The Dartmouth Independent
Emma Greene

Emma Greene

Environment & Conservation Reporter

Emma Greene is a sophomore from Hanover, New Hampshire, an Upper Valley native majoring in Environmental Studies. Committed to conservation and deeply connected to the local landscape, she brings an earnest, hopeful voice to her coverage of environmental issues, sustainability, and the natural world.

emma@dartmouthindependent.com

Covers: Environment, Sustainability, Conservation, Upper Valley

Articles by Emma Greene (19)

Andi Lloyd ’89 returns to Dartmouth as co-pastor after career in climate science
Campus

Andi Lloyd ’89 returns to Dartmouth as co-pastor after career in climate science

Andi Lloyd ’89, a former climate scientist and longtime biology professor, returned to Dartmouth in October 2025 as co-pastor of the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. Lloyd, who spent about 25 years teaching at Middlebury College, discussed her path from ecological research to ministry in a recent interview with The Dartmouth. Lloyd’s return brings her back to campus decades after graduating in 1989 with a major in geography. In the interview, she described the move as both personal and professional, and said she has enjoyed being back in what she called “the life and energy of a college campus”

House releases Epstein photo showing inventor Dean Kamen with Epstein and Branson
Campus

House releases Epstein photo showing inventor Dean Kamen with Epstein and Branson

A newly released photograph included in documents from the U.S. House Oversight Committee shows New Hampshire inventor and businessman Dean Kamen pictured with Jeffrey Epstein and British entrepreneur Richard Branson. The image was published Friday as part of an ongoing inquiry into Epstein, according to materials released by Democrats on the committee. The photo’s release adds a new public data point about Kamen’s past proximity to Epstein, who died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to child sex trafficking and abuse. Kamen has not been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the new image was

Dartmouth Faculty Raise Concerns Over Return to In-Person Classes Post-COVID
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Dartmouth Faculty Raise Concerns Over Return to In-Person Classes Post-COVID

Dartmouth College faculty are raising questions about the long-term impacts of the pandemic on teaching and learning, expressing concerns over administrative efforts to return fully to pre-pandemic norms. In faculty meetings and departmental discussions this year, professors have debated how remote learning, health concerns, and evolving student expectations are shaping the classroom experience. At the center of these conversations is the return to mandatory in-person instruction. Since the resumption of on-campus operations in 2021, Dartmouth has required virtually all classes to be held face-to-face. While some faculty appreciate the renewed emphasis on personal engagement, others question whether the college has

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in New Hampshire, But Uncertainty Looms
Campus

Drug Overdose Deaths Drop Sharply in New Hampshire, But Uncertainty Looms

New Hampshire saw a 33.4% decrease in drug overdose deaths from 2023 to 2024, marking the state’s largest single-year decline in more than a decade. The drop continues a downward trend from the peak of the opioid epidemic, when New Hampshire had one of the highest overdose death rates in the country. Public health officials and treatment providers say a broad set of coordinated efforts has helped drive progress—but that future funding and policy shifts could threaten those gains. Dr. Abby L’Heureux and Annette Escalante, who work in substance use disorder treatment at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, credited evidence-based medical

Campus

From Methuen to the FYP: What Tony P Reveals About Campus Masculinity

On a Thursday night in a Dartmouth common area, someone will eventually pull out their phone and say, half-joking, “Fit check, but make it Tony P.” The video is familiar by now: a young consultant in a well-cut suit, narrating his commute, his workout, his dinner, his date, with an enthusiasm that feels slightly too polished to be real and slightly too earnest to be a joke. For a growing number of Dartmouth students, that consultant has a name: Anthony John Polcari, better known online as @_tonypindc. Born in September 1998 and raised north of Boston, he now lives in

Rain Expected Midweek Ahead of a Chilly, Sunny Thanksgiving in New Hampshire
Tech

Rain Expected Midweek Ahead of a Chilly, Sunny Thanksgiving in New Hampshire

Residents across New Hampshire should prepare for a mix of wet and clear weather in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. According to the National Weather Service, rain showers are likely midweek, but the holiday and weekend forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and colder temperatures. Monday is expected to begin the week with clear skies and highs in the mid-40s. Overnight lows will drop to the mid-20s, and wind gusts could reach up to 20 miles per hour. Clouds are expected to move into the region on Tuesday. Daytime highs will reach the upper 40s with a light breeze.

