Suffolk Reporter

Nature State of Mind: SUNY Students Reflect on Our Environment is a student-led project that has recently been released. The book highlights the connection between humans and nature, a theme captured by students through a variety of creative mediums including writing, photography, and artwork. This initiative involved 13 SUNY schools and 70 student artists and writers across New York State.

David Taylor, an associate professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (SoMAS), guided the project. He drew inspiration from a prior initiative led by Stony Brook’s Environmental Club, resulting in a publication called Forever Wild. Reflecting on its impact, Taylor said, “After seeing that book, I had some students come to me asking if we could do something like that again.”

Taylor expanded the concept to a statewide effort, organizing research classes in 2024 that engaged students like Alanna Earls, Esther Poon, Faria Lorin, Suzette Hernandez, and Jevahni Truman. “We sorted out an email list so that we could reach as many people as possible,” Taylor explained about the collaborative efforts involved.

Alanna Earls expressed her fulfillment from working with peers and faculty across SUNY campuses. “Putting this book together was important to me because it really shows that students care about and are inspired by their local environments,” she shared.

Esther Poon, recently recognized as a Student Leader for Sustainability, added, “We wanted to find a way to unite the SUNYs through environmental literature and art.”

The book’s proceeds will support the New York State Outdoor Educators Association (NYSOEA). Taylor plans to showcase the publication at the Climate Solutions Summit NYC. “The students involved with this book are going to be there, and we’re going to do posters of some of the contributions of the Stony Brook students,” he mentioned.

Taylor emphasized the educational benefits the project provided. “These students learned how to put together a major book project and the process that one would go through publishing with a major university press,” he stated.

Nature State of Mind is currently available through Barnes and Noble Press.