A new Columbia study with the New York Genome Center shows DNA’s storage potential by squeezing a movie, an Amazon gift card, and a computer virus into its four base nucleotides. DNA is ideal for storing information, perhaps “the highest-density data-storage device ever created,” says Columbia computer scientist Yaniv Erlich. Learn more.

Recently, The Columbia University Club of New York moved to The Penn Club of New York. This new location improves member experiences and offers schools and programs expanded alumni programming venues, including access to meeting rooms, private event spaces, and banquet facilities.

As long as someone on your team has a Club membership or member contact, booking space is easy: just contact the Club directly. If you’re not a member, join today and start taking advantage of all the Club has to offer! All staff are eligible for membership.

Honoring Cesar Chavez Day and National Farmworker Awareness Week, attend a March 31 symposium at the School of Social Work about interdisciplinary US immigration and migration initiatives, particular about farmworker justice. Students, faculty, artists, and activists will give speeches and present their work.

The crowdfunding project “Help 40 Columbia Nursing Students Practice Globally” supports aspiring nurses at Columbia provide care in countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana.

A new broad-based digital effort begins in May to raise awareness about and promote volunteer and giving opportunities related to The Columbia Commitment. Impact Giving, crowdfunding for all audiences, includes nine projects to help all Columbians participate in the campaign.

With the Campaign Management Office, Marketing and Communications, Columbia Alumni Association, Annual Fund Programs, and schools and units, this effort provides exciting ways for alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends to join the campaign, or, dare we say, movement.

The projects will be marketed through social media, paid digital advertising, volunteer groups, ColumbiaYOU, Columbia Magazine, and the new Columbia Giving website. We’re also linking to additional content and volunteer opportunities. See example projects below:

–        Just Societies: Serving Immigrant Communities

–        Arts and Imagination: Public Presentation Fund for the Lenfest Center

–        Athletics: Campbell Championship Fund

–        Future of Neuroscience: Wake Therapy and Bright Light Treatment for Depression

–        Scholarships: Open the Door to a Columbia Education.

The goals are to build awareness of The Columbia Commitment, create an engagement and conversion effort across the University, acquire new and reactive long-lapsed donors, and gather data informing future communication and solicitation as we develop a campaign donor pipeline.

To learn more, please contact Allen Rosso ([email protected]) or Linda Ury Greenberg ([email protected]).

From Billy Joel to Nina Simone, listen to campaign soundtrack submissions from last month’s Countdown contest. See below some of the names of those who participated.

In honor of Earth Day next month, can you name a Columbian (faculty or alumni) committed to climate response? Submit your answers by Friday, April 7 to [email protected]. Winners will be e-mailed.

February Countdown Contest Participants

Crystal Ansari-Turenne, program coordinator for human resources and talent management

Ryan Hart, executive director of gift planning

Joanna Hootnick, executive director of campaign planning and analysis

Paul Lindberg, alumni relations coordinator

Christine McPherson, associate director for human resources

Andrew Wilson, project manager

Lani Yim, administrative assistant, alumni relations

“This is probably one of the most dangerous things facing mankind today: a use and training of intelligence excluding moral sensitivity.”

Married educational psychologists Kenneth Clark ’40GSAS and Mamie Phipps Clark ’43GSAS challenged the prejudiced assumption that black and white children have different intellectual abilities. Their research was cited in the landmark Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas to help rule public-school segregation unconstitutional. Kenneth and Mamie were the first two African Americans to earn doctorates in psychology at Columbia. Learn more.

The Gift Systems conference room is named after the Clarks.

The Columbia Commitment, ideas and impact, and 360-degree thinking. Want campaign talking points? Read our draft campaign brief and Q&A’s for language to use with donors, alumni, and colleagues.

See this month’s related Countdown Contest.

Celebrating its 250th anniversary, P&S aims to provide debt-free medical education, eliminating students’ need-based loans and providing all financial aid through scholarships. To further this goal, Roy and Diana Vagelos have committed $25 million in matching funds to a new P&S scholarship campaign. Learn more.

View photos of the all-staff meeting. With the Digital Storytelling Lab, over 300 attendees discussed upcoming challenges and opportunities about the new campaign. Amelia shared her personal connection to the campaign commitments, inspiring us all to do the same. Keep an eye out for a report about the exploratory workshop.