Sustainability Calendar

Savannas and grasslands support some of the planet’s most iconic large herbivores, which play a critical role in shaping ecosystems and the human communities that depend on them. By studying one of the most diverse remaining assemblages of megaherbivores in the world, students will explore how these animals influence community ecology and biodiversity, biogeochemical processes, and ecosystem productivity. These ecological processes are essential to understanding how savannas function and how they can be managed sustainably. Grasslands and savannas worldwide face growing threats from defaunation (the loss of animal populations), changes in biogeochemical processes, and fire suppression. Studying ecosystems that retain diverse herbivore communities offers valuable insight into the ecological roles of large herbivores and the consequences of their loss. Kenya’s savannas provide a unique setting to investigate these relationships firsthand. The program’s remote location immerses students in one of Kenya’s most diverse wildlife habitats and offers the opportunity to engage with an active research community. Students will take advantage of established research infrastructure, including on-site housing, laboratories, and access to some of Africa’s longest-running ecological research projects. Through hands-on fieldwork and laboratory experiences, students will practice the methods scientists use to investigate savanna ecosystems, gaining a deeper understanding of how these systems function and the opportunities and challenges involved in applying scientific findings to their conservation and management. The program is an immersive, field-based class based at Mpala Research Centre (MRC) in Laikipia, Kenya. Students will be provided with full room/board accommodations. Alongside daily fieldwork within globally recognized long-term research projects, students will enjoy daily game drives, a visit to a wildlife conservancy, and experience immersion in Kenyan cultural activities. MRC is truly unique as it affords students the chance to meet researchers and students from all over the world while living in one of the most diverse ecological communities in Kenya. Learn more and apply today

Bio: Paul Staten is an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Indiana University whose research focuses on the large-scale dynamics that shape weather and climate. Using a combination of observations, dynamical analysis, and numerical modeling, he studies topics including stratospheric water vapor, gravity waves, the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO), tropical expansion, and atmospheric transport processes. His work seeks to understand how small-scale processes interact with the global circulation and climate variability, with the broader goal of improving predictions of weather and extreme events across a range of timescales. Abstract: Water vapor, an abundant greenhouse gas that fuels convective storms in the troposphere, is virtually absent in the stratosphere, even in regions warmed by the absorption of solar ultraviolet radiation by ozone. This remarkable dryness was discovered through British wartime research on aircraft contrails during World War II, and its explanation, the Brewer-Dobson circulation, soon transformed scientific understanding of the stratosphere and even upended expectations for the global dispersal of nuclear test fallout. In this talk, I will discuss how water enters the stratosphere, the transport pathways that shape its global distribution, and why even small changes in stratospheric water vapor can have outsized impacts on climate, ozone chemistry, and atmospheric circulation. Topics will include the tropical cold trap, the atmospheric tape-recorder effect, the influence of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation, and recent evidence for moistening mechanisms associated with deep convection and gravity-wave dynamics, including hydraulic-jump-like disturbances generated downstream of convective storms. I will conclude with highlights from recent research in my group and a brief perspective on how emerging artificial intelligence tools are transforming the way we build and investigate atmospheric models. Originally published at environmentalchange.nd.edu.

Join us for a talk on 'Anchors and Atoms: A Career Powered by Fission.' The guest speaker will be Associate Dean Michael Ryan. Ryan will share his thoughts on how the US Navy has utilized nuclear power in support of our nation’s defense and how that has affected the civilian nuclear industry. Before joining the College of Engineering, Associate Dean Michael Ryan spent over 30 years as a Navy nuclear submarine officer, mastering fission reactor operations and high-stakes leadership. This event is sponsored by the Energy Studies Minor and the prospective chapter of the American Nuclear Society at Notre Dame. Originally published at energy.nd.edu.

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative in welcoming Professor Benjamin Sovacool for the Notre Dame Seminars on Sustainability Series. We invite all attendees to stay afterward for lunch, conversation, and fellowship in 125 DeBartolo Hall as we work together to grow this vital network on campus. Benjamin K. Sovacool is Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University in the United States, where he is the Founding Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability. He is also Professor of Energy Policy at the Bennett Institute for Innovation & Policy Acceleration at the University of Sussex Business School. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce, a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, and a Fellow in the Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea).  This presentation explores how concepts from justice and ethics can inform energy decision-making and highlight the futurity, fairness, and equity dimensions of energy production and use. It defines "energy justice" as a global energy system that fairly distributes both the benefits and costs of energy services, and one that contributes to more representative and inclusive energy decision-making. Such an assessment brings together core understandings of distributional and procedural justice alongside cosmopolitan interpretations of equity and recognitional notions of fairness. The presentation then focuses on six new frontiers or fruitful areas of future research. First is making the case for the involvement of non-Western justice theorists. Second is expanding beyond humans to look at the Rights of Nature or non-anthropocentric notions of justice. Third is focusing on cross-scalar issues of justice such as embodied emissions. Fourth is identifying business models and the co-benefits of justice. Fifth is better understanding the tradeoffs within energy justice principles. Sixth is confronting utopian or falsely constructed justice discourses. In doing so, the presentation argues in favor of "justice-aware" energy planning and policymaking, and it hopes that its (reconsidered) energy justice conceptual framework offers a critical tool to inform decision-making. Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.nd.edu.

