↓ Having trouble viewing this message? View it in your web browser.
Sustainability Newsletter
March 2023
Sustainability Springs Forward
Sustainability Focused Internal Research Funding
The Office of Research and Innovation in partnership with the Office of Sustainability has exciting sustainability focused internal funding opportunities for researchers at UT Dallas. The Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) grant program is designed to seed a new interdisciplinary Institute that addresses one or more challenges in sustainability. The Sustainability Seed Program for Interdisciplinary Research (Sustainability SPIRe) is designed to stimulate interdisciplinary research collaboration in sustainability that will advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Visit the Internal Funding webpage to view the descriptions and eligibility for the SRI and Sustainability SPIRe funding opportunities, deadlines to apply are March 31, 2023.
Think Global, Serve Local with Sustainability Service Honors
Are you a student who is passionate about creating a more sustainable world? Sustainability Service Honors awards volunteerism that advances any of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). By volunteering at least 150 hours of valid service before graduating, qualified honorees will receive SDG graduation regalia, recognition, and more! Register to pursue the Sustainability Service Honors to think global, serve local and get recognized for your sustainable service. If you are already registered, be sure to document your service hours.
Save the Date for Earth Week 2023
Mark your calendar for Earth Week 2023! UT Dallas is celebrating the 12th annual Earth Week April 14-22 and the Office of Sustainability and Office of Student Volunteerism are planning many exciting events including Earth Fair, Garden Workshops, and more. This year’s theme is “Make it Local, Make it Personal” to focus on local application of the UN SDGs to support environmental, social, and economic components of sustainability. If your organization, department, or business would like to join UTD’s Earth Week, register for to host an event during the week or a table at Earth Fair.
Lights Out for Birds
This year from March 1 to June 15, spring migration of birds flying across Texas will occur with peak migration between April 22 to May 12. Billions of birds fly over Texas each year during migration and distracting lights leads to migratory bird loss. To reduce migratory bird mortality, the Lights Out, Texas! campaign urges everyone to turn off non-essential lights at night from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. during critical migration periods.
Campus Sustainability Highlighted in Podcast Episode
Avery McKitrick, Sustainability Coordinator for Campus Engagement and Operations was recently interviewed for a podcast episode to discuss campus sustainability at UT Dallas. In the episode, Avery discussed commuter issues, student and staff living, and what sustainability looks like in higher education. Give the episode a listen to learn more about sustainability at UTD!
The Greenhouse
Updates to the UT Dallas Eco Rep Blog
What Did the Inflation Reduction Act Do?
Curious about the Inflation Reduction Act? Alisa gives an overview of how it benefits climate action, environmental justice, and more.
Mushrooms: The Unsung Heroes of the Climate Crisis
Fungi have many positive impacts on the environment and are even called “climate change warriors”! Ida explains the benefits.
Justice at the Heart of Environmentalism
Environmental justice is a matter of life and death. Gwen highlights activism and how to get involved.
What Agricultural Zone is Stardew Valley?
Are you interested in gardening or enjoy gaming? Anna explains plant hardiness zones using Stardew Valley and hypothesizes what zone the game is located in.
Sustainability Service Honors Highlight
Each month, we highlight Comets who give back to their communities through service. You can register for Sustainability Service Honors to be recognized for your service on the Sustainability website.
Volunteer of the Month: Victoria Nguyen (she/her)
Degree Program: Biology
Graduation Date: Summer 2023
Why she volunteers: I find that volunteer work is as beneficial for personal fulfillment as it is for future career prospects. Career work is often geared toward increasing output and productivity and is rarely satisfying. While volunteer work is unpaid, it often includes the kind of work that includes the qualitative experiences that makes life fulfilling.
Favorite volunteering experience: My favorite experience volunteering was working on an irrigation map for a local compost farm in Richardson. I was given a lot of liberty and freedom to make change where I saw fit. That, coupled with knowing that the compost piles we were forming were a part of a movement in which the trajectory of the neighborhood was moving towards greener waste management options made me feel capable and like I was a part of something larger.
Important Dates
March 4
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
March 4
9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
March 9
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Transforming Thrift Finds with Feminist MakerSpace
March 24
12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
March 25
9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Volunteer Event at Hope’s Door Resale Store
March 25
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
March 30
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Office of Sustainability
Subscribe | Contact Us | Web | Instagram
The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Rd, Richardson, TX 75080-3021
Prefer not to receive future email messages? Unsubscribe from this email list.