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Sustainability at Penn State 2020 & 2021 Highlight Report

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in Penn State and the Sustainability Institute! The following Highlight Report celebrates our sustainability achievements in the years 2020 and 2021. This report is not intended to be a complete summation of our achievements, rather it serves as a preview to our full report which will be released in celebration of Earth Day in April 2022.

We are pleased to release this sneak peek of our full report, due later in spring. We hope you will take inspiration from the following stories of sustainability progress at Penn State.

A Message from President Eric J. Barron

At Penn State, we are taking a holistic approach to sustainability that spans environmental quality, health and well-being, energy security, and economic stability for current and future generations. And at the core of that work are Penn Staters striving to create innovative solutions.

In 2020, we all were affected by catastrophic climate events, political turmoil, social unrest, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a pivotal year that highlighted the intersection among these issues and accelerated the need for sustainability progress. Two years later, we continue to confront these challenges and assess our progress.

Through our partnerships, we are proud to be advancing on our sustainability goals through a number of exciting initiatives. In 2020, Penn State began purchasing renewable electricity generated from three Lightsource bp solar farms in Franklin County. As a result, 25% of our university’s power over the next 25 years will be provided by the largest solar farm in Pennsylvania history, helping us meet our goals of reducing greenhouse gases, regenerating farmland, and supporting the Penn State Strategic Plan, which places heavy emphasis on the stewardship of our planet’s resources.

In addition, I’m proud of several other key achievements including the recent addition of the Pollinator and Bird Garden in The Arboretum at Penn State, the expansion of and naming of the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, the formation of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Task Force, among others that will be highlighted in this report. These advancements highlight the University's commitment to taking bold and actionable steps forward on the path to sustainability.

On behalf of Penn State, thank you to our student body, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and friends who are advancing sustainability at Penn State. Your efforts have collectively improved our impact, and bolstered resilience across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the nation, and the world.

Thank you for your interest in Penn State and the Sustainability Institute. Together, we are working toward a fair, equitable, safe, and sustainable world for all.

Eric J. Barron

President, The Pennsylvania State University

A Message from Paul Shrivastava, Director of the Sustainability Institute at Penn State

Dear Friends,

What does sustainability progress look like? The answer isn’t a single person, unit, or taskforce – it is a collective effort that is bolstered and driven by individuals across Penn State.

Throughout our university, we find people working together to advance sustainability in the areas of research and curriculum, student and staff engagement, community outreach, finance and business, and operations.

In the following preview of our full report, which will be released in celebration of Earth Day in April, you will find impactful stories of your sustainability achievements at work. From the creation of new Sustainability Councils, to the establishment of the Carbon Emission Reduction Taskforce, to the prioritization of sustainability within Penn State’s strategic plan, it is clear that you have all stepped up and contributed to our university’s greatest sustainability successes.

As such, it is with tremendous gratitude for you, your colleagues, and our students that we present this snapshot of sustainability progress from the last two years. This report celebrates the key ways Penn State has succeeded in implementing the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN Agenda 2030 as a framework to prioritize our strategies.

My hope is that as you read through the following highlights, you are inspired by this whole university effort, to ensure a sustainable future for Penn State, Pennsylvania, and the planet.

Sincerely,

Paul

Research

Biodiversity Seed Grants and Symposium

“The proposals we received were truly innovative, and we are so excited to see where the research teams take their projects,” said Grozinger.

Despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and Director of the Center for Pollinator Research, developed the 2021 “Mainstreaming Biodiversity in a Decade of Action” symposium in collaboration with Penn State’s Sustainability Institute.

Over the course of X months, Grozinger and her colleagues convened a nine-week symposium fostering a dialogue about biodiversity, connected different programs across Penn State, and inspired proposals for future projects to study and support biodiversity, which is critical for the health of all ecosystems.

This year, seven proposals received seed grant funding, from interdisciplinary teams collaborating across the Penn State campuses and colleges and with external partners.

