The Season of Creation will begin on September 1 and end on October 4, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. If you're planning an event that coincides with this celebration of our Earth, let us know! We can share and help promote your event. To kick off the start of the Season, the Word of Life Mural will be illuminated green.  Submit your event here What is the Season of Creation?  The Season of Creation is a time to renew our relationship with our Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment together. During the Season of Creation, we join together in both prayer and action for our common home. Christians worldwide have embraced the season as part of their annual calendar. Pope Francis established the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation in the Roman Catholic Church in 2015, and in 2019 started celebrating the Season of Creation as well. In recent years, statements from religious leaders around the world have also encouraged the faithful to take time to care for creation during the month-long celebration.

Bio: Avantika Gori is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, a core faculty in the Consortium for Enhancing Resilience and Catastrophe Modeling (CERCAT), and an affiliated faculty in the Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center. She holds BS (2016) and MS (2018) degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Rice University and a PhD (2023) in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Princeton University. Dr. Gori’s research focuses on combining physics-based and statistical methods for improved probabilistic multi-hazard assessment, with a focus on hurricanes and floods. She has received awards from the American Geophysical Union, is an active contributor to ASCE’s Compound Flood Manual of Practice, and leads research funded by NASA and NSF. Abstract: Tropical cyclones (TCs) are one of the most devastating natural hazards, causing on average $28 billion in losses to the US each year. TC hazards (extreme winds, storm surges, and rainfall) frequently occur simultaneously or sequentially, causing compounding or cascading impacts to the built and natural environment. Despite significant investment in coastal infrastructure over the past several decades, hurricane damages have continued to rise due to increasing coastal development. In the future, rising sea-levels, more intense storms, and changes in the coastal landscape may exacerbate TC hazards and increase risk. However, the links between global and regional changes and local-scale risk are still poorly understood. This talk presents a range of methodologies for integrating physical models with statistical methods, machine learning and big data to better characterize TC climatology and hazards from regional to local scales. First, we present a range of climatological frameworks that combine reduced-physics models with statistical/ML tools for estimating regional TC multi-hazards under evolving climate and socioeconomic conditions. These methodologies enable improved reconstruction of historical TCs, as well as robust estimation and projection of evolving TC wind, rainfall, and surge hazard. Then, we present a statistical approach that enables efficient delineation of TC flood hazard at the local scale by utilizing high fidelity physical flood modeling, optimal sampling methods, and historical observations. By combining physical models and data-driven tools at various scales, we generate robust compound hazard and risk projections that can inform planning and decision-making. 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

