Nurcan Atalan-Helicke 

Environmental education fed by community collaboration

Nurcan Atalan-Helicke, associate professor of environmental studies and sciences (ESS), understands the importance of nurturing mutually beneficial relationships between the College and community organizations. That emphasis is at the core of Skidmore’s new Food Systems Initiative, an interdisciplinary, community-based research and teaching initiative launched in fall 2021 with the assistance of a selective grant from the Henry David Thoreau Foundation.

At Skidmore, more and more students are demonstrating an interest in sustainable and just food systems and in taking creative, tangible steps toward a better future. Grant-funded opportunities are helping students to explore many different dimensions of food systems, from food sovereignty with indigenous groups to renewable energy on farms.

“The way we grow, distribute, and consume food is essential to support not only human well-being, but the well-being of our planet as well,” said Atalan-Helicke. "Through workshops, internships, year-long capstone projects, and meetings with community partners, the Food Systems Initiative is strengthening collaborations among students, faculty, and staff and increasing students’ ability to create environmental solutions to pressing contemporary problems.”

In the long term, focusing on food systems and investing in multi-year efforts will help faculty expand their research, enhance the curriculum of the program, and provide more concrete data to community partners, said Atalan-Helicke. “Our goal is to work with organizations and create these opportunities. When they see the quality of our students’ work, they will be even more eager to work with us.”