The Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF) will host its Science Sunday event on Sunday, September 28th, from 1 to 4 p.m. at St. Patrick’s County Park (50651 Laurel Road, South Bend). Science Sunday is an annual event that offers adults and children of all ages a chance to explore ND-LEEF and discover the extensive range of environmental research conducted at Notre Dame. Faculty, students, and community partners will lead demonstrations and hands-on activities, covering a variety of topics, including:Underwater Robots: Discover what lies beneathDissolved Oxygen: Uncover water's secret ingredientInto the Prairie: Meet the native plantsScoop & See: Catch and identify pond insectsLearning From the Past: Using ancient fossils to understand past ocean environmentsWhat lives in Wetlands? Explore ecosystems & food chainsFish of the St. Joseph River: Live & up close and more...This event is free and open to the public. As part of the Environmental Change Initiative, ND-LEEF is a unique global research facility featuring interconnected stream, pond, and wetland ecosystems. For more details, visit environmentalchange.nd.edu/resources/nd-leef. Originally published at environmentalchange.nd.edu.

Fern Wickson, professor of ocean leadership at UiT the Arctic University of Norway, will join the Notre Dame community for the first in a series titled Notre Dame Seminars on Sustainability. Professor Wickson will share key findings from the Transformative Change Assessment (IPBES), including what transformative change means and requires, what challenges and barriers currently block it, and the strategies and actions necessary to achieve it. She will invite attendees to explore how inner personal transformation connects to global transformation and the fundamental systems-wide changes necessary to achieve social justice and sustainability. Notre Dame Seminars on Sustainability Series is a signature lecture series organized by the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative that brings global sustainability leaders and world-class scholars to campus for knowledge sharing and engagement with the Notre Dame community. About Just Transformations to Sustainability As sustainability challenges intensify, their cascading effects on food, energy, water, and infrastructure increasingly threaten the well-being and dignity of people worldwide. Notre Dame’s Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative is the University’s far-reaching response to these urgent threats. Inspired by Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical Laudato si’ (On Care for Our Common Home), the Initiative brings together interdisciplinary scholars, dedicated students, and action partners from around the world to advance transformative solutions for a more just and sustainable future.Originally published at strategicframework.nd.edu.

The newest solar energy investment for the University has been installed near WNDU Studios, and is capable of avoiding nearly 700 tons of carbon annually. Take a stroll with a representative from Crossroads Solar, our panel supplier, and a Utilities & Maintenance staff member from campus. During the tour, you'll learn about how Crossroads is cultivating hope and creating a more just society by employing returned citizens, and how solar energy is supporting the energy needs for our campus.  Registration is required. This event is open to the public. Register today

