In an unexpected move, the storied Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City is facing closure under the Trump administration. Nestled above Tom’s Restaurant, a locale immortalized by the TV show Seinfeld, this NASA-affiliated research lab has been central to advancing understanding of climate change and space exploration for decades.
The GISS lab, located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in a building owned by Columbia University since 1966, is set to lose its lease by the end of May. This decision is part of a broader effort by the administration to cut down NASA’s Earth science budget, as President Trump has previously expressed skepticism about climate science, labeling it a “giant hoax.”
Renowned for developing one of the first climate models in the 1970s, GISS has contributed significantly to scientific missions, including mapping the Milky Way and exploring Venus and Jupiter. Despite its contributions, the lab’s 130 staff members are now facing an uncertain future, tasked with working remotely as NASA seeks alternative accommodations.
Dr. James Hansen, a former director of GISS and a pivotal figure in climate science, expressed his frustration over the lab’s impending closure. Reflecting on the decision, he remarked, “They are trying to kill the messenger with the bad news, it’s crazy.” Hansen, who alerted the world to the climate crisis in 1988, highlighted the wealth of knowledge that could be lost if GISS is dismantled.
Hansen’s concerns were echoed during a recent visit to Tom’s Restaurant, where he shared anecdotes about the lab’s history and its impact. “Science isn’t something you start over. You’ve got a lot of knowledge there,” he emphasized, criticizing the administration’s approach to handling scientific institutions.
The closure comes after a presidential order to review and potentially reduce costs related to federally leased office spaces in major cities. Although this move aims to boost efficiency, it ironically fails to save money in the short term, as the lease between Columbia University and a federal agency remains unbreakable.
Gavin Schmidt, the current director of GISS, and other staff members are grappling with the lab’s impending shutdown. “It’s frustrating,” Schmidt admitted, noting that the facility had recently undergone costly renovations. The team has been marking their final days with picnics and farewell gatherings, celebrating the lab’s contributions to science.
For now, GISS’s researchers continue their work remotely, though the uncertainty looms over their heads. Kate Marvel, a climate scientist at GISS, described the situation as “disruptive,” adding, “This is a building full of nerds who love doing science, love learning new things about our planet.”
While some hope for a potential revival under a future administration, others fear this could mark the end of an era for a lab that has long punched above its weight. As Schmidt puts it, “We’ve had a good run. But it’s not over just yet.”
Original Story at www.theguardian.com