Milestones & Accomplishments
REON sensor platform deployed in the
Hudson River in 2008.
2008
- Beacon Institute opens new sustainable Center for Environmental Innovation and Education (CEIE) at Denning’s Point in Beacon. The CEIE is the Institute’s primary education and outreach facility and first home to REON is also a Visitor Center for Denning’s Point State Park.
- Beacon Institute and Tech Valley High School launch SENSE IT (Student Enabled Network of Sensors for the Environment using Technology) pilot to teach 40 ninth grade students how to design and build their own environmental sensors..
- National Science Foundation awards Beacon Institute and Clarkson University $1.4 million grant for expansion of SENSE IT education initiative to bring innovative STEM skills (science, technology, education and mathematics) curricula to high schools in the Hudson Valley, Capital District and St. Lawrence regions.
- Beacon Institute and Clarkson University deploy first REON sensor platform in Hudson River off Denning’s Point.
- Peter Davoren, President and CEO of Turner Construction Company, announced as chair of Institute’s capital facilities working group to oversee construction of green research facilities in Beacon and Troy.
- Clarkson University joins Beacon Institute/IBM partnership, expanding REON reach to St. Lawrence River.
2007
- Beacon Institute and IBM announce plans to create REON (River and Estuary Observatory Network), an integrated network of sensors, robotics and computational technology distributed throughout the 315-mile river and the first real-time monitoring and forecasting network for a major American river and estuary.
- Croxton Collaborative Architects, pioneers in green design, selected to head planning and design of Institute’s Center for Advanced Environmental Research (CAER) in Beacon.
- Beacon Institute unveils the definitive modern map of the Hudson River Watershed, created by Connie Brown and Duncan Milne of Redstone Studios. The map is currently on loan to the Albany Institute of History and Art for their Quadricentennial exhibit.
- Institute opens Upper Hudson administrative office in Troy.
2006
- Institute assembles working group for what will become REON that includes Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY Stony Brook, USGS, Columbia University, Pace University and Union College, among others.
- Institute collaborates with City of Beacon and other organizations to begin revitalization of City of Beacon’s working harbor and harbor management plan.
- Institute announces STV and Louis Berger Group to head master planning and EIS processes for Center for Advanced Environmental Research (CAER).
- Black Dome Press publishes Denning’s Point, A Hudson River History, written by Beacon Institute project historian Jim Heron.
- Rivers and Estuaries Center adopts new name, Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries, and breaks ground on first building on Denning’s Point campus.
2005
- NSF-funded international conference on rivers and technology at IBM Palisades.
2004
- Institute opens administrative headquarters at 199 Main Street in Beacon.
- Center receives IRS designation as 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
2003
- Beacon chosen as headquarters site for Rivers and Estuaries Center.
- Center incorporates.
2001
- Commission solicits site nominations.
- Expert commission releases strategic plan.
2000
- Governor Pataki announces formation of Rivers and Estuaries Center.
