5. Provide community organizations with the technical services needed in connection with their efforts to participate in the decision-making process;

6. Provide community organizations, and the community generally, with educational services on the technical and economic background of environmental, energy and resource issues."

The CBNS Mission

The Center for the Biology of Natural Systems conducts a program of research and education relative to environmental, health, energy and resource problems. The program is designed to:

1. Analyze the origins of environmental, health, energy and resource problems;
2. Devise and assess alternative solutions to these problems, emphasizing those solutions that improve the overall productivity as well as the economic position and welfare of the affected social group;
3. Assist government agencies and community organizations that are concerned with these problems during the course of the decision-making processes that are required to determine how they are to be solved;
4. Monitor, evaluate and report on practical efforts to solve the problems;
5. Provide community organizations with the technical services needed in connection with their efforts to participate in the decision-making process;
6. Provide community organizations, and the community generally, with educational services on the technical and economic background of environmental, energy and resource issues.

CBNS
Queens College
City University of New York (CUNY)
Flushing, New York 11367-0904
718 670-4180 / 670-4100
WHPP at CBNS 1-888-241-1199
fax 718 670-4189
cbns@cbns.qc.edu
CBNS http://www.cbns.qc.edu/
WHPP http://www.pace-workerhealth.org/