Cronin, right, chats with breakfast attendees

BEACON - The Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries is on a mission to build the Hudson River into a world-class outdoor laboratory, and convincing local businessmen and women that it is on the list of short terms goals to help them succeed.

The Center for Environmental Innovations at Denning’s Point in Beacon, one of the Institute’s newest research and technology endeavors, played host to Wednesday’s Greater Southern Dutchess Chamber of Commerce Beacon n’ Eggs Breakfast, an event which typically brings the membership up to date on various projects within the county.

Institute director John Cronin didn’t waste any time in laying out the Institute’s plans.

“Back in the 60s and 70s, many people here had a special vision for the Hudson River, and we need to continue that vision.  We want to make the Hudson River the world’s premier natural environmental laboratory, and we’re already on the right track to doing it.”

The Institute has in place numerous sensors in the river, from lower Hudson all the way to Troy, where the Institute’s other major land laboratory stands.  Scientists, along with teachers and students involved in aquatic technology classes at the Institute, are pulling data from the river on a daily basis.

Cronin hopes the effort will pave the way for future innovations.

“The Hudson River is going to become the next frontier in environmental studies, make no mistake about it.  The business leaders in Dutchess County know this, and we realize that the Hudson River also plays an economic role in the Hudson Valley.  I think everyone understands the potential the river possesses.”

The Institute currently has plans to expand their Denning’s Point facilities, including the Center for Advanced Environmental Research, a research facility for the innovation and development of technologies for real-time observation and monitoring of complex river systems.

Expert teams of scientists, engineers, policy analysts and scholars in that building will collaborate to identify the critical issues related to human interaction with the watershed, and propose solutions to mitigate these impacts.   

Designed with IBM participation, and funded with a significant investment from New York State, it will serve as the physical and virtual home for the River and Estuary Observatory Network.