R1
Top Tier Carnegie Classification
84%
of UNH departments that conduct research are engaged in sustainability research
187
UNH employees engaged in sustainability research
Research at UNH furthers sustainability science, scholarship and creativity through critical conversations and collaborations across traditional discipline boundaries. Our research excellence reaches from the depths of our oceans to the edge of our solar system and the Earth and environment and communities in which we all thrive. We are a leading university in sustainability, driven by our sustainable learning community – our students, faculty and staff.
UNH Sustainability Research News
Eleven Ways UNH is Helping Communities be Environmentally Friendly
Eleven Ways UNH is Helping Communities be Environmentally Friendly
A look at the work of UNH researchers as Earth Day approaches
Article
Lab, Reimagined
Lab, Reimagined
UNH repurposed its COVID testing lab to serve the state — and science — in new ways
Article
New Project Turns to Nature for Climate Resilience
New Project Turns to Nature for Climate Resilience
With $6M NSF grant, UNH will design Nature-based Solutions in marginalized communities
ArticleRecognizing UNH Sustainability Researchers
Coordinated by the Sustainability Institute, the annual UNH Sustainability Awards celebrate and incentivize individuals and teams doing important sustainability work in four categories: research, curriculum development and teaching, campus initiatives and culture, and external engagement work across and beyond the university. Faculty researchers help build a deep culture of sustainability that permeates all facets of our institution and how we work.
The 2025 Sustainability Awards Nomination period is open! Nominate a UNH faculty member, staff or student by May 30, 2025.
Sustainability Institute Research
Climate Crisis &
Greenhouse Gas Accounting
UNH is home to SIMAP® (Sustainability Indicator Management & Analysis Platform) a rigorous, research-based carbon and nitrogen-accounting platform used by over 500 universities and colleges. SIMAP® offers campuses a simple, comprehensive, and affordable online tool to track, analyze, and improve campus-wide sustainability. Leveraging our SIMAP expertise and technology, our Climate Action Clinic is an exciting opportunity for students to gain expertise and experience in sought-after environmental reporting skills by working in teams to complete carbon footprint analyses for leading regional businesses, nonprofits and communities.
Purpose-driven Problem Solving:
Collaborative Scholarship
Sustainability Institute faculty and staff have extensive expertise in a wide range of sustainability topics, and lead purpose-driven problem solving that addresses deep scientific questions and societal needs in collaboration with partners from across disciplines and sectors. Sharing our research widely through publications, media, and events, we contribute to advancing sustainability research in all aspects of UNH’s mission – bringing diverse people and ideas together to make UNH a model sustainable learning community that reaches beyond campus to engage state, regional, national, and international partners to advance sustainable solutions.
Equipping Students for Future Leadership
Skills, Courage and Community Impact
Each summer, the Sustainability Fellowship pairs exceptional undergraduate students and post-baccalaureates from UNH and universities across the country with municipal, educational, corporate, and non-profit partners to work on transformative sustainability initiatives. Fellows undertake challenging projects that are designed to create an immediate impact, offer an extraordinary learning experience and foster meaningful collaboration. While working with their mentors and partner organizations, Fellows are supported by their cohort as well as an active network of partners, alumni, and the UNH team, as they emerge as the next generation of sustainability leaders.
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WATER & ENERGY BENCHMARKING
Jackie Harris | UNH, pursuing a BS in Earth Sciences and BA in Women’s and Gender Studies
2021 Sustainability Fellow, Jackie worked with the City of Keene, New Hampshire to develop a benchmarking program that can be used to develop methods for reducing water and energy usage.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Natalie Roach | University of Connecticut, pursuing a Master of Public Policy
Natalie worked with our long-time partner, Goodwill of Northern New England to help plan, develop and form a system to consistently and authentically gather feedback from employees regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
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CLIMATE ACTION
Michael Pasciuto | UNH, BS Mechanical Engineering & Sustainability
Michael was the 2021 Josephine A. Lamprey Sustainability Fellow and worked with our long-time partner, New Hampshire Businesses For Social Responsibility (NHBSR) to develop a “Climate Action Challenge” to educate and create dialog within the New Hampshire community.
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SUSTAINABLE INVESTING
Jill Durkin | UNH, BS in Finance and Economics
During the Fellowship Jill worked with, and was hired post-graduation, our long-time partner, Prime Buchholz LLC to engage investment managers in their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices and to help the firm enhance its impact reporting to clients.
Undergraduate Sustainability Research
Undergraduate students play a critical role in sustainability research at UNH and can present their findings at the University-wide Sustainability Research Symposium, part of UNH's annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) – one of the largest in the nation. Students from all majors and disciplines present research on a broad range of sustainability challenges on local, regional, national and global levels. From addressing environmental stewardship, social justice and well-being, economic vitality and the interconnectedness between issues, students are preparing for careers and lives of impact.
Sustainability Research Across UNH
UNH's first research organization, it has been an elemental component of New Hampshire's land-grant university heritage and mission since 1887 and provides unbiased and objective research on sustainable agriculture and foods, horticulture, forest management and related wildlife, the environment, natural resources, and quality of life topics.
UNH’s first interdisciplinary school, designed to address today’s highly complex ocean and coastal challenges through integrated graduate education, research and engagement. As such, it serves as an interdisciplinary nexus for marine science and ocean engineering teaching and research across the University.
UNH's largest research enterprise, with opportunities to work alongside distinguished faculty on projects to explore and study the most important and inaccessible places on our planet, in our solar system, and in our universe.
Nationally recognized for its research, policy education, and civic engagement. The ideas and ambitions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are a touchstone for faculty and students as we contribute to a more informed, healthy, equitable, peaceful and sustainable university, community, state, nation and planet.
Postdoctoral Diversity and Innovation Scholars
This program opens a pathway to the professoriate for highly talented, underrepresented postdoctoral scholars and is informed by best practices of established programs to increase faculty excellence and diversity.
Cooperative Extension
Innovative, energetic and connected staff and volunteers develop and deliver practical, trusted education and services to meet New Hampshire’s needs. Through a long-standing partnership with NH counties, ten well-staffed UNH Cooperative Extension offices are located across the state to provide local expertise and assistance.
