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Earth Day Spring Fling 2024 – April 17th

Posted on April 16, 2024April 16, 2024 by Allie Calabro

What: Earth Day Spring Fling is an annual celebration of sustainability hosted by the UConn Office of Sustainability and UConn Dining Services. Established in 2008, the festival features 30+ environmental vendors and organizations to produce the greatest day of environmental awareness all year! Hop on our party peddler bike for a tour of UConn's most sustainable campus features or check out our environmental art show! Coinciding with the event is UConn's annual Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial Class Tree planting. Write intentions for your future at UConn and plant them with the Class of 2027 tree!

When: Wednesday, April 17th, 2024 from 11am to 2pm (The rain date is set for April 22nd)

Where: Fairfield Way! The BBQ, vendors, bike tour, and art show will all be located along Fairfield Way. Outdoor yoga will take place on the Founders Green and the class tree planting will be on the Student Union Lawn.

Who: There will be many unique, sustainability-minded vendors attending EDSF! The event is open to everyone – we encourage you to come out and celebrate the Earth with the OS and Dining Services!

Some of the highlights include:

Environmental education opportunities
Local conservation non-profits
Hydrogen technologies
Sustainable vendors
Giveaways
And more!

Green Careers Panel – February 29, 2024

Posted on January 30, 2024February 9, 2024 by Allie Calabro

What: An interdisciplinary panel of experts, designed to inform students on the ways in which their desired career path can intersect with sustainability and the environment. A green career does not have to be one solely in the environmental field! Green careers are found in business, art, science, education, government, and more. The GCP will help you as a student find a career that connects your unique talents and interests with sustainability. This is also an Honors event! (Categories: Social Change, Service, & Sustainability; Career, Professional, & Personal Development- #UHLevent10700)

When: Thursday, February 29th, 5:30 to 7:30 pm (Check out the Eco-Involvement Fair from 4:30 to 5:30 in the Atrium before the panel!)

Where: BPB (Bio Physics Building), room 130

91 N. Eagleville Road, Storrs CT 06269

Who: Students of any and all majors are encouraged to attend. Green careers are not limited to environmental majors! We want to show you all how your majors can be related to a green career.

Why: The Earth is facing an imminent crisis: climate change. We will need all hands on deck to make progress in our goals as a global community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save our planet. We at the OS want to show YOU, all the students here at UConn, that ‘green’ does not have to mean strictly environmental science. Our panelists include engineers, businesspeople, and more – sustainability initiatives can be incorporated into any job! There is a place for all of you in the fight for sustainability and environmental justice; you all have a role to play, big or small.

Eco-Involvement Fair (4:30-5:30 pm in the BPB Atrium): Join us before the GCP for a meet and greet among environmental clubs on campus. Learn more about what students like you are working towards on campus and find out how you can get involved with the many environmentally-minded student orgs!

RSVP HERE

Sustainability Action Student Org Meet and Greet on Nov 16

Posted on November 1, 2023November 7, 2023 by Mortensen, Betsy

Is your club involved with sustainability issues like environmental justice, agriculture, energy or more? Does your club want to be more involved? Let’s connect!

Meet with other clubs and the UConn Office of Sustainability between 5:30p and 7pm on Thursday November 16 in McHugh Hall, room 102. Pizza and beverages provided.

RSVP Here

Not part of a club yet? You’re invited too – see how you can get involved with the many UConn student organizations working on saving the environment.

Haunted HEEP 2023

Posted on October 3, 2023October 16, 2023 by Mortensen, Betsy

Prepare to be scared at the annual Office of Sustainability Haunted HEEP (Hillside Environmental Education Park)! This thrilling 1 mile walk through the woods is sure to scare.

Date: Wednesday, October 25

Time: 7-9:30pm

Free! Do RSVP in advance though. We will have a VIP line for quicker access for those who pre-registered.

Rain date will be Thursday, October 26.

First come, first served, and we need to close promptly at 9:30pm. First 100 students will get a limited edition Haunted HEEP shirt.

Where: Entry will be at the HEEP Trailhead off of Discovery Drive and behind the Innovation Partnership Building. You can take the blue line, walk, or park your car in the IPB lot.

