Sustainability

About

The University of Cincinnati strives to be a national and academic leader on climate and sustainability research, education, and action. PEWS Sustainability is an initiative to:

RESEARCH

Highlight sustainability research at UC

PARTNERSHIPS

Support community partnerships with sustainability goals

EVENTS

Host public-facing events about sustainability

This is initiative is funded by the Research 2030 Initiative of the UC Office of Research.

Sustainability Highlights

Dr. James Mack
Professor of Chemistry,
Dean of Natural Sciences

Dr. Angela Potochnik
Professor of Philosophy,
Director of PEWS

Dr. Patrick Ray
Professor of Environmental Engineering

Dr. Carlie Trott
Assistant Professor of Psychology

Dr. Abel Gustafson
Assistant Professor of
Science Communication

Dr. Andrew Bernier
Visiting Assistant Professor of
STEM Education

Projects

Sustainability Education

Dr. Andrew Bernier is working with Jess Roncker, one of the PEWS Sustainability fellows, to develop resources for sustainability education at UC, in partnership with local K-12 educators and the broader environmental education community in Greater Cincinnati. UC’s School of Education, as the largest teacher prep and credentialing program in the region, makes it the perfect location for innovative teaching methods that help answer the questions: What does a culture of sustainability within education look like? How do we cultivate instructional styles that encourage stronger project, problem, and place-based learning around sustainability? What sustainability competencies meet the needs of students and the needs of the community? This project is part of a larger University initiative to streamline and grow its sustainability programs and aims to work across colleges and disciplines to develop stronger relationships around education for urban sustainability on- and off-campus.

Climate Equity in Cincinnati

Dr. Carlie Trott’s is working to build on the Cincinnati Climate Equity Indicators Report produced by her team in 2021. The report provides the City of Cincinnati offices and sustainability- and justice-oriented organizations with information on indicators of sensitivity and adaptive capacity in the context of the climate crisis and compiles demographic, environmental, health outcome, economic, and planning indicators for all 52 Cincinnati neighborhoods. In June 2022, Jess Roncker presented on behalf of the UC team at the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit on a panel entitled Revolutionary Strategies for a Climate Safe Region, alongside Oliver Kroner, Sustainability Manager for the City of Cincinnati; Margaux Roberts, Roselawn and Bond Hill Community Organizer; Savannah Sullivan, Climate Policy Director for Green Umbrella; and Kelsey Hawkins-Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator for Groundwork Ohio River Valley.

Sustainability Research and Discussion Group

Are you a graduate student doing research in sustainability? Or are you interested in sustainability research, but not sure how to get involved? Join our Graduate Sustainability Research & Discussion Group!

This student-led group launched in the spring of 2022 to give graduate students across the disciplinary spectrum a chance to connect, cross-pollinate, and co-create ideas for developing their research projects in the field of sustainability. During the academic year, the group meets bimonthly, Friday’s 11am-12pm in McMicken 210. These regular group meetings will resume in Fall 2022!

Previous meetings have included discussions developing sustainability research projects, workshops on engaging in interdisciplinary research, panel discussions about turning research into actionable work.

All disciplines are welcome and coffee and snacks are provided!

Summer Meetings

June 3, 2022

A Practical Guide for Sparking Co-Productive Agility + Short Walk in Burnet Woods

Questions? Want to join remotely? Please feel free to email Kat Timm for more details. To receive updates about the research and discussion group, feel free to fill out this form.

Events

Community Partnership for Sustainability

On Friday April 15, 2022, the Center for Public Engagement with Science hosted the Community Partnership for Sustainability event to highlight the efforts of local organizations working on issues of sustainability. Attendees gathered virtually to hear about each organization’s current projects and opportunities for collaboration.