2017 Green Sports Alliance Innovators of the Year Awards
The award recognizes organizations and individuals that demonstrate excellence and innovation in environmental and social stewardship in the world of sports. Innovators of the Year embody sports sustainability across their organization and operations, implementing projects that not only reduce environmental impact but encourage fans, athletes and community stakeholders to do the same. The deadline to submit an application is March 8.
Three Days Remain: Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey
Participate in the 2017 Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey by March 10. Participants are encouraged to share the survey link with any colleagues who have a sustainability role. Survey respondents can opt to receive a complimentary copy of the follow-up report.
Solar Ambassador Program
The Solar Ambassador Program offered through RE-volv is a year-long fellowship for college students who want to help a community-serving organization near their campus go solar. RE-volv will train ambassadors in crowdfunding, solar policy, community engagement and project management. In turn, the solar ambassadors educate their campus communities about solar energy, develop a deep understanding of the energy sector, produce a tangible reduction in carbon emissions and build a national network of environmental stewards.
2017 Food Solutions Challenge
The Food Solutions Challenge is designed to generate awareness and holistic thinking around issues stemming from food production and distribution. Participants are asked to design a blueprint that will move toward a carbon neutral food supply chain for a chance to incubate their ideas at a global food solutions conference. Six groups will be selected to attend the Net Impact Local Global Food Solutions event to pitch their event to a panel of experts. The top team will be awarded $5,000.
2017 International Essay Contest for Young People
Students are invited to submit a 700-word essay based on the theme Learning from Nature. The essay should focus on what we learn from nature and how we can make use of that learning for the future. Organized by the Goi Peace Foundation, the deadline to enter the contest is June 15.
Make for the Planet
Staff and faculty are invited to submit an application to participate in Make for the Planet, a team competition to create hardware and/or software solutions to specific conservation challenges. Multidisciplinary teams will compete on-site at the Smithsonian Institution's Earth Optimism Summit in Washington, D.C., from April 21-23, 2017. Teams will have access to a pop-up maker's space with equipment to create prototypes and models of hardware and/or software solutions. Applications will be accepted through March 1.
AASHE Sustainability Awards: Call for Submissions
The annual AASHE Sustainability Awards recognize sustainability achievements, research advancements and student leadership. By raising the visibility of high-impact sustainability projects and pioneering research, the awards program helps to disseminate innovations and inspire continued progress toward sustainability. Submissions are due by May 12 to be considered for one of 10 awards, to be given at the 2017 AASHE Conference & Expo.
ISCN 2017 Sustainable Campus Excellence Awards
The International Sustainable Campus Network invites submissions for projects that demonstrate how the environmental, social and economic issues of our time provide opportunities for university administrations and faculty alike to improve campus infrastructures and recognize opportunities to integrate them into their research and learning activities. Applications are due by March 3.
2017 Newman Civic Fellowship Nomination Cycle
The Newman Civic Fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country. The fellowship provides training and resources that nurture students’ assets and passions to help them develop strategies to achieve social change. Nominations are due by March 3.
SPLC Summit 2017 Volunteer Application to Attend for Free
Students interested in learning about the sustainable purchasing movement can register for the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council's 2017 Summit for free in exchange for volunteering for eight hours or two four-to-six hour shifts. The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council's annual conference is May 8-10 in Denver, Colorado. The application deadline is April 1.
Bard’s Center for Environmental Policy Sustainability Leadership Workshop
Applications are being accepted for the 2017 spring Campus-to-Congress Sustainability Leadership Workshop for undergraduate and recent graduates that will focus on key leadership skill development: vision, courage, developing a network, storytelling and raising funds. The workshop is at Bard College from March 3-5.
2016-2017 Prizes in Higher Education Policy Research
The International Association of Universities and COPERNICUS Alliance are holding an essay competition themed on higher education and research for sustainable development. The research-based essays may take the form of an analytical case study, an analysis of trends, provide an overview of relevant policies or offer the results of impact assessment. Abstracts are due no later than Feb. 28.
Earth Optimism Student Video Competition
The Smithsonian Institution invites undergraduate and graduate students to share a success story that involves them personally or highlights a story that needs to be told through a compelling two-minute video. The theme of the competition is Conservation Success. The student with the best video, as selected by a panel of judges, will receive $1,000. Up to three winners will receive funding to attend the three-day Earth Optimism Summit in Washington, D.C., April 21-23. The deadline to submit is March 3.