Volunteers Needed

We are currently recruiting volunteers to help put on the event. We need people willing to scare, and also to help with entry/exit. If you’ve ever wanted the chance to jump out of the bushes and scare your fellow UConn students, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for!

Does your club want to host a scary scene? Sign up here.

Do you want to volunteer on your own or with friends? Sign up here.

Volunteers will receive a limited edition Haunted HEEP shirt and pizza.

You must be able to be present from ~5pm onwards on October 25th.

You must attend a pre-event trail walk through to get oriented with the site. A walk through will be hosted on Saturday, October 14 from noon-1pm, and a second option on Saturday, October 21 from 2-3pm.

Environmental Involvement Fair on March 30, 2023

Posted on February 16, 2023March 29, 2023 by Mortensen, Betsy

Join the Office of Sustainability and UConn’s environmental student organizations to see how you can get involved with saving the planet! Joining a club is a great way to learn, make friends, and take action for nature. Come say hello!

New Date: Thursday, March 30, 2023

Time: Event is open from 3pm-5pm

Place: Atrium of Biology & Physics Building (by the giant ant!)

*The Green Careers Panel will be in the lecture hall right next to the fair, starting at 5:30. Stick around to network and learn more about careers in sustainability*

List of Organizations Tabling

Soil & Water Conservation Society – UConn Student Chapter

EcoGarden

Farm Club

EcoHusky

Engineers Without Borders

Clean Energy Society

Ecoposium, UConn

Beekeeping Club

Environmental Justice Front

Hillside Ventures

Environmental Storytelling

Net Impact

USG Environmental Justice Subcommittee

UConn Outing Club

UConnabis Club

-Clubs added once registrations come in-

Is your club interested in tabling? RSVP HERE! Details on set-up and clean up can be found in the form.

POSTPONED: Environmental Involvement Fair on Feb 15, 2023

Posted on January 31, 2023February 17, 2023 by Mortensen, Betsy

POSTPONED due to Hartford Protest. New date TBD.

Date: ~~Wednesday February 15, 2023~~

Time: Event is open from 2:30-5pm

Place: Wilbur Cross North Reading Room (red star in map below)

List of Organizations Tabling

-Office of Sustainability

-EcoHusky

-EcoGarden

-Soil & Water Conservation Society (UConn Chapter)

-Environmental Justice Front

-Horticulture Club

-UConn Formula SAE

-Ecoposium

-Clean Energy Society

-UConn Outing Club

-Moon Club

-Spring Valley Student Farm

-UConn Beekeeping Club

-Engineers Without Borders

-Additional clubs added once registrations come in

Is your club interested in tabling? RSVP HERE! Details on set-up and clean up can be found in the form.

Funding Opportunity: Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants OPEN!

Posted on September 8, 2022September 8, 2022 by Mortensen, Betsy

Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants Program

The Office of Sustainability and the Institute of the Environment started a funding program to support student-faculty projects that enhance environmental sustainability and campus-wide engagement with sustainability issues at the University of Connecticut and in Connecticut communities through research, authentic community engagement, campus operations, or education. Projects must increase both environmental and social sustainability at UConn, and address one or more of UConn’s strategic sustainability goal areas (climate change, energy and buildings, waste, outreach and engagement, water resources, food and dining, purchasing, transportation, or grounds, open space and conservation areas) and one or more related social challenges (fostering inclusion of diverse perspectives, addressing systematic inequalities, environmental justice, social and health inequity, community development, etc). Project activities occur at any of the UConn campuses and extend to Connecticut communities outside of the University campuses. Special consideration is given to interdisciplinary projects that advance equity and justice or incorporate the arts and humanities. Funded teams present their project findings and impacts at a symposium in the Fall following their Spring award.

Application Opens: Sept 8, 2022

Application Closes: 4:00pm on October 11, 2022

Decisions will be made in early December 2022. Funding will be provided to selected grantees in January 2023.

Fall ’22 Call for Proposals

Eligibility: All currently enrolled University of Connecticut undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply. Students must be full-time during the time period of the grant. Applications can be submitted by an individual student or teams of students. Students can lead only one proposal each and can collaborate on up to three proposals (but can participate in no more than three proposals total).

