Â鶹ÊÓƵ plays a leading role in addressing critical sustainability challenges through its research, academic mission, and physical footprint. We celebrate Earth Month all year long through our dedication toÌýsolving big problems in collaboration with the local, regional, and international community to foster healthy people, a healthy planet, a healthy economy, and a healthy society.Ìý
Â鶹ÊÓƵ's Campuses are a Living Lab
From the canopies of the trees in our accredited arboretum to the stormwater running into Â鶹ÊÓƵ Pond, Â鶹ÊÓƵ experts are conducting research locally that can and will have an impact globally. Learn more.
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Sustainability is one of Â鶹ÊÓƵ's core values.Ìý
We educate leaders, conduct interdisciplinary research, invest in sustainable infrastructure, and promote and support socially conscious entrepreneurship. JoinÌýus in solving the complex challenges of today to create a better world tomorrow.
Rescuing our future to ensure a healthy planet, healthy people, healthy economies, and healthy societies will be the central organizing cause of the rest of our lives. It is our job to conduct research to find solutions to our overlapping grand challenges – and to educate students to solve them.â€
Dr. Gregory Washington
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Â鶹ÊÓƵ puts research and scholarship into action to support a just, prosperous, and sustainable world. Â鶹ÊÓƵ launched its Ìý(ISE) to lead this applied research.ÌýThe ISE supports interdisciplinary research by connecting experts in various fields with each other and to policymakers, businesses, civic organizations, and communities.Ìý
In addition to the Ìýand the university-wide , nine of our have affiliated research centers that focus on an aspect of sustainability. Â鶹ÊÓƵ is one of the top research universities in the nation, holding anÌýR1 designationÌýfrom the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
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Institute for Sustainable Earth
Center for Climate Change Communication
Smithsonian-Â鶹ÊÓƵ School of Conservation
Potomac Science Center
Ìý(PEREC)
- PEREC focuses on Potomac River restoration and local sustainability practices, so that the local ecosystem will be healthy for years to come. We translate our research into award winning and engaging field programs for K-12 students and the larger community.
- PEREC faculty and students have researched a large number of watersheds within the northern Virginia area including many in Fairfax County, Prince William County, and Clarke County.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ Research Centers
READ: Â鶹ÊÓƵ researchers and Honey Bee Initiative tackle environmental health, economic progress, and food insecurity issues.ÌýLearn more.
WATCH:ÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ's Honey Bee Initiative VideoÌý()
READ:ÌýConservation students tag monarch butterflies to help save the endangered species. Learn more.
WATCH:Ìý
READ: Budding scientist monitors Â鶹ÊÓƵ's iconic cherry blossoms. Learn more.
Â鶹ÊÓƵ has a variety of degree programs, minors,Ìýand classes in the field, such asÌý,Ìý,ÌýandÌý. Many are designatedÌýÌýfocusing on sustainability.ÌýÂ鶹ÊÓƵ providesÌýÌýwith an immersive experience that will allow them to craft a career in any field.
Buildings
Our practices include: constructingÌýbuildings; managing stormwater runoff; growingÌýfood in our ; planting and teaching apiary management; making carbon-neutral/green purchases; being energy efficient; composting; and reducing waste.
Fuse at Â鶹ÊÓƵ Square will be a LEED Platinum, smart, net-zero-ready building with Fitwell 2-star and RELi resiliency. It will feature a green roof for energy-efficient heating and cooling, an agile floor design to enable responsive team or project growth, and specialized labs for robotics, virtual reality, simulation, security and data visualization.
Ìýis a destination for environmental science research along the Chesapeake Bay watershed and meets LEED Silver certification standards.
Food Sustainability
Our food system produces approximately 2,000 pounds of fresh produce every year, which supplies our dining halls and raises $20,000 to pay for supplies, staff, and utilities.Ìý
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Aquaponics at Â鶹ÊÓƵ
The aquaponics system includes a 200-gallon fish tank and three grow beds for the plants – producing harvestable, donation-ready items, including vegetables, leafy greens,Ìýand herbs.ÌýTo learn more about this new system, check out our aquaponicsÌýÌýbelow!Ìý
The Presidents Park Greenhouse (PPG) is an on-campus site for year-round food production that grows approximately 1,000 lbs. of fresh produce annually. Read more.Ìý