Davis Projects for Peace Prize Awarded to Williams College Graduating Senior

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. - Henry Kernan of Quito, Ecuador, who graduated from Williams College in June, has been awarded a Davis Projects for Peace grant of $10,000 for his work to promote small-scale mining in Papua, New Guinea while reducing the environmental harms caused by current mining practices, particularly in regard to mercury pollution.

"The miners use mercury to separate gold from other minerals," he said. "This causes the release of harmful mercury vapors into the air and water."

To combat this, Kernan is introducing a device called a "retort," which captures and re-liquefies mercury in a safe and cost-effective manner.

"Retorts have been used for centuries to trap and re-liquefy mercury vapors," Kernan explained. "During the gold rush in North America, miners used retorts to conserve their mercury supplies and to reduce the known dangers of mercury vapor."

Kernan is collaborating with the Mineral Resources Authority (MRA), a government ministry in charge of mineral extraction in Papua. In addition to providing the initiative for miners to use retorts, Kernan is providing information on more effective mining techniques.

The Davis Projects for Peace provides grants for undergraduates at colleges in the Davis United World College Scholars Program to implement grassroots projects to promote peace. Kathryn Wasserman Davis created the program in 2007 on her 100th birthday, when she committed $1 million for 100 projects.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.