In a world where hope is often in short supply, Notre Dame continues to be committed to creating a more sustainable and prosperous future for all of us. Join students, faculty, and staff for an engaging panel discussion to learn about the operational and academic projects happening on and around campus that will cultivate hope for our future and inspire action in each of us to care for our common home. Are you teaching a course related to sustainability? We can offer extra credit sign-in sheets for your students to join the discussion. Email green@nd.edu to request a sign-in sheet today. Registration is not required, but is requested for planning purposes. This event is open to the public. Meet the panelists:Elsa Barron, PhD student in Peace Studies & Political Science at the Kroc Institute. Elsa is an environmental peacebuilding and climate justice researcher, writer, poet, and activist. Through her research, she is interested in understanding political processes of truth and reconciliation and the political influence of liberation theology movements. She is exploring opportunities to apply these concepts and processes to international climate diplomacy and climate justice movements. Elsa collaborates on related topics as a program associate with the Institute for Climate and Peace, a climate justice organization based in Hawai’i. She has previously worked at the Center for Climate and Security, Faith in Place, the Payne Institute for Public Policy, the Wilson Center Environmental Change and Security Program, and the NGO Committee on Financing for Development. Her faith and climate advocacy have been featured in CBS News, Rolling Stone, and the Christian Science Monitor, among others. She has attended COP26, 27, and 28 through the Christian Climate Observers Program, and she is now one of three co-directors of that initiative, which is a partnership of twelve faith-based environmental NGOs.Theri Niemier, adjunct faculty in the College of Science and Farm Director & Regenerative Farming Education Specialist at Good Shepherd Montessori School. Theri's history includes over 25 years of regenerative farming design and education. Theri has partnered with the University of Notre Dame for many years and serves as an adjunct in the minor of Sustainability. Her Notre Dame students work on the urban farm while learning about the ecological benefits of sustainable farming. Theri founded Bertrand Farm Inc., an educational farm in Niles, Michigan, in 1996, and in 2020 moved to the city in partnership with Good Shepherd Montessori School to create an urban agriculture learning center for GSMS and the greater community. Theri is a certified permaculture designer, a master canner, and the recipient of the 2019 Conservation Educator of the Year in St. Joseph County, Indiana.    Brett Peters, Assistant Director of the Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF), a program of the Environmental Change Initiative (ECI). Brett manages the day-to-day operations at ND-LEEF including the coordination of research, maintenance and construction activities. Additionally, Brett develops and administers much of the outreach programming at ND-LEEF, which includes educational programs for k-12 students and presentations and tours for internal and external partners and organizations. Brett Received his M.S. in Biology from the University of Notre Dame and a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from Michigan State. University.  Karim Tinoco, Sustainable Foods & Kitchen Program Manager at the University of Notre Dame. With over 10 years of experience in the food & beverage industry and a Master of Science in Sustainable Food Systems, Karim combines industry expertise with academic insight to develop innovative, resilient, and environmentally responsible food programs.He leads initiatives in strategic collaborations, sustainable procurement, food waste reduction, and community engagement through Notre Dame’s operations and purchasing. Karim is passionate about leveraging data and research to provide economically viable solutions to environmental and social challenges. Through his work, Notre Dame has strengthened its commitment to sustainability by reducing waste, celebrating supplier partnerships, and advancing initiatives that balance environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and operational excellence.  Danielle Wood (moderator), Danielle Wood serves as the Director of the Global Adaptation Initiative and an associate professor of the practice at the Environmental Change Initiative. She has concurrent faculty appointments with the Keough School of Public Affairs, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences in the College of Engineering, and is a faculty affiliate with the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society. Wood received her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Urban and Regional Planning with an additional focus in evaluation from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs. Prior to her doctoral studies, she held consulting, nonprofit, and government positions in the U.S. and abroad focused on land use, environmental impact assessment, and conservation and sustainability planning. As a transdisciplinary, mixed-methods researcher, Wood has research interests in climate resilience and adaptation decision-support and planning, research translation processes, asset-based and sustainable development, community engagement and collective impact strategies, and evaluation in complex environments.

Join us for a welcoming reception at 6:00 PM in the Jordan Galleria. At 6:30 PM, we enter the DVT--the Digital Visualization Theater--to hear theologian and civil/environmental engineer Sr. Damien Marie Savino, F.S.E., introduce her forthcoming book, Learning the Language of Creation. In it, she invites us to learn the language of creation through a journey of inner conversion that can lead us to ways of using technology in concert with creation rather than against it. We then embark upon another journey, through the entire known universe, in the planetarium program All Creation Gives Praise, during which we witness the vastness of the Creator’s language as it has been written in the cosmos and continues to speak to us today. Due to limited seating capacity in the DVT, please pre-register at https://bit.ly/LearningReg by September 21 to reserve a seat. Each person planning to attend must pre-register individually. Originally published at susminor.nd.edu.

