By Sarah Hamilton.

The Academic Sustainability Program has had a busy year. We’ve added dozens of courses to the redesigned minor in Sustainability Studies, toward which a record-shattering 128 students are currently working. Students in the Capstone course this spring produced outstanding student work that drew on their expertise in forestry, landscape architecture, history, marketing, and more. Our new faculty directory provided a valuable resource and a record of the immense range of expertise across campus. On Earth Day, we launched our new research symposia series, which will provide an interdisciplinary platform for researchers to share that expertise and to showcase the exciting work going on in Auburn’s laboratories and archives. And next week, fifteen faculty members representing twelve departments from seven colleges will participate in the 2021 Fall Line Workshop, designing new courses on themes of racial, social, and environmental justice.

As we all head off for the summer, I encourage you to keep in touch with the Academic Sustainability Program through our new listserv, which will feature news, opportunities, events, and other subjects of interest for researchers and teachers. To subscribe, just send an email to ASP-join@auburn.edu.

Researchers are also encouraged to check and update their entries in the faculty directory, or to add themselves if they are not already listed. This searchable resource allows students and colleagues to easily identify those working in particular sustainability fields, and serves as an inventory for the annual STARS report and other external assessments of Auburn’s sustainability-related work.

And students interested in sustainability are, as always, urged to check out the Minor in Sustainability Studies. With more than ninety electives and study abroad programs from thirty-six departments across campus, you’re sure to find lots that will fit your schedule and interests. The minor works with any major, adds value to your CV, and is a great way to meet like-minded people and consider new ideas during your time here at Auburn.

This guest post was written by Sarah Hamilton, Director of Academic Sustainability Programs.