Job Summary Notre Dame Sustainability seeks a metrics and reporting intern to support the institution’s sustainability initiatives through metrics tracking, reporting, and data analysis. This position offers an opportunity for a motivated individual to gain hands-on experience in operational sustainability practices within a higher-education environment. This position is open to undergraduate and graduate students. Interns on the Sustainability Team gain professional sustainability experience that prepares individuals for a possible career in this field. All interns are compensated with pay of $16.50/hour. Interns do not work during university holidays, finals week, or when classes are not in session. Positions are active for one academic year. Renewed positions are contingent upon sustainability priority areas, intern performance, and general office needs. Position Description The Sustainability Metrics & Reporting Intern will work closely with staff on the Sustainability Team to identify needs, project deliverables, and timelines. Potential areas of work include:Assist in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing sustainability data from campus operatorsLead sustainability-focused projects relating to campus culture and behavioral changesConduct research on best practices and benchmarking in higher education sustainabilitySupport the preparation of sustainability reports, including the STARS reportDesign graphics and/or visualizations for sustainability programsParticipate in meetings with campus operational partners, and provide support when necessaryOther duties as assigned, including the potential for occasional projects outside of metrics, such as providing campus green toursEssential Qualifications for this PositionStrong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel and other data analysis toolsFamiliarity with sustainability metrics and/or experience with sustainability reportingAbility to work and communicate professionally with staff at all levels of the institutionPassion for sustainability and working knowledge of contemporary sustainability topics, such as greenhouse gas emissions, with a willingness to learn moreAbility to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environmentMust be willing to work a minimum of 2 hours prior to kick-off for 2 home football games for Gameday Recycling. This time requirement is not confirmed, and may be adjusted based on any changes made to pre-game recycling processes.Sustainability Intern Requirements & ExpectationsA deep interest in the field of sustainability, with a willingness to learnStrong interpersonal and communication skills. The success of sustainability professionals depends on positive relationships with stakeholders and decision makersProfessional presentation & report writing experienceProficiency in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and WordProficiency in Google Suite applicationsProject management experience or courseworkSelf-motivatedAdaptable to shifting prioritiesAbility to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environmentAbility to work professionally with staff at all levels of the organizationAvailability to work a minimum of six (6) hours per week. The average intern works eight to ten (8-10) hours per weekCommitment to supporting Notre Dame’s mission of Building a Beloved Community, including a willingness to implement such principles into sustainability practiceSensitivity to cultural diversityIn applying specific knowledge, skills, and talents to individual and team projects, student staff willHelp cultivate and spread an ethic and practice of sustainabilityTake a leadership role in sustainability projects on campusServe as a liaison for Notre Dame SustainabilityHelp with office support duties, including note-taking and other duties as assignedAttend office-sponsored events (schedule permitting)Attend sustainability trainings and other opportunities to develop job-relevant skills (schedule permitting)Desired Sustainability Intern QualificationsStrong scientific communication skillsSustainability-aligned academic or professional experienceHow to Apply Positions are open to graduate and undergraduate students from any discipline. Job candidates should submit an application for each position for which you want to apply. To be considered for hire, please send your resume and cover letter to green@nd.edu with the job title in the subject line of the email. Writing samples are not required, but appreciated. About Notre Dame Sustainability Notre Dame Sustainability collaborates alongside partners campuswide to plan for and promote a more sustainable campus. As campus partners, we support strategic sustainability planning, offering subject matter expertise to supplement the work of our partners. Our team is committed to the preservation and resilience of the environment and resources of our common home, as well as social capacity-building and resilience. Integral ecology principles and Building a Beloved Community are considered in all facets of our sustainability work. Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic and dignity for every human person, and works to foster a focus on the connection between resource stewardship and the Common Good.

Job Summary Notre Dame Sustainability seeks a waste reduction strategies intern to support waste diversion efforts across campus, such as recycling expansion. Positions are open to undergraduate and graduate students. Interns in the Sustainability Office gain professional sustainability experience that prepares individuals for a possible career in this field. This position will be compensated with a pay of $16.50/hour. Interns do not work during university holidays, finals week, or when classes are not in session. Positions are active for one academic year. Renewed positions are contingent upon sustainability priority areas, intern performance, and general office needs. Position Description The Waste Reduction Strategies Intern will work closely with Sustainability staff to identify needs, project deliverables, and opportunities for waste strategies on campus. Potential work may include:Conducting campus-wide audits of recycling and waste infrastructureBenchmarking peer institutions’ waste diversion programsFostering relationships with student leaders across campus in support of waste diversion effortsTracking locations of recycling toters and other waste infrastructure for GIS mapping.Supporting the management of the “Adopt-a-Bin” plastic bag and film recycling program in the residence halls, as well as any other student-focused waste diversion programsDeveloping draft graphics and signage for programsUpdating labels and signage in buildingsParticipating in waste-related meetings with campus operational partners and providing meeting support as needed.Supporting the facilitation of climate action planningOther duties as assigned, including the potential for occasional projects outside of waste diversion, such as campus green tours. Essential Qualifications for this PositionMust be willing to work a minimum of 4 hours prior to kick-off for all home football games. This time requirement is not confirmed, and may be adjusted based on the changing needs for the pre-game recycling processes.Willingness to work outside of traditional business hours (evenings and weekends)Analytical & critical thinking skillsCommitment, knowledge, and passion for waste diversion on campusExperience with, or a willingness to learn, CanvaEffective and professional communication skillsAbility to form connections and support collaborative efforts with various student stakeholders on campus, including student government, sustainability commissioners, and GreeND.Willingness and ability to serve as a leader of other students as it relates to recycling and waste diversion initiatives.Sustainability Intern Requirements & ExpectationsA deep interest in the field of sustainability, with a willingness to learnStrong interpersonal and communication skills. The success of sustainability professionals depends on positive relationships with stakeholders and decision makers.Professional presentation & report writing experienceProficiency in Microsoft applications, particularly Excel, Powerpoint, and WordProficiency in Google suite applicationsProject management experience or courseworkSelf-motivatedAdaptable to shifting prioritiesAbility to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environmentAbility to work professionally with staff at all levels of the organizationAvailability to work a minimum of six (6) hours per week. On average, an intern works around ten (10) hours per week.Commitment to supporting Notre Dame’s mission of Building a Beloved Community, including a willingness to implement such principles into sustainability practice.Sensitivity to cultural diversityIn 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 projects on campusServe as a liaison for Notre Dame SustainabilityHelp with office support duties, including note-taking and other duties as assignedAttend office-sponsored events (schedule permitting)Attend sustainability trainings and other opportunities to develop job-relevant skills (schedule permitting)Desired Sustainability Intern QualificationsStrong scientific communication skillsSustainability-aligned academic or professional experienceStakeholder relationship buildingHow to Apply Positions are open to graduate and undergraduate students from any discipline. Job candidates should submit an application for each position they want to apply for. To be considered for hire, please send your resume and cover letter to green@nd.edu with the job title in the subject line of the email. Writing samples are not required, but appreciated. About Notre Dame Sustainability Notre Dame Sustainability collaborates alongside partners campuswide to plan for and promote a more sustainable campus. As campus partners, we support strategic sustainability planning, offering subject matter expertise to supplement the work of our partners. Our team is committed to the preservation and resilience of the environment and resources of our common home, as well as social capacity-building and resilience. Integral ecology principles and Building a Beloved Community are considered in all facets of our sustainability work. Notre Dame recognizes its responsibility to conserve the natural environment while promoting long-term economic and dignity for every human person, and works to foster a focus on the connection between resource stewardship and the Common Good.