The researchers and projects awarded grants were:

  • “Green Stormwater infrastructure: Design, Maintenance and Location Impacts on Biodiversity,” by principal investigator (PI) Margaret Hoffman, assistant professor of plant science, and co-principal investigators (co-PIs) Lauren McPhillips, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Hong Wu, assistant professor of landscape architecture.
  • “Evaluating child-to-adult intergenerational learning as a potential solution to help the Illinoian Rusty Patched Bumblebee,” by PI Danielle Lawson, assistant professor of recreation, park, and tourism management, and co-PIs Theresa Melton, postdoctoral scholar in recreation, park, and tourism management, and Lucy McClain, assistant teaching professor in Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center and its science and education program director.
  • “A method to study avian window strikes,” by PI Christopher Martin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State Altoona, with co-PIs Julian Avery, associate research professor of wildlife ecology and conservation, Andrew Mack, grants and contracts coordinator at Altoona.
  • “Effects of Above- and Below-ground Woody Competition on Herbaceous Communities,” by PI Autumn Sabo, assistant professor of biology at Penn State Beaver, and co-PIs Art Gover, research support associate in plant science, Phillip Jones, postdoctoral scholar in ecosystem science and management, and Emily Lavely, postdoctoral fellow in ecosystem science and management.
  • “Integrated Art & Science Program for Biodiversity: Design, Delivery, and Evaluation,” by PI Bryan Wang, associate teaching professor of biology at Penn State Berks, and co-PIs Sandy Feinstein, professor of English at Berks, Samantha Kavky, associate professor of art history at Berks, and David Livert, associate professor of psychology at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
  • “Climate-adapted forests: from geology to genes,” by PI Margot Kaye, associate professor of forest ecology, and co-PIs Jesse Lasky, assistant professor of biology, and Tetyana Zhebentyayeva, associate research professor of ecosystem science and management.
  • “A Gender-Sensitive Analysis of the Global Biodiversity of Food and Agriculture (Agrobiodiversity) and Values to Food/Nutrition Security in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of Indigenous Communities in Latin America,” by PI Karl Zimmerer, Ruby S. and E. Willard Miller Professor of Geography, and co-PIs Kathleen Sexsmith, assistant professor of rural sociology and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, and Paige Castellanos, assistant research professor in the Office of International Programs and program manager for the Gender Equity through Agriculture Research and Education Initiative.

Teaching and Learning

"Climate Crossover", a Study of Student Perception on Climate Change

“Every single part of the university has something to contribute on the issue. So, we wanted to facilitate people finding interesting and innovative ways that their specific disciplines can contribute to people’s understanding of these issues and the public discourse,” said Sentesy

In 2019, Awaken State, an initiative devoted to increasing awareness of environmental topics, executed a study of eco-anxiety within the Penn State student body. Nearly 1,600 students were surveyed revealing about 74% think that climate change is a threat to humanity, 50% are angry about climate change, and 65% feel helpless.

As a result of this study, “Climate Crossover” was born. The resulting program, led by Professor of Philosophy Mark Sentesy and Assistant Professor Nichole van Beek, posited that the most important thing to do about climate change is to talk about it. Climate Crossover advocated for strong well-informed discussion to start in the classroom and connect students with climate issues across disciplines.

In Spring 2020, dozens of instructors across Penn State accepted the invitation to include climate modules and guest speakers, or to infuse sustainability principles into their classes holistically.

Prior to the pandemic, workshops were held with the goal of generating relationships among faculty as they navigated the discussion of climate issues relating to their individual fields. Subject experts were invited to provide one-pagers with key information and questions to help spark robust, informed discussion of the topics from a variety of angles.

“We recognize that climate change touches on all the issues, not just the science or technology but also the human sciences and the role of the arts in visualizing impacts and futures and integrating climate into identity and law,” said Sentesy. “Every single part of the university has something to contribute on the issue. So, we wanted to facilitate people finding interesting and innovative ways that their specific disciplines can contribute to people’s understanding of these issues and the public discourse.”

In the second year of Climate Crossover, the number of participants tripled and nearly 60 instructors integrated climate conversation into their classrooms. In the full scope of the program, over six thousand students have benefitted from such connections between their courses and climate issues.

“The secondary goal of Climate Crossover was that once you begin having these conversations in classrooms then it’s easier to generate public discourse on these issues because more people are already talking about it and then are given the opportunity to take those conversations into the public sphere,” expanded Sentesy.

The efforts to transition conversations from the classroom to the public sphere were somewhat impacted by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic but Sentesy and van Beek still ensured there was progress with safe socially distant approaches. Through public art projects hosted at the HUB and chalking events in which climate positive messages were shared with community members, everyone had the opportunity to share their thoughts in creative ways.

Currently, Sentesy is working to embed the core project of the Climate Crossover into institutions at the university, promoting the formation of climate minor and major programs, and advocating for public engagement on climate issues through Sustainability Councils and the Carbon Emissions Reduction Task Force (CERTF). This effort includes developing material for courses, and continuing conversations with Deans across the university to formalize the incorporation of climate and sustainability topics into their curricula.