Michael Cramer, the assistant director of the University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC) will share more about how deer mice are an essential, but often overlooked, wildlife species in Northwoods forests. He will explain how mice are the ideal candidates to track seasonal and climatic changes.  The event will be live-streamed, or can be attended in-person at Rocky Reef Brewing Company, a brewery in Woodruff, WI. View information on both options here About Science on Tap Minocqua Forget the lecture, at Science on Tap-Minocqua, you won’t find jargon or a PowerPoint presentation – we search for scientists who are good at well, not sounding like a scientist. Our topics are wide ranging, spanning issues from bacteria to bees and from a search for life on other planets to a search for the perfect pint.The series provides a forum where the public engages experts in an informal, two-way conversation about important issues of the day. Speakers provide 15 or 20-minutes of opening remarks, then the floor is opened for questions, letting the audience join the conversation. The result is a dynamic, engaging community gathering.Events are held at Rocky Reef Brewing Company, a brewery in Woodruff, on the first Thursday of each month. This relaxed setting, combined with the accessible format, fosters public engagement. But you don't have to make your way to the brewery to join the discussion — you can also watch a live stream from your home over your own internet connection or watch archived programs online. Originally published at underc.nd.edu.

In observing the global use of fossil fuels and the transition to renewables, a complex web of social, political, and economic factors influences how the world uses energy. Energy humanities is a new field that examines how culture and society influence energy decisions. Throughout history, energy transitions (e.g., from fire to coal to renewables) have always brought cultural and economic changes. Laudato Si urges us to consider the human and environmental impacts of these transitions—not just the technical challenges. To unravel the history and future of energy transitions and their effects, Ryan Juskus, assistant professor of the practice with the Institute for Social Concerns, will lead a discussion of energy humanities and where we fit in. Ryan Juskus is the faculty director of NDBridge at the Institute for Social Concerns at Notre Dame. He teaches courses on justice, social thought, and environmental issues, with a focus on the moral, religious, and social dimensions of climate and environmental challenges. His research explores grassroots environmental movements, especially among American Christian communities. Juskus has also taught at Princeton, Wake Forest, and Duke, where he earned his Ph.D. in religion, focusing on Christian theology, environmental studies, and political economy. This event is part of the Sustainability Cup competition sponsored by the Student Government’s Department of Sustainability. Originally published at energy.nd.edu.

Join Notre Dame Sustainability for a walk around campus to experience the beauty of Notre Dame. Participants will learn about some of the sustainability initiatives and investments happening at the University that may otherwise go unseen! Only 20 spots are available, so don't wait to sign up! This event is open to the public and will be weather permitting. Please be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Register today

Pets and service animals are welcome to receive a blessing on Sunday, October 5th at 2:00 PM for the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi.  Fr. John Santone, C.S.C., will preside.   Originally published at cemetery.nd.edu.

Geory Kurtzhals, Executive Director of Notre Dame Sustainability, will share a snapshot of the University's Sustainability progress and highlight current areas of focus. This guest lecture will be interactive and focused on students. The number of registrants will impact the lecture location. Registered students will be notified via email of the finalized on-campus location. Register today Learn more about operational Sustainability at Notre Dame and the Notre Dame Sustainability Team.

Paul KempfJoin ND Energy to learn about the past, present, and future of the energy landscape on the Notre Dame campus. Paul Kempf, Assistant VP of Utilities and Maintenance, will discuss the work he has overseen in the addition of hydroelectric and solar power, along with the installation of thousands of geothermal wells and building renovation projects to help meet that goal. This event counts toward the dorm Sustainability Cup competition sponsored by the Student Government's Department of Sustainability. Paul Kempf '80, graduated from Notre Dame with a degree in electrical engineering and returned nine years later as an employee with the utilities department. He's been in charge of that department for the past 27 years. Kempf has taken the lead in the University's aspiration to reduce its carbon footprint by 65% in the next five years. Originally published at energy.nd.edu.