Arturo Massol Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo, will explore how energy crises, colonialism, and climate disasters disrupt health services, escalate mental health challenges, and burden caregivers. Drawing on Casa Pueblo’s groundbreaking work, he will demonstrate how communities transform crisis into collective action through energy sovereignty, community-led research, and microgrids designed for a just transition to renewable energy. Puerto Rican desserts will be served following the talk. About the Speaker Arturo Massol Deyá (PhD, Michigan State) is a renowned solar energy and environmental justice advocate. Former professor at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, he now leads Casa Pueblo’s Living Energy Innovation Laboratory in Adjuntas and collaborates with non-profits across the Americas. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University in 2023. Cosponsored with the Eck Institute for Global Health.  Originally published at energy.nd.edu.

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative in welcoming Professor Sera Young 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. Professor Sera Young, Northwestern University professor of anthropology, co-director for the Center for Water, and the Morton O. Schapiro Faculty Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research, will join the Notre Dame community to discuss the Water InSecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales. Professor Young will describe how WISE Scales, the first cross-country equivalent way of measuring water access, can be used to estimate the prevalence of water insecurity, make decisions about targeting resources, and evaluate the impact of water interventions. She will lay out the evidence to date about how water insecurity shapes poor nutrition, mental health, and physical health, and the implications of water insecurity in the face of climate change. She will conclude by describing real-world policy-relevant implications for measuring human experiences with water from around the globe. Professor Young has dedicated her career to understanding how women, especially in low-resource settings, cope to preserve their health and that of their families. She is also co-Editor-in-Chief of PLOS Water. The 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. Beyond sharing cutting-edge research, we hope to help build a vibrant, connected community of sustainability-minded researchers, students, and professionals across campus.Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.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

Get an inside look at the building process of McCourtney Hall East, the university's first Platinum LEED-certified building. Led by Senior Director and Associate University Architect Mike Daly, participants will learn about the features that make this building a standout sustainable achievement, as well as the process of achieving LEED. Register today

5:15 pm | Gold Mass for Scientists and Engineers Basilica of the Sacred Heart 6:15 pm | Reception (light refreshments) and book signingJordan Hall of Science Galleria 7:15 pm | Lecture: Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D.105 Jordan Hall of Science What does it mean to “learn the language of creation,” and why is this especially important in an increasingly technological age? How can science and theology be of service to this pursuit? In this Gold Mass lecture, Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D., explores these questions in light of her recently published book, Learning the Language of Creation: Catholic Social Teaching and Integral Ecology, in conversation with themes in the papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. She aims to show how science and theology can help illuminate the language of creation in complementary ways and together enrich our humanity, as well as our understanding of, and care for, the created world. Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D. is a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist currently serving as the Melchor Visiting Professor of Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, with a concurrent appointment at the McGrath Institute for Church Life. Previously, she served as Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She holds a Master's degree in Soil Science from The University of Connecticut and Master's and Ph.D. degrees in Theology and Engineering from The Catholic University of America. She received the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2022 from The Catholic University of America in recognition of her interdisciplinary work. She is a Board Member of the Society of Catholic Scientists, as well as a member of the Academy of Catholic Theology and the American Ecological Engineering Society. Originally published at science.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

