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The �պ����� Board of Trustees heard a broad-ranging presentation on May 19 showcasing the University’s teaching, learning and research accomplishments in sustainability and environmental education from key faculty and staff members and students.

In the late 1960s, long-accepted views on the health of our environment were shaken to the core. Oil spills and clear cutting of forests were altering the environment on a global scale. Anti-nuclear protests reflected public discomfort with the dangers of nuclear waste. Rachel Carson’s urgent book Silent Spring focused attention on chemical pollutants in the environment and called out for a new approach to the ecological web of life.

�պ����� responded in 1972 by creating the Environmental Program, aimed at creating a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to teaching about the environment that involved colleges and researchers across the university. The program celebrated its 50th anniversary at a ceremony on April 21 at Ira Allen Chapel.

Environmental Program Director Brendan Fisher opened the presentation with an overview of the past half-century of accomplishments for the program, describing the growth in student interest, research, scholarship, and engagement.

“Fifty years ago, �պ����� leaned in to creating space for the study of the environment, one of the first universities in the country to do so,” Fisher said. “Its Environmental Program started with four students and a vision. Today, over a quarter of �պ����� undergraduates are engaged in environmentally related majors and a large percentage of our research funding is related to environmental and sustainability research.

“We are an environmental university. It’s easy for me to see �պ����� becoming the environmental university."

Elizabeth Palchak, director of the Office of Sustainability, capped off the presentation by reviewing �պ�����’s first Comprehensive Sustainability Plan, which was unveiled last month. Palchak said the plan – anchored by a commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 – has been enthusiastically received.

“Reaction to the plan has been overwhelmingly positive,” Palchak said. “We’ve heard from students, faculty, and alumni who are excited about the plan and especially proud that the university is declaring a commitment to carbon neutrality. They’re excited to watch the progress and the changes that will come on campus as we achieve these goals over time.”

Geography professor Lesley-Ann Dupigney-Giroux, who also serves as climatologist for the state of Vermont, shared how students are helping town planners prepare for local climate change. Her upper-level service learning geography seminar recently developed a natural-hazard mitigation plan for the town of Underhill.

Students from the Restoration Ecology and Community class spoke on the immersive learning taking place in �պ�����’s natural areas.

“More people visit the top of Mount Mansfield – one of �պ�����’s Natural Areas – every year than attend games at Patrick Gym,” Fisher said. “This is our classroom. This is our lab."

Meredith Niles, Acting Director of the Gund Institute for Environment, updated the Board on recent environmental research highlights: $125M in external grant funding in 5 years, over $18M in fundraising, a new , and the milestone of over one-third of �պ�����’s external research grants—outside the Larner College of Medicine—now supporting environmental discovery and scholarship. Flagship �պ����� environmental research projects include:

• The Vermont Climate Assessment, which is guiding state climate action

• The $25M Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), a national water management and flood forecasting effort

• Innovative research exploring how digital devices and exposure to nature affect mental and physical health, which has attracted $2M from corporate partners

• The tree canopy project, which has helped over 80 U.S. cities—including New York City, Boston and Los Angeles—enhance greenspace, equity, and climate resilience.

The Gund Institute has provided $4.4M in fellowships and other financial support to create cutting-edge, hands-on research opportunities for 55 outstanding students from over 11 nations.

Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne described how uses geospatial technology to engage students, fulfilling the university’s land grant mission. SAL operates as a non-profit in partnership with industry, government and non-profits to apply techniques in GIS, remote sensing, and spatial statistics aimed at solving unique problems.

The plan sets the ambitious goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2030 and features important goals and strategies in the areas of operations, governance, and research and learning.

Professor of Agroecology and Environmental Studies Ernesto Mendez described how the new Institute for Agroecology will expand the teaching and learning options and impact at �պ����� and engage with local, national and international communities for more sustainable farming. Students involved in the Net Zero initiative of the Rubenstein School presented outcomes of RSENR reaching Net Zero.

Palchak concluded the presentation by speaking about environmental and sustainability projects and initiatives on campus, in Vermont and beyond. Questions were then largely focused on how �պ����� can achieve more recognition as one of the very best institutions for environmental and sustainability studies in all of higher education.