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sustainability research

Sustainability, Education and Research

The Center for Sustainability Studies empowers students, faculty, and staff to tackle urgent environmental challenges—like climate change and environmental justice—through research experiences, interdisciplinary learning, and using campus as a living lab. We prepare future leaders with the scientific, economic, political, and social tools needed to drive sustainable solutions and advocate for communities most impacted by environmental crises.

Call for Proposals: Small Grant Funding

The Center for Sustainability Studies announces a new funding program to support faculty and student projects that enhance campus-wide engagement with sustainability issues through research, community engagement, or curriculum.

Projects should explicitly address sustainability through the intersection of environmental, social, or economic issues and enhance one or more of Eastern’s Core Values: Academic Excellence, Engagement, Inclusion, Integrity, Empowerment, and Social Responsibility. Feel free to reach out to Patty Szczys (szczysp@easternct.edu)for support in articulating your project ideas and goals through the lens of sustainability or with any questions.

Special consideration is given to interdisciplinary projects, those that integrate all three pillars sustainability, and those that use Eastern’s Campus as a Living Lab or engage in Willimantic Community. Proposals will be reviewed by the Center’s Advisory Board on a rolling basis. We anticipate funding will be available again for AY 2026-27. Completed proposals should be submitted to sustainability@easternct.edu

Period of Performance: February 2026 – August 2026         

Funding Limit: $500*      Total Funding Available: $3500

All funded projects will require post-project report on outcomes and impact. Research projects will require a presentation at CREATE or other appropriate public forum. *exceptional proposals requiring larger amount may be considered.

Coming in 2026 - Sustainability Badge

Introducing Eastern's first micro-credential, an interdisciplinary ELAC-based academic badge.

BADGE DESCRIPTION:

This badge is awarded by Eastern Connecticut State University's Center for Sustainability Studies and is given to students from any major who have broad exposure to the sustainability challenges affecting our communities, the environment, and economies. This badge recognizes their engagement with complex sustainability challenges through trans-disciplinary coursework. They can demonstrate an understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recognize them at scale from local to global.

BADGE REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Successfully complete two (2) sustainability-integrated courses (6 credits) within Eastern’s Liberal Arts Core Curriculum (ELAC).
  2. Successfully complete one (1) additional sustainability-integrated course (at least 3 additional credits) from either ELAC or from a Major or Minor program.
  3. Successfully complete Sustainable Development Goals Module

All approved courses ca be found here. Students who have completed sustainability courses since Fall 2024 will be eligble for this badge starting in May 2026.

A badge website connected to Credly is under development. Please contact szczysp@easternct.edu for more information.

Applied Learning and Living Laboratory Projects:

Eastern's greenhouse includes multiple endangered plant species and Biology Professor Dr. Bryan Connolly integrates the study of these and other plant species into his courses to provide students with hands-on experience studying different plant species and the impacts of the changing climate on plants.
 *Dr. Sukeshini Grandhi, Professor of Business Administration includes a substantive sustainability class project in her Marketing Research BUS 428 course. A recent project required students to determine local Willimantic businesses' attitudes and behaviors toward diverting organic waste from the landfill. Students conducted background research on state and municipal services, programs, and regulations related to organic waste, developed survey questions, and then conducted in-person interviews with mainstreet food business owners.
 *Students in LAC 200 with Dr. Patty Szczys, Professor of Environmental Earth Science, initiated a Campus Forest Carbon Inventory in 2025. Students experienced research methods including design, data collection, data analysis, database construction, and communication of findings by initiating a forest carbon inventory at Eastern Connecticut State University. This practical experience integrates principles of climate change and sustainability while also introducing students to research methods and the scientific process.
 *Student in LAC200 with Dr. Patty Szczys, Professor of Environmental Earth Science, conducted a visual waste audit of campus dumpsters and drafted communications to the Green Campus Committee to report their findings and evidence-based recommendations for improving waste and recycling processes on campus
 *Student Ecoambassadors divert plastic film, maintain compost piles, and the community garden provides students with the opportunity to learn about growing food, diverting food waste from landfills to become compost and fertilize the garden beds, and producing food to address food insecurity on campus and in the local community.
 *Dr. Jon Hulvey, Biology Professor, integrated the set up and care for mushroom gardens and public-facing mushroom forays into his mycology course. This project links the biodiversity and ecology aspect of fungi to foraging and food systems and engages community members while enhancing green spaces on campus.