Explore how Catholic social tradition and Integral Ecology come to life across Notre Dame’s campus and daily operations. Along the way, discover highlights from Notre Dame’s ongoing sustainability journey, including strategic initiatives happening behind the scenes, and learn practical ways each of us can contribute to caring for our common home. This inaugural Mission Tour will be co-led by Fr. Terrence Ehrman, C.S.C., and Geory Kurtzhals, executive director of Notre Dame Sustainability. Light reception to follow. Register here  This event is hosted by the Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs

To celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi's 800th anniversary and Jubilee year, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art invites you to gather in the new temporary exhibition Mimmo Paladino: Present into Past to view art related to the patron saint of animals and the environment. We will then move outside to the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park and learn about how this natural landscape on campus is reclaiming nature, both through the curated art and carefully selected plant life. After an up-close look at these specially selected works, Museum staff will guide us in a discussion to share our perspectives, questions, and ideas. Register today

Join the Notre Dame Sustainability team for a walk around Saint Mary's Lake to pick up trash and help keep our campus ecosystem litter-free! In previous litter pick-ups, we've found interesting items like TVs and bowling balls! Trash grabbers, gloves, bags, and snacks will be provided. Together, we can care for our common home! There is no limit on the number of participants. The more folks in attendance, the better! Registration is not required, but encouraged, so that we may prepare materials.  Register today

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

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative as we celebrate the first cohort of the Sustainability in Action Fellowship Program with a dynamic Symposium celebrating undergraduate student leadership, innovation, and hands-on environmental stewardship. Through a series of lightning talks, each fellow will share key insights from their summer fieldwork/experiences to highlight how their work put JTS’s core mission and guiding principles into action. Whether you are an undergraduate student interested in applying for future fellowship cohorts, someone looking to learn more about the JTS Initiative, or simply eager to support Notre Dame's student leaders in sustainability, we invite you to join us for this Symposium. We also invite all attendees to join JTS afterwards for a reception to celebrate the Fellows and as an opportunity to meet others interested in sustainability research and practice on campus. Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.nd.edu.

Campus Safety’s Zombie Preparedness Festival returns to Notre Dame Thursday, October 1, once again transforming the area outside Notre Dame Stadium into a lively mix of safety education and Halloween fun. Now in its fourth year, the event welcomes faculty, staff, students, and community partners eager to learn practical preparedness skills. The Zombie Preparedness Festival blends fun with an important purpose: helping our campus community build the skills and knowledge needed to stay safe, even in the case of zombies. Attendees will be able to explore hands-on demonstrations ranging from CPR and first aid basics to fire extinguisher training and AED use. Campus departments and local agencies will also host interactive booths, covering everything from cybersecurity and travel safety to sustainability and emergency response. Adding to the energy of the day, a few familiar faces will be transformed into ghoulish versions of themselves, reminding everyone that even in the most unexpected circumstances, preparedness is key. Guests will enjoy food, giveaways, and a chance to win prizes. The event will take place on Thursday, October 1, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., outside Gate E at Notre Dame Stadium. Originally published at police.nd.edu.

Join the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative in welcoming Dr. Anthony Bebbington 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. Anthony Bebbington is the International Program Director for Natural Resources and Climate Justice at the Ford Foundation. A member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, he has held Professorships at the Universities of Melbourne, Manchester and Clark, and Guggenheim, ARC Laureate and ESRC Professorial Chairs. He has been Board Chair of the Climate and Land Use Alliance and the TAI Collaborative. Tony has done most of his own work in Latin America, with a focus on environmental governance, extractive industries, smallholder agriculture, rural livelihoods, social movements and non-governmental organizations. More details to be announced soon. Originally published at sustainabilityinitiative.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

In honor of the Feast Day of Saint Francis, the Word of Life Mural will be illuminated green.