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Letter from the Director:
I am delighted to be writing you as the new director of the School of Global Environmental Sustainability, which will be the new and permanent home of the CSU Climate Initiative (CCI). As we stand in a pivotal moment in history, the challenges facing our planet demand innovation, collaboration, and urgent action. Our school has always been an interdisciplinary home, supporting undergraduate and graduate education, outreach and engagement, and research teaming on a wide range of sustainability topics. As we work throughout the rest of the semester, I will be focusing on completing our visioning process and strengthening our core programs. We'd like to encourage you to complete our feedback form that will help inform the future of SoGES/CCI. We will remain a hub for research, education, innovation, and encourage students to explore diverse approaches to solving the most complex climate change and sustainability issues of our time. Our upcoming event schedule is packed with timely topics that will feature an inspiring film on climate resilience, topical panels featuring experts from across CSU, and the Diana Wall Memorial Symposium this week.
As a reminder, if you're internal to CSU, keep an eye out for our periodic Quick Links, where we share information about funding opportunities, class offerings, and other items for faculty and staff only. Our next edition will be out the week after spring break. Faculty and staff, please use this link to sign up for these resources.
There is much more our team has been working on, and so much opportunity to collaborate on with faculty, staff, and students toward our shared goal of a more sustainable world. I am excited about the opportunities ahead and all of the ways we can continue to collaborate and grow.
Warm regards,
Courtney Schultz
| | Visioning for SoGES and the Climate Initiative | | SoGES is always evolving, and at this key moment, we’re looking ahead to our next steps. We want to hear what you value, where we should grow, and how we can better serve our community. Your input will help shape the future of sustainability and climate resilience at CSU. Visit this form to share your thoughts. | | Upcoming Sustainability and Climate Events | | |
Celebrate the life and legacy of Diana Wall at the International Symposium
Wednesday, March 12th, 2-5 p.m. | LSC Ballroom D
Reception to follow
Diana Wall was a world-renowned soil ecologist who tirelessly dedicated her life's work to understanding the creatures that live in the soil below us. While her true passion was nematodes, she was a proud champion of all soil creatures, fighting for soil biodiversity globally.
Several esteemed scientists from universities around the world will talk about Wall's work, research, and influence in the scientific community.
The full schedule is available now!
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Save the Date for Upcoming Sustainability and Climate Events
- March 18, 5:30-7 p.m. | Writing Your Own Story: Diego Tovar's Journey to Authorship
- March 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. | ASCSU Sustainability Community Roundtable
- April 3, 4-5 p.m. | CCI Climate talk :: Closing the Loop: Circular Economy Solutions for Climate Action
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April 9, 5-7 p.m. | Legion 44 film screening and panel
- April 17, 4-5 p.m. | CCI Climate talk :: Dairy production, air quality, and climate change
- April 30, 5-6:30 p.m. | Managing the Planet :: Migration: Birds and Blooms
- May 8, 4-6 p.m. | SoGES/CCI Open House
View the full calendar HERE
| | Sustainability and Climate News and Highlights | | |
Submit a Contribution to the 2nd National Sustainability Society Conference
The National Sustainability Society (NSS) is a new cross-sectoral, transdisciplinary, and intersectional society for professionals advancing sustainability. Launched in 2024, NSS aims to foster a thriving professional community that advances a just, resilient, and sustainable world. The call is now open to submit contributions to the second annual NSS Conference “Transformative Change for a Just and Sustainable World” that will take place at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, from October 20-23, 2025. NSS considers contributions that showcase both research and application. Scholarship on sustainability topics, work featuring case studies, best practices, collaborative interdisciplinary or cross-sectoral projects, or other works that connect to the NSS conference themes are welcome. The submission deadline is April 20, 2025. Learn more and submit your contribution here.
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Science, solutions, and support shared at youth Climate Leadership Summit
On February 27 over 400 students in 8th through 12th grades from 19 Northern Colorado schools attended the Climate Leadership Summit. This event, organized by the Sustainable Living Association in partnership with CSU's Impact MBA, and the School of Global Environmental Sustainability aimed to equip the future generation with optimism and ideas to solve the world's problems. Learn more about the summit here.
| | Interdisciplinary Credentials | | |
Please help us spread the word about our interdisciplinary credentials. For our minors, visit the SoGES education and training webpage to learn more, download the minor course check sheets, and set up an advising appointment. Information on the Climate Change and Society certificate is here; contact Sarah Badding for more information. We made this slide to share with your classes; please help us inform students about these offerings.
Climate Change and Society Certificate *NEW*
Students enrolled in this certificate will be introduced to the major implications of climate change on people and earth systems with the purpose of building a person's climate change literacy, empowering them to reduce impacts of climate change, and giving students awareness of climate change mitigation/adaptation strategies to bring to their workplaces.
Global Environmental Sustainability Minor (GES)
Our flagship minor, the GES program provides a deep understanding of the complexity surrounding the problems we face and the solutions that we need to implement to address climate change, biodiversity, pollution, public health, oceans, food security, and development on a global scale.
Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM)
Jointly offered by the Colorado Water Center and SoGES, this minor focuses on water issues from social, political, economic, and ecological perspectives. Students gain knowledge of the complexities of water use and management.
Sustainable Energy Minor (SEM)
Jointly offered by the CSU Energy Institute and SoGES, this minor focuses on the many dimensions of sustainable energy and breaking down traditional barriers that separate the science and engineering of energy from the social, economic, and political aspects of energy.
| | Student Sustainability Center | | | |
Housed at SoGES, the Student Sustainability Center (SSC) is a university-wide, student-run organization that empowers students to advance sustainability practices and principles on and beyond CSU’s campus. For more information and to get involved, email sscdirector@colostate.edu
| | Building a Sustainable Future | | 108 Johnson Hall | Fort Collins, CO 80523-1036 | | | | |
