Plate + Planet Lab

Plate + Planet Lab, formerly listed as Barnard's Sustainable Food Institute, is a three-week summer program at Barnard College in New York City for high school students interested in food systems, sustainability and climate. The 2026 program ran July 20 to August 7, 2026. Students study how food is grown, distributed, eaten and wasted in the United States through four units: agriculture; health, policy and justice; food systems and climate change; and soil health. Each week includes visits to farms in New York City and around New York State, where students work hands-on with farmers, along with sessions led by experts in each unit. The program ends with a final project on a unit the student chooses. Students can attend as commuters or live on campus. Summer 2026 tuition was $8,160 for commuters and $10,771 for residential students, and limited need-based financial aid is available to domestic applicants.

Open to rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors who are at least 14 years old when the program starts. To apply, students submit an online application, an unofficial transcript, a list of extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations and a 500-word statement of purpose. A $75 application fee applies after the priority deadline. Applications for Summer 2027 open December 1, 2026.