The Witnessing Change Video Competition
The Witnessing Change Video Competition invites student documentarians to record the impacts of climate change happening in their own communities, and to use their work to inform the public. The videos should highlight the emotional and financial costs of climate change. Due to additional grant support, the fee for the 2016/2017 competition has been waived for all applicants. Submissions are due May 1.
AASHE Workshop: Sustainability Professionals Retreat
The Sustainability Professionals Retreat, hosted by AASHE near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from June 19-22, is designed to encourage professional growth and build targeted skills in facilitation, meeting design, organizational design, governance, idea flow, senior leadership engagement and decision-making. Facilitated by Leith Sharp, from Harvard University, and Aurora Winslade, from Swarthmore College, this three-day retreat will allow for creative and open-ended discussions. The deadline to apply is April 14.
On-Campus Solar Project Support Through Green Gigawatt Partnership
Five AASHE-member campuses will be selected to receive integrated on-site solar advisory services from the Green Gigawatt Partnership, including site screening, stakeholder education, RFP development and contract negotiation support. The Green Gigawatt Partnership is designed to help the higher education sector catalyze at least one gigawatt of new renewable energy by the year 2020. The application deadline is March 17.
UNESCO-Japan 2017 Prize on Education for Sustainable Development
UNESCO is seeking nominations for the third edition of the UNESCO-Japan Prize on Education for Sustainable Development. Endowed with a total of $150,000 to be divided between three recipients, the prize aims to honor and showcase outstanding education for sustainable development projects and programs worldwide. Submissions are due by May 2.
AASHE Conference & Expo Abstract Deadline Feb. 13
The last day to submit a proposal and sign up to be a reviewer for the 2017 AASHE Conference & Expo, themed “Stronger in Solidarity”, is Feb. 13. Held in San Antonio, Texas, from Oct. 15-18, the conference will focus on how the campus sustainability community can break down walls, build bridges and continue to make progress toward a healthy and equitable future for all.
Call for Abstracts: Symposium on Sustainability in University Campuses
Abstracts are being accepted for the Symposium on Sustainability in University Campuses, being held Sept. 17-19 at University of São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil. The conference theme is "Campuses as living labs for connecting the nexus energy, climate and sustainable development". Abstracts are due on Feb. 25.
Princeton Review & Sierra Magazine Reporting Deadline: March 3, 2017
AASHE is continuing its collaboration with the Princeton Review and Sierra magazine to reduce the data collection and reporting burden for members. Campuses wishing to earn a Princeton Review Green rating and a Sierra Cool Schools ranking can submit data by March 3 through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Reporting Tool.
Nobel Peace Prize for Sustainable Development
A group of teachers and practitioners of Ecological Economics invite nominations for "Sustainable Development" as the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Organizers propose that the Nobel Peace Prize be awarded to The Club of Rome, Herman Daly and Pope Francis for their roles in the advent, creation of guiding principles and institutions, and refocusing society’s attention on the urgent need for sustainable development. Nominations from qualified individuals are being accepted through Feb. 1. Nominations that are sent after Feb. 1 will be accepted into the 2018 prize.
Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey
The Higher Education Sustainability Staffing Survey is a biennial survey conducted by AASHE that seeks to understand the continuously growing career field of sustainability professionals in higher education. A follow-up report will be published in late 2017 that summarizes the results. The deadline to complete the survey is March 3.
2017 Green Schools Conference & Expo
Registration is open for the 2017 Green Schools Conference & Expo taking place in Atlanta, Georgia, March 21-22. The conference offers the opportunity for higher education leaders in sustainability to join industry leaders, educators and green building professionals to share ideas, network, and learn about leading research in green schools.
2017 RecycleMania Sign-Ups Open
Interested parties can now sign up to participate in RecycleMania, a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities. Over an eight-week period each spring, colleges across the U.S. and Canada report the amount of recycling and trash collected each week and are then ranked in various categories based on most recycling on a per capita basis, best recycling rate as a percentage of total waste, and amount of combined trash and recycling. Full registration in the competition must be completed by Feb. 3.
Call for Abstracts: Ninth Annual World Environmental Education Congress
Abstracts are now being accepted for the ninth annual World Environmental Education Congress (WEEC), held in Vancouver, Canada, Sept. 9-15, 2017. WEEC is an international congress addressing education for environment and sustainable development. The 2017 conference's theme is culture/environment. Abstracts are due by March 31.