Sustainability Career Pathways Program:

A Co-Op Program in Sustainability

SUS102: Career Pathways in Sustainability I (1 credit) Register for Fall 2026

This course offers an introduction to sustainability and an exploration of careers directly and indirectly related to sustainability. The course is designed for students drawn from every discipline! That’s YOU in Business Administration, Communication, Economics, Education, Finance, Computer Science and Information Systems, the Biological, Physical, and Environmental Earth Sciences, Health Science and Nursing, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, the Arts and Humanities, as well as those who have not declared a major. You will explore how to connect your interest in climate and sustainability into many career paths. Through interactions with professionals from diverse sectors, you will discover a variety of organizations, agencies, and businesses addressing sustainability issues in Connecticut. You’ll gain insight into their roles, motivations, and challenges while gaining practical skills and knowledge to help you succeed in sustainability-related fields and as an engaged citizen in your community.

 By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Define Sustainability
  2. Identify major sustainability challenges
  3. Apply concepts of sustainable development to sustainability challenges in a local and global context
  4. Identify and evaluate professional opportunities related to sustainability
  5. Identify and evaluate the relevant academic programs and skills needed to advance your career plans
  6. Displaying conscientiousness and resiliency toward work.

SUS202: Career Pathways in Sustainability II (1 credit)

This course builds on the concepts and outcomes of SUS 101. Students will continue their exploration of career pathways and develop skills through application of concepts covered in SUS 101. Designed for students from any major and those who have not declared a major. Students will deepen their understanding of complex sustainability challenges and engage with professionals from diverse sectors. This course expands the breadth of engagement with organizations, agencies, and businesses in Connecticut. This course introduces the theme “Every Job Is A Climate Job” by exposing students to ways in which they can bring added-value climate literacy and skills to “non-sustainability” careers, catalyze climate action at work and in their communities. We will take a problem-solving approach that requires students to plan and execute a sustainability project on campus or the Willimantic community. 

By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Work efficiently to plan and advance projects (Project Planning & Management)
  2. Establish relationships to foster positive group work (Collaboration)
  3. Communicate clearly and accurately verbally and in writing
  4. Analyze results, make recommendations for next steps, and reflect on the process.
  5. Identify and evaluate academic courses available at Eastern to prepare you for professional opportunities related to sustainability

SUS302: Sustainability in the Workplace (2 credits)

This course builds on the concepts and outcomes of SUS 102 and 202 to deepen the preparation for sustainability-related and sustainability-focused careers. Designed for students from any major. Case Studies developed from state and regional employer surveys will engage students with complex sustainability issues they may face in the workplace that require them to think critically, employ ethical reasoning, and make recommendations based on measurable outcomes (quantitative literacy). Students will visit partner state agencies, non-profits, and businesses in Connecticut.

By the end of this course, students will:

  1. Apply concepts of sustainability to workplace situations
  2. Communicate effectively in writing for the workplace
  3. Present themselves in a professional manor (e.g. interviewing or networking)
EES490: Sustainability Internship (6 credits)
EES 490 are internships hosted by the Center for Sustainability Studies within the Environment and Earth Science department. Students will have time to experience sustainability careers firsthand, and develop a strong professional network. Students will meaningfully contribute to sustainability work and highlight to a potential future employer their aptitude for the job.

With the support of faculty, students will choose an internship in their field of interest which could include social services, insurance, data analytics, environmental consulting and state agencies, marketing and communication, community health. By extending the internship across two semesters, rather than the typically required one semester course, employers are able to provide students with a wider array of in depth experiences. Unique to the Eastern Career Pathways program, this internship lasts a full year and provides students with six academic credits.