On Tuesday, July 30, Dr. Neal Phillip, chairperson of the Bronx Community College Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, traveled halfway around the world to India with a group of 10 students from BCC, along with two students each from York and Medgar Evers Colleges and one from LaGuardia Community College. In a Study Abroad program sponsored by the Indian government, they are conducting original research in Mumbai on weather, the environment, climate change and sustainability.

Seen here are the student researchers at a farewell reception at the Consulate General of India in Manhattan shortly before they left on their journey of scientific discovery and personal diplomacy. The event was hosted by Deputy India Consul General Mr. Shatru Sinha. Dr Theresa Williams from the CUNY Central Office attended along with faculty and administrators from six branches of CUNY — including BCC president Thomas A. Isekenegbe. The students, born in Bangladesh, Albania, Guyana, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Belize, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica, as well as the United States, are representative of the strength of CUNY’s diversity. Most are participants in CUNY’s Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) initiative, which has dramatically increased graduation rates. They will be joined in Mumbai by BCC’s frequent collaborators in sustainability research from Townsville, Australia.