Join Notre Dame Sustainability for a walk around campus to experience the beauty of Notre Dame. Participants will learn about some of the sustainability initiatives and investments happening at the University that may otherwise go unseen! Only 20 spots are available, so don't wait to sign up! This event is open to the public and will be weather permitting. Please be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Register today

Through the eyes of a fish: How nature and nurture shape life in changing waters Join us for Science at Sunset, an evening presentation at the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility, where Julian Torres-Dowdall, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biologicial Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, will discuss what fish can teach us about how animals respond to a changing world.   In this talk, we will explore how freshwater fish species adapt to shifts in their environment - from the way they see, to how they survive infections and temperature changes. Using fish vision as a starting point, we will dive into the ways nature and nurture work together to shape responses to natural challenges and human-driven impacts like lake browning and climate change. Along the way, we will look at how quickly evolution can happen, when flexibility helps survival, and why understanding these responses matters for the future of freshwater communities.   Light snacks will be provided. Bring your own beverage - no glass containers please. Registration is required by August 17 by calling 574-654-3155 or emailing bendixwoods@sjcparks.org.Originally published at environmentalchange.nd.edu.

Join Notre Dame Sustainability for a walk around campus to experience the beauty of Notre Dame. Participants will learn about some of the sustainability initiatives and investments happening at the University that may otherwise go unseen! Only 20 spots are available, so don't wait to sign up! This event is open to the public and will be weather permitting. Please be prepared to wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Register today

Notre Dame will be hosting the 2nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) conference, which welcomes those in academia, industry, nonprofits, and governments to come together and share contributions that focus on transformative change for a just and sustainable future. Emerging scholars and early career professionals are especially welcome!  Contributions inspired by a set of 8 subthemes will be accepted through May 18: submit today! Registration for the conference opens June 1. All attendees must register through the NSS website. Student attendees and non-profits have the option of discounted registration fees.  This event is sponsored by the National Sustainability Society and the Pulte Institute.

Notre Dame will be hosting the 2nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) conference, which welcomes those in academia, industry, nonprofits, and governments to come together and share contributions that focus on transformative change for a just and sustainable future. Emerging scholars and early career professionals are especially welcome!  Contributions inspired by a set of 8 subthemes will be accepted through May 18: submit today! Registration for the conference opens June 1. All attendees must register through the NSS website. Student attendees and non-profits have the option of discounted registration fees.  This event is sponsored by the National Sustainability Society and the Pulte Institute.

Notre Dame will be hosting the 2nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) conference, which welcomes those in academia, industry, nonprofits, and governments to come together and share contributions that focus on transformative change for a just and sustainable future. Emerging scholars and early career professionals are especially welcome!  Contributions inspired by a set of 8 subthemes will be accepted through May 18: submit today! Registration for the conference opens June 1. All attendees must register through the NSS website. Student attendees and non-profits have the option of discounted registration fees.  This event is sponsored by the National Sustainability Society and the Pulte Institute.

Notre Dame will be hosting the 2nd Annual National Sustainability Society (NSS) conference, which welcomes those in academia, industry, nonprofits, and governments to come together and share contributions that focus on transformative change for a just and sustainable future. Emerging scholars and early career professionals are especially welcome!  Contributions inspired by a set of 8 subthemes will be accepted through May 18: submit today! Registration for the conference opens June 1. All attendees must register through the NSS website. Student attendees and non-profits have the option of discounted registration fees.  This event is sponsored by the National Sustainability Society and the Pulte Institute.