Operations and Energy

Student Farm Expansion; Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Endowment

Following the success of its four-year pilot, Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones approved funding to increase the Farm’s footprint from 1 to 3.6 acres. The expansion included the installation of three high tunnels in June of 2020, which enable year-round crop production.

In December 2020, it was announced that in recognition of Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross’ support of Penn State’s land-grant mission to educate the Commonwealth, the Student Farm at University Park would be renamed the Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm.

Additionally, during the pandemic, Provost Nick Jones approved funding to increase the Farm’s footprint from 1 to 3.6 acres. The expansion included the installation of three high tunnels in June of 2020, which enable year-round crop production.

With this larger physical footprint, production space at the Farm increased from 1.25 acres to 2 acres, with the remaining space allowing for expanded programming areas, farm facilities such as tool and equipment storage, and on-site refrigeration.

In many ways, the farm expanded in a multitude of regards. Two full time staff positions were added during this time period, as well. Darin Ripp was welcomed onboard to serve as the Education and Operations Manager and Marta Plumhoff joined as the new Food Systems Coordinator.

Community Engagement or Outreach

Expansion of Pollinator Space at the Arboretum

The addition was designed with the dual intent of both creating a space that could attract all of our region’s insect pollinator species as well as the broadest possible range of resident and migratory birds and to demonstrate how to create attractive, pollinator-and bird-friendly landscapes to the public.

Another step forward for sustainability at Penn State was the long-awaited addition of the three-acre Pollinator and Bird Garden at the Arboretum. The addition added over three acres to the H.O. Smith Botanic Gardens – increasing it’s acreage by more than 60%.

The new space was designed with the dual intent of both creating a space that could attract all of our region’s insect pollinator species as well as the broadest possible range of resident and migratory birds and to demonstrate how to create attractive, pollinator-and bird-friendly landscapes to the public.

Working with a large team of Penn State-based and outside experts, including Penn State’s Center for Pollinator Research, the design was developed to encourage ecological diversity by incorporating habitats such as a pond, wetlands, woodland, and dry meadow. The new gardens showcase a large array of plants—over 390 unique species and varieties—most of which are native to Pennsylvania or the greater Appalachian region. The installation of the vast majority of the 143,000 plants added during this expansion was volunteer driven.

Looking Forward

2022 Sustainability Institute Work Theme: Nurturing Deep Decarbonization

This year, in response to growing necessity, the theme of our work at the Sustainability Institute will be “Nurturing Deep Decarbonization - advancing bold reduction in climate impact.”

The need to address today’s global challenges is an urgent one that will not be advanced through modest actions. This year, in response to growing necessity, the theme of our work at the Sustainability Institute will be “Nurturing Deep Decarbonization - advancing bold reduction in climate impact.”

It is the responsibility of every individual, organization, community, and nation to face the challenges associated with the development and implementation of deep decarbonization strategies in the coming year. As individual citizens and community members it is our duty to act in our respective capacities towards this group effort.

This year’s theme refers to our encouragement of the economic, technological, and policy changes necessary to drive our collective educational, operational, and outreach efforts.

What to Expect in the Full Report

Our full Highlight Report will be issued in April in celebration of Earth Day. Over the past two years, we have made a lot of exciting sustainability progress. Here are just some of the stories you can expect to read more about:

Research

  • NSF Awards $199 Million to Improve Climate Risk Decision Making Along Coastlines

Teaching and Learning

  • Campus Highlights
  • Film Series - Water Consortium Update

Community Engagement and Outreach

  • Sustainable Communities Collaborative Experiences Rapid Growth
  • Sustainability Alumni Interest Group Formation

Student Engagement

  • Environmental Justice mapping project by Nyla Holland and Nebraska Hernandez
  • City Semester Pittsburgh Experiences Expansion

Faculty and Staff Engagement

  • Robert Bullard, Father of Environmental Justice, Headlines the 2021 Environmental Colloquium
  • Smeal Business Sustainability

Operations and Energy

  • Solar Farm Goes Online
  • PSU Emissions Data Released
  • Formation of the Carbon Emissions Reduction Task Force
  • Ebikes
  • Dashboard Data Now Available

Sustainability Councils

  • Sustainability Councils in Colleges, Campuses, and Administrative Units
  • Green Paws and Green Teams Update

Rankings

  • AASHE
  • THE
  • EPA Green Schools
  • Princeton Review
  • Behrend STARS Bronze Ranking

Thank You

That's all for now. Thank you for your interest in furthering sustainability progress at Penn State! If this Highlight Report has inspired you to identify any opportunities for collaboration please contact Barbara Duncan at bld11@psu.edu to share your thoughts with us.

Credits:

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