Faculty/Staff Mentor Requirements: Each project must have at least one faculty or staff mentor who submits a support form with the application and will actively participate in the project. Mentors must be able to accept and manage grant funds on the students’ behalf. This includes responsibility for any student hiring. The mentor is responsible for ensuring the project budget is executed according to UConn policies and procedures, adheres to the guidelines outlined in this application and is expended at least three weeks before the close of the fiscal year. Faculty/staff members can collaborate on no more than three student proposals each.

Funding: Limited funding is available for proposed projects with budgets up to $10,000. Proposals should provide strong justification for all budgetary items. Awards will be announced by December 2022. Funds will transfer early January 2023 and should be fully spent by June 30, 2023.

Deadlines: For full consideration, all proposal documents must be submitted by October 11, 2022 at 4:00pm Letters of support from faculty or staff members may be submitted through the google form application or via email to sustainability@uconn.edu. Projects should not extend past the start of Fall ’23.

How to Apply: There is a google form application which asks for contact information and a few short essay questions. You are also required to submit a project budget and faculty mentor support form. Download each form, complete, and then you can upload them into the google form application.

APPLY HERE

Environmental and Social Sustainability Grantee in the News!

Posted on August 31, 2022August 31, 2022 by Mortensen, Betsy

Swap Don’t Shop: Sustainable Fashion is Coming to UConn

UConn Today published a story about one of our Environmental and Social Sustainability Small Grants awardees on August 31, 2022.

Grantee Madeline Kizer is part of the team of UConn students bringing the Swap Shop to life on campus. From the article:

“Cheap clothing has created a culture of “disposable fashion” also known as fast fashion.”

“If something is so cheap, that’s how you know it’s not sustainable,” says Madeline Kizer ’24 (BUS) who is determined to educate as many people as possible about fast fashion and sustainable alternatives. She and other UConn students have established the UConn Swap Shop, a second-hand clothing store aimed at promoting sustainable shopping habits which will open its doors on Thursday, September 8th in the Family Studies Building.”

“We want to raise awareness about sustainability and get people to talk about it,” she says. “If we can get more people to shop sustainably and raise awareness of the issues, hopefully, we can create change.”

The Swap Shop is a place where students can donate clothes or swap for different items. Besides swapping clothes, Kizer says the shop will host events.

“We’re also planning to host sewing and upcycling workshops where we will teach people how to upcycle and the reasons for why we’re doing this,” Kizer says. “We also want to create other educational workshops or a talk series about fast fashion in general.”

Read the full story on UConn Today.

Green Game Day Sept 10 – Volunteers Needed

Posted on August 29, 2022August 29, 2022 by Mortensen, Betsy

Volunteers needed for the 13th annual Football Green Game Day (GGD)! GGD is an event organized by UConn’s Office of Sustainability and UConn Athletics. GGD volunteers are responsible for collecting recyclables from tailgaters prior to the start of the game and promoting environmental awareness to the thousands of UConn Husky fans in attendance! Without volunteers like you, this event would not be possible. This year Football Green Game Day will be held on September 10th, as the Huskies take on the University of Syracuse at Rentschler Field at 7:00pm. Free transportation, dinner, and a ticket to the game will be provided to all volunteers. Please bring your own water bottle and sunscreen! The buses to the stadium will be departing from Hillside Road in front of the Student Union at 2:45 PM. Volunteers can either choose to take one of our buses back to campus around half-time (approx. 9:00 PM) or stay later and take one of the free Husky Roadshow buses back to campus.

Apply to the Fall ’22 Internship at OS

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Mortensen, Betsy

The Office of Sustainability is Hiring!

The Office of Sustainability is hiring a new cohort of interns. These paid internships provide excellent work experience, hone leadership skills, and set students up for success in environmental positions after graduating. Please apply to our team of sustainability-minded student interns. Positions are 8-12 hours per week and will begin Fall ’22. Interns deal with all kinds of sustainability topics – from energy use to environmental communications. All majors welcome!

Apply by April 30th

Must be a current first-year or a second-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UConn

DETAILS + APPLICATION HERE