As the world looks to Brazil for COP30, join the University of Notre Dame in São Paulo, Brazil for a Pre-COP Conference to help shape the conversation before the world gathers in Belém. The University is convening thought leaders, scholars, and changemakers at this critical moment to deepen its commitment to global dialogue for sustainability and reflect on its mission to be a force for good—locally and globally. Learn more about Notre Dame's engagement with COP. Notre Dame Global and Notre Dame São Paulo, look to strengthen their partnerships in Brazil by hosting this conference together with the Notre Dame Club of Brazil, Notre Dame Research, the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethic Leadership (NDDCEL), Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), and the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Attendees can expect to: ⇒ Build and strengthen research collaborations and partnerships with colleagues from around Brazil ⇒ Network with industry experts who have an interest in sustainability ⇒ Represent University of Notre Dame as a panelist at USP’s Bora Preserva event Participation is open to anyone interested; register is required. Limited financial support is available, which can be applied for via the registration form.Register for the Bridging Worlds Pre-COP ConferenceThemes & Topics This 2-day convening aims to build and strengthen research collaborations, engaging the Brazilian research community in partnership with faculty from the University of Notre Dame. Research sessions will be themed and focus on advancing research partnerships aligned with the University of Notre Dame’s strategic priorities, which includes Just Transitions to Sustainability. We are particularly interested in the following themes:Climate Risk Assessment, Adaptation, and Decision SupportRegenerative and Adaptive LivelihoodsSocio-Political Organizations and Institutions, Human Behavior, and Well-BeingAdditional sessions will prioritize collaborative work between university faculty at Notre Dame and the University of São Paulo, while alumni and other friends of the University from the region will engage around the conference themes and stakeholder partners. Tentative ScheduleTuesday, November 4, 2025Arrival in São Paulo, Brazil Welcome ReceptionWednesday, November 5, 2025Conference check-in Formal welcome and opening remarks New Friends, Networking Activity Morning Sessions Conference lunch Afternoon Sessions Evening SoireeThursday, November 6, 2025Industry visit Conference lunch Participate in USP’s Bora Perserva Hesburgh LectureFriday, November 7, 2025DepartConference participants are welcome to remain in Brazil at their own cost. If ND faculty participants wish to attend COP30 Amazonia, complete the application to join the ND delegation.Conference SponsorsOriginally published at saopaulo.nd.edu.

As the world looks to Brazil for COP30, join the University of Notre Dame in São Paulo, Brazil for a Pre-COP Conference to help shape the conversation before the world gathers in Belém. The University is convening thought leaders, scholars, and changemakers at this critical moment to deepen its commitment to global dialogue for sustainability and reflect on its mission to be a force for good—locally and globally. Learn more about Notre Dame's engagement with COP. Notre Dame Global and Notre Dame São Paulo, look to strengthen their partnerships in Brazil by hosting this conference together with the Notre Dame Club of Brazil, Notre Dame Research, the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethic Leadership (NDDCEL), Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI), and the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Attendees can expect to: ⇒ Build and strengthen research collaborations and partnerships with colleagues from around Brazil ⇒ Network with industry experts who have an interest in sustainability ⇒ Represent University of Notre Dame as a panelist at USP’s Bora Preserva event Participation is open to anyone interested; register is required. Limited financial support is available, which can be applied for via the registration form.Register for the Bridging Worlds Pre-COP ConferenceThemes & Topics This 2-day convening aims to build and strengthen research collaborations, engaging the Brazilian research community in partnership with faculty from the University of Notre Dame. Research sessions will be themed and focus on advancing research partnerships aligned with the University of Notre Dame’s strategic priorities, which includes Just Transitions to Sustainability. We are particularly interested in the following themes:Climate Risk Assessment, Adaptation, and Decision SupportRegenerative and Adaptive LivelihoodsSocio-Political Organizations and Institutions, Human Behavior, and Well-BeingAdditional sessions will prioritize collaborative work between university faculty at Notre Dame and the University of São Paulo, while alumni and other friends of the University from the region will engage around the conference themes and stakeholder partners. Tentative ScheduleTuesday, November 4, 2025Arrival in São Paulo, Brazil Welcome ReceptionWednesday, November 5, 2025Conference check-in Formal welcome and opening remarks New Friends, Networking Activity Morning Sessions Conference lunch Afternoon Sessions Evening SoireeThursday, November 6, 2025Industry visit Conference lunch Participate in USP’s Bora Perserva Hesburgh LectureFriday, November 7, 2025DepartConference participants are welcome to remain in Brazil at their own cost. If ND faculty participants wish to attend COP30 Amazonia, complete the application to join the ND delegation.Conference SponsorsOriginally published at saopaulo.nd.edu.