Sen. Rand Paul Critiques Both Parties in Visit to Dartmouth
Campus

Sen. Rand Paul Critiques Both Parties in Visit to Dartmouth

In a public lecture marked by sharp critiques of both major political parties, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul addressed a crowd of roughly 220 students, faculty, and local residents at Dartmouth’s Rockefeller Center on November 14. Framing his talk around American history, Paul argued that the United States is living through its “best of times” in terms of health and global economics, despite what he described as short-sighted political narratives. The event, part of the Rockefeller Center’s “Law and Democracy: the United States at 250” series, was co-hosted by Dartmouth Dialogues and the Dartmouth Political Union. It was moderated by Eli

Dartmouth Increases Federal Advocacy Amid Shifts in Research Funding
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Dartmouth Increases Federal Advocacy Amid Shifts in Research Funding

Dartmouth College President Sian Leah Beilock has made multiple trips to Washington, D.C., this year as part of a wider effort by the College to protect federal research funding and financial aid during the second Trump administration, according to senior vice president for communications and government relations Justin Anderson. Since January, Beilock has traveled to the capital eight times to meet with senators, members of Congress, and federal officials. Anderson described the visits as advocacy-focused, aimed at maintaining critical funding streams for the College’s students, faculty, and research programs. In addition to presidential outreach, Dartmouth has taken public positions on

Democrats Sweep Key East Coast Races, Sparking Reactions at Dartmouth
Campus

Democrats Sweep Key East Coast Races, Sparking Reactions at Dartmouth

Democratic victories in several high-profile state elections on the East Coast this week have drawn mixed reactions among Dartmouth students, as the party saw significant gains in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey. The results come one year ahead of the 2026 midterms and have prompted discussions on campus about the direction of national politics and the strategies that led to the wins. In New York City, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, a state assemblymember and self-described democratic socialist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 50.4% of the vote. The mayoral race drew over 2 million ballots for the first time

The Ramen Club Opens in Portsmouth, Bringing Japanese-Inspired Fare to Fleet Street
Culture

The Ramen Club Opens in Portsmouth, Bringing Japanese-Inspired Fare to Fleet Street

PORTSMOUTH — A new ramen-focused restaurant, The Ramen Club, opened its doors on Fleet Street this month, bringing Japanese noodle dishes and a curated cocktail menu to downtown Portsmouth. Founded by a team of five Thai-born restaurateurs, the eatery blends culinary research with graphic design and hospitality experience to serve both traditional and inventive dishes. Co-owner Nuttaya Suriyayanyong said she was inspired to launch the venture following a three-week research trip to Japan in May, where she explored regional styles of ramen and cooking techniques. “As we learned, we found out that there is more and more that we did

Dartmouth’s Society of Fellows Supports Early-Career Scholars and Interdisciplinary Study
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Dartmouth’s Society of Fellows Supports Early-Career Scholars and Interdisciplinary Study

Dartmouth’s Society of Fellows, a postdoctoral fellowship program launched in 2014, offers recent Ph.D. recipients the chance to engage in interdisciplinary research and undergraduate teaching over a three-year term. Designed to bring early-career scholars into the academic community, the program supports nine fellows each year as they conduct research, publish work, and contribute to the liberal arts mission of the College. Founded by former Dartmouth President Phil Hanlon ’77, the Society was created in response to the College’s lack of graduate programs. Emily Walton, the program’s faculty director, explained that the Society addresses a gap between Dartmouth’s strong undergraduate body

New Hampshire Wants Out But Who Pays the Price for Dirty Air?
Campus

New Hampshire Wants Out But Who Pays the Price for Dirty Air?

New Hampshire wants out. Out of the Ozone Transport Commission. Out of emissions testing. Out of a decades-long regional agreement designed to curb air pollution across state lines. The state’s Department of Environmental Services claims the change won’t worsen pollution. But let’s be clear: that’s not a scientific consensus. It’s a political gamble. The proposal, quietly advanced by state officials, would eliminate mandatory emissions testing for vehicles in four counties: Hillsborough, Rockingham, Merrimack, and Strafford. These counties are part of a federally designated “nonattainment” zone for ozone pollution. That means they’ve failed to meet national air quality standards. And yet,

