#2
Journal of Ecology ranked UNH #2 in ecology research
86%
of UNH departments that do research, have sustainability included in their research portfolio
> 50%
of UNH researchers (+300 individuals) conduct sustainability-related 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.
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Sustainable Learning Community Research
In May 2021, the UNH Sustainability Awards recognized faculty, staff and students for excellence in sustainability-related research.
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FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
John Aber | 2021 Platinum Sustainability Awardee for Research & Scholarship
John has played a key role as both faculty member and administrator in advancing UNH leadership in sustainability over the past two-plus decades, including supporting the establishment of the UNH Energy Task Force.
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Student Research
UNH hosts one of the largest Undergraduate Research Conferences in the nation, and in 2021 launched the NEW University-wide Sustainability Symposium with over 80 students presenting sustainability-related research.
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Chloe Gross '24 was awarded a Research Experience and Apprenticeship Program (REAP) award, which will help fund her composting research this summer!
Climate Crisis:
Greenhouse Gas Research & 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.
Preparing Future Leaders:
Making Sustainable Impact in Our Communities
Each summer, the Sustainability Fellowship pairs exceptional undergraduate and graduate students from UNH and universities across the country with municipal, educational, corporate, utility and non-profit partners in New England to work on transformative sustainability initiatives that are designed to create an immediate impact, offer an extraordinary learning experience and foster meaningful collaboration. This high-level engaged scholarship is supported by their mentors and partner organizations, their Fellowship peers 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 is working with the City of Keene, New Hampshire this summer, 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
This summer, Sustainability Fellow, Natalie is working 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 their employees regarding diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She looks forward to gaining an understanding of the complexities of developing and implementing new DEI models across a multi-state organization.
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CLIMATE ACTION
Michael Pasciuto | UNH, BS Mechanical Engineering & Sustainability
This summer, Michael is the Josephine A. Lamprey Sustainability Fellow and is working 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 community.
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SUSTAINABLE INVESTING
Jill Durkin | UNH, pursuing a BS in Finance and Economics
Sustainability Fellow, Jill is working with 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 Research Conference:
Sustainability Research Symposium
UNH 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 disciplines present research on a broad range of sustainability challenges – addressing environmental stewardship, social well-being, and economic vitality to meet our present needs while ensuring the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Critical Research for Sustainable Outcomes:
Our Contributions
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, thereby making collaborative scholarship the norm rather than the exception.
Our research is shared widely through publications, media, and events, in order to contribute to advancing sustainability in all aspects of UNH’s mission and brings diverse people and ideas together to make the university a model sustainable learning community that reaches beyond campus to engage state, regional, national, and international partners to advance sustainable solutions.
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.
