Research

Research
Shoals Marine Lab aerial

#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.


UNH Sustainability Research News

Three men work inside a large wind tunnel

Research Will Advance U.S. Offshore Wind Energy

Research Will Advance U.S. Offshore Wind Energy

With $2.5 million in Department of Energy funding, UNH team aims to maximize power production

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Male student in greenhouse holds a plant. His t-shirt says UNH Graduate School.

Department of Energy Honor to Ph.D. Student Sean Schaefer Will Advance Arctic Research

Department of Energy Honor to Ph.D. Student Sean Schaefer Will Advance Arctic Research

Schaefer, professor Jessica Ernakovich both receive funding to use DOE facilities

Article
Woman in blue shirt stands in field of flax, holding harvested plants

Flax to Linen Project Weaves History With Experience

Flax to Linen Project Weaves History With Experience

From stooking to scutching, year-long study goes from dirt to shirt

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Recognizing 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 categoies: 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.

Weiwei Mo headshot with platinum award icon

Weiwei Mo, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, applies systems-based thinking to link environment, social wellbeing, infrastructure and climate change in her multiple externally funded grants. Her research helps lower vulnerabilities of water and energy systems and develop policies to improve social equity.

Gregg Moore and sustainability award gold icon

Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Gregg Moore's collaborative work addresses coastal disturbance due to climate change. His research is transdisciplinary in exploration of anthropogenic management of invasive species, implementation of restoration and management actions on landscape scales, and social-environmental justice and equity.

Kenneth Johnson with silver award icon

Professor of Sociology, Senior Demographer and Andrew Carnegie Fellow, Kenneth Johnson's high quality research and scholarship informs policymaking at the nexus of the human-environmental interface. His research on the interaction between human and natural resonates with sustainability’s focus on inequality and healthy communities.

Catherine Ashcraft with bronze award icon

Catherine Ashcraft, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources and the Environment, is an internationally respected sustainability researcher with a collaborative, interdisciplinary, inclusive and creative approach. She simultaneously engages students in applied policy analysis, negotiation and conflict resolution.

Sustainability Institute Research

SIMAP logo and sample graphs

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 Carbon 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.

man presenting with people at a table in the background

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. 

  • Jackie headshot

    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.

  • Natalie headshot

    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). 

  • Michael headshot

    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.

     

  • Jill headshot

    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


woman caring for plants in a greenhouse

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.

Research boat on ocean

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.

woman working in a laboratory

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.

three students walking on campus

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.

people engaged in conversation

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. 

woman talking with two men about forest inventory

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.