Where Magnets Begin: A New Kind of Metalwork in New Hampshire
Campus

Where Magnets Begin: A New Kind of Metalwork in New Hampshire

On a crisp October afternoon in Exeter, New Hampshire, the air carried the scent of kettle corn and the hum of live music. Children clutched plush toys won at carnival booths, and neighbors gathered around food trucks, their breath visible in the cooling air. But this was no ordinary fall festival. The real attraction stood behind the festivities: a newly opened warehouse that may soon become one of the most consequential rare earth processing facilities in the United States. Inside the modest industrial building, Phoenix Tailings, a Massachusetts-based startup, has begun refining rare earth metals, materials essential to modern technologies,

The Last Lift: Farewell to a New Hampshire Icon
Culture

The Last Lift: Farewell to a New Hampshire Icon

On a crisp October afternoon, the final ascent of Cannon Mountain’s aerial tramway marked the end of a chapter that has spanned generations. As the mustard-yellow car glided through the thinning veil of autumn mist, passengers leaned into the windows, eyes tracing the familiar contours of Franconia Notch. The tram, affectionately known as “Mustard” and its twin “Ketchup,” made its last scheduled run on Sunday, October 26, closing a 45-year legacy of lifting visitors to the summit of one of New Hampshire’s most storied peaks. The moment was not just a farewell to a mode of transport, but a gentle

Aisles of Memory: Toys ‘R’ Us Returns to Manchester in a New Light
Culture

Aisles of Memory: Toys ‘R’ Us Returns to Manchester in a New Light

In the quiet rhythm of Manchester’s commercial corridors, a familiar name is preparing to return. Toys “R” Us, once a cornerstone of childhood wonder and retail nostalgia, is reopening its doors inside the Macy’s at The Mall of New Hampshire. For many in the Upper Valley and beyond, this news stirs a blend of curiosity and sentimentality. The brand’s reemergence, nestled within a department store rather than standing alone, marks a shift not only in retail strategy but in how communities interact with spaces of memory and commerce. The original Toys “R” Us stores, with their sprawling aisles and towering

From Hanover to New York: Dartmouth’s Quiet Leadership at Climate Week
Campus

From Hanover to New York: Dartmouth’s Quiet Leadership at Climate Week

As the rhythms of late September settled over New York City, a different kind of energy pulsed through its streets. Climate Week NYC, the largest annual gathering outside of COP dedicated to environmental action, drew leaders from across the globe into conversation. Among the voices rising in this collective call for change, Dartmouth College stood out, not for its size, but for the clarity and sincerity of its contribution. Through a series of thoughtfully curated events, Dartmouth faculty, students, and staff brought the Upper Valley’s environmental ethos to the heart of urban discourse, weaving together threads of Arctic justice, sustainable

Old Pipes Love Enzyme Cleaners
Campus

Old Pipes Love Enzyme Cleaners

The bathrooms in off-campus Hanover rentals tell you everything you need to know about the age of the homes they sit in. Tile grout from a different era. Pipes that take their time. Radiators with minds of their own. For students living in these houses, maintenance is a constant negotiation between short-term convenience and long-term risk. You want the water to drain, but you don’t want to make things worse. And every product you pour down the sink is a bet on which of those matters more. Most students don’t think twice. They buy what’s cheapest or what their parents

How Area Cyclists Are Powering a Cleaner Future
Campus

How Area Cyclists Are Powering a Cleaner Future

On a sunlit October morning, the roads of Dartmouth came alive with the quiet hum of bicycle tires and the steady rhythm of pedaling feet. Riders of all ages and backgrounds gathered not for competition, but for connection, a shared journey through the South Coast landscape in support of clean water and conservation. The Buzzards Bay Coalition’s annual Watershed Ride, held this year on October 5, brought together hundreds of cyclists who believe that movement through nature can be both joyful and purposeful. The event offered three routes, 41, 77, and 100 miles, each winding through coastal villages, over bridges,

Outside/In: How to Solve The Climate Crisis in 60-90 Minutes
Campus

Outside/In: How to Solve The Climate Crisis in 60-90 Minutes

In a quiet studio tucked away in New Hampshire, a group of friends gathered around a table scattered with tokens, cards, and a sprawling game board. The game they were playing wasn’t about conquest or fantasy. It was about climate change. “Daybreak,” a cooperative board game designed to simulate the global effort required to combat the climate crisis, offered them a chance to step into the shoes of policymakers, scientists, and activists. For ninety minutes, they weren’t just rolling dice, they were navigating the tangled web of energy transitions, international diplomacy, and ecological tipping points. The premise of “Daybreak” is