Job Summary Notre Dame Sustainability seeks a Social Media Intern to support the office's strategic communications efforts, with a particular focus on social media content creation. This intern will assist in promoting Notre Dame’s sustainability initiatives, events, and achievements through engaging and informative social media content, helping to increase campus community awareness of sustainability efforts and improve sustainability literacy. Work will include, but not be limited to: developing social media graphics, capturing and editing photos and videos, drafting captions, planning and scheduling content, and collaborating with Sustainability staff and campus partners to highlight sustainability initiatives. Sustainability interns gain professional experience that prepares individuals for a possible career in this field. All interns are compensated at a rate of $16.50/hour. Interns are not required to work during University holidays, finals week, or when classes are not in session. This position is active for the academic year and has the opportunity to be renewed for subsequent semesters. Renewal is contingent upon sustainability priority areas, intern performance, and general office needs. Position Description The Sustainability Social Media Intern will work closely with Notre Dame Sustainability staff to identify communication priorities, develop content, and establish appropriate project deliverables and timelines. Potential work areas include:Creating and designing social media content, including graphics, photographs, short-form videos, and written captionsAssisting with the development and maintenance of a social media content calendar, including planning and scheduling postsAttending campus events to capture photographs, videos, and other content for social mediaMonitoring and collecting data on social media performance and engagement to help evaluate content effectiveness and identify opportunities for improvementCollaborating with Sustainability staff, student leaders, and campus partners to develop and promote relevant contentSupporting broader communications and outreach initiatives as neededOther duties as assignedEssential Qualifications for this PositionStrong written communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, concise, and engaging social media contentFamiliarity with major social media platforms, particularly InstagramExperience creating visual content using Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or similar design toolsBasic photography, videography, or video editing skillsAbility to work professionally and collaboratively with staff, students, and campus partnersOpenness to continuous feedback and learningCultural sensitivity skills and an awareness of diverse campus audiencesCreativity and willingness to propose new content ideas and approachesFlexibility to respond to emerging communication priorities and assignmentsFamiliarity with sustainability topics and willingness to learn moreSustainability Intern Requirements & ExpectationsA deep interest in the field of sustainability, with a willingness to learnStrong interpersonal and communication skillsStrong organizational and time management skillsSelf-motivated, with the ability to manage assignments and meet deadlinesKeen attention to detail, particularly in written and visual communicationsAdaptable to shifting prioritiesAbility to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environmentAvailability to work a minimum of six (6) hours per week. The average intern works around 10 hours per week.Commitment to creating a beloved community and willingness to implement such principles into sustainability practiceIn applying specific knowledge, skills, and talents to individual and team projects, student staff will:Help cultivate and spread an ethic and practice of sustainabilityTake a leadership role in sustainability communications and projects on campusServe as a liaison for Notre Dame SustainabilityHelp with other office support duties, including note-taking and other duties as assignedAttend office-sponsored events (academic schedule permitting)Attend sustainability trainings and other opportunities to develop job-relevant skills (schedule permitting)Desired Sustainability Intern QualificationsExperience managing or contributing to social media accounts for an organization, student group, or other initiativeExperience producing short-form video content, including Instagram ReelsGraphic design, photography, or video editing experienceFamiliarity with social media analytics and content performance metricsCommunications, graphic design, marketing, journalism, or related academic or professional experienceExperience developing social media campaigns or maintaining content calendarsHow to Apply Positions are open to graduate and undergraduate students from any discipline. Job candidates should submit an application under each position for which they wish to apply. To be considered for hire, please send your resume/CV, cover letter, and a writing sample to green@nd.edu. You may also send 2–3 examples of previous social media, digital content work, or relevant artwork. Examples may include graphics, photographs, videos, social media posts, or other relevant creative work.

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative in welcoming Professor Elena Bennett for the Notre Dame Seminars on Sustainability Series. We invite all attendees to stay afterward for lunch, conversation, and fellowship in 125 DeBartolo Hall as we work together to grow this vital network on campus. Elena Bennett is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Science at McGill University. Her work focuses on the interactions among ecosystem services and how we can manage these interactions for multifunctional working landscapes, using a landscape ecology and systems ecology perspective. She is the Director of ResNet, a 100+ person NSERC Strategic Network that works with communities in six working landscapes across Canada to address questions about managing ecosystem service provision. More details to be announced soon. Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.nd.edu.

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative in welcoming Professor Maximilian Auffhammer for the Notre Dame Seminars on Sustainability Series. We invite all attendees to stay afterward for lunch, conversation, and fellowship in 125 DeBartolo Hall as we work together to grow this vital network on campus. Maximilian Auffhammer is the George Pardee Jr. Professor of International Sustainable Development and Chair of the Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate. More details to be announced soon. Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.nd.edu.

The Sustainability Team and Procurement Services are excited to announce the 2027 External Partner Sustainability Awards! Nominations are now open for five sustainability and socially responsible categories that will honor suppliers and other partners who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practices while partnering with the University of Notre Dame. These awards will be presented at the Fourth Annual Sustainability Celebration in Spring 2027. Nominations will be open through February 12, 2027. Nominate a partner