2017 AASHE Conference & Expo: Call for Reviewers
Reviewers are needed to ensure a conference program that includes a well-balanced mix of high-quality sessions that meet the diverse interests of attendees. Based on a predetermined set of criteria, reviewers will assess conference abstract submissions for the 2017 AASHE Conference & Expo. All reviewers examine roughly 25 proposals using a quantitative scale on topics in which they offer a high level of expertise. Deadline to sign up is Feb. 15.
Course on Forming a Library Action Plan for Engagement
This online, asynchronous course, offered Jan. 2-27, will focus on the role of the academic librarian in the sustainability movement. Through a reflective process, readings, exercises and participation in a discussion forum, participants will create an action plan that matches the needs of their library and institution. Instruction includes readings and assignments in one-week segments.
Call for Proposals: 2017 Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit
Proposals for the seventh annual Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit are being accepted. The Collegiate Sports Sustainability Summit is seeking presentations that model innovative, novel approaches to ways that athletic and sports programs can join the campus movement to engage students, fans and alumni in making collegiate sports socially, economically and environmentally responsible. Conference organizers aim to go beyond the basics by encouraging more meaningful conversations around behavior change, innovation and social sustainability. Deadline to submit is Jan. 6.
'Case Studies in the Environment' Call for Manuscripts
Case Studies in the Environment is a journal for peer-reviewed case study articles with slides and teaching notes, and articles on case study pedagogy. The journal aims to inform students, faculty and educators on case studies and best practices in environmental sciences and studies.
AESS 2017 Conference Call for Proposals
The ninth annual Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) Conference will be held June 21-24 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. AESS is accepting proposals for individual paper and poster presentations, and proposals for full panels, workshops, discussion symposia and mealtime roundtables. The conference theme, Environment, Wellness and Community, will allow AESS to showcase its interdisciplinary strengths on this vitally important topic, including such issues as problem-solving through multi-disciplinary data and analysis, multiple perspectives, team building and collaborations, and future-oriented teaching across disciplines. Submissions are due by Jan. 27.
Call for Presentations: Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council 2017 Summit
Presentations are being accepted now through Jan. 15 for the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council's 2017 Summit happening in Denver, Colorado, May 8-10. With a variety of presentations types, desired themes include sustainable purchasing programs, product sustainability, supplier sustainability, impact, and policy and regulatory affairs.
NWEI Campus EcoChallenge
The Campus EcoChallenge, offered by Northwest Earth Institute, is a platform for campuses or classes to engage in sustainability challenges over a two week window. Challengers can set their own two-week window between the period of January and June 2017. Challenges, which can complement syllabi and/or campus-wide initiatives, include but are not limited to energy, waste, transportation, food, water and community engagement.
SPLC Leadership & Case Study Awards
The Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council is accepting applications for its annual awards program, which recognizes public and private sector organizations for leveraging their purchasing power to advance the long-term health and vitality of society, economies and the planet. Submissions are due March 10.
NCSE 2017: Integrating Environment and Health
The National Council for Science and the Environment is holding its National Conference and Global Forum on Integrating Environment and Health this Jan. 24-26, in Washington, D.C. The NCSE conference will address the critical, complex and interconnected issues of environment and health. AASHE members can receive a 10 percent discount off a three-day registration. Enter the code AASHE2017 when registering for the conference.
Letter to President-Elect from Higher Education Leaders on Climate Action
Collaboratively developed by a diverse group of higher education institutions and Second Nature, an open letter to the incoming President and members of Congress asks for participation in international climate efforts, support for climate research and investment in climate solutions. Any institution of higher education can add their name to the letter to be included in the national release of this letter. The deadline to add signatures to the letter has been extended to Dec. 19.
Princeton Review & Sierra Magazine Reporting Deadline: March 3, 2017
AASHE is continuing its collaboration with the Princeton Review and Sierra magazine to reduce the data collection and reporting burden for members. Campuses wishing to earn a Princeton Review Green rating and a Sierra Cool Schools ranking can submit data by March 3 through the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) Reporting Tool.
2017 AASHE Conference & Expo: Call for Proposals
Submissions are now being accepted for the 2017 AASHE Conference & Expo, themed Stronger in Solidarity, in San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 15-18. Submit your proposal today and join us as we focus on how the campus sustainability community can break down walls, build bridges and continue to make progress toward a healthy and equitable future for all. The submission period closes Feb. 13.
