Blog

Earth Month, which is celebrated throughout April, is dedicated to protecting the environment, greening the planet, and promoting mindful treatment of nature. To celebrate, universities across the globe, including FSU, hold a wide variety of events and opportunities to engage and educate students. This year, students and staff from FSU Sustainable Campus had the opportunity to attend the Southeast Student Sustainability Conference at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, which lasted from April 5th to April 7th.

Carnival Season has come to an end, and for those who celebrate you are likely familiar with the celebrations, libations, and all-around FUN that occur during this time until the culmination on Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday). Though observed for centuries all across the world, the celebratory season became famous in none other than the Big Easy–New Orleans, Louisiana. Though my roots are in Florida, I am fortunate enough to have a branch of my family in New Orleans that I have loved visiting for years.

Partner: City of Tallahassee Clean Energy Planning

Project: Tallahassee Solar Audit: Usage and Health

Student: Jonus Goldstein

Partner: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Project: Public Sector Recycling Reporting Program

Student: Kyle Rutter

On April 17th, FSU Sustainable Campus held the inaugural pinning ceremony for students who had completed all three levels of the Sustainability Pathways program. Recognized students completed the Sustainability Citizen badge, acknowledging various extracurricular sustainability involvement around campus and the community, the Sustainability Scholar badge, focusing on sustainability-centric classwork completed, and the Sustainability Leader badge as a final reflection on their experiences. 

Partner: Leon County Office of Sustainability

Project: Update and Refine the GreenMap

Student: Madison Askins

Over the 2024 Spring semester, Madison Askins, a fourth-year undergraduate in Public Health, partnered with the Leon County Office of Sustainability as a Sustainability Fellow. Madison’s project focused on an often overlooked aspect of sustainability in the urban environment: information and access to green spaces. 

The weather is getting weirder. Cold snaps followed by hot days intermixed with rain and storms are becoming the new normal. While in college, there’s a unique set of resources and constraints to consider when trying to decide what you can do to prepare for this wacky weather.

Engage 100 has been meticulously crafted to foster connections, stimulate engagement, and present challenges for students while laying the groundwork for their future success in college. The IDS 1107 course titled "A Student’s Guide to Sustainability" offers an intimate, mentor-guided group setting focused on sustainability. This unique experience aids students in adapting to university life.

In 2010, the Eco-Rep program was founded at Florida State University to learn about environmental advocacy and serve the campus and local Tallahassee community. This peer-to-peer education program engages students with a passion for sustainability and environmental wellness in monthly meetings and campus events, allowing them to build their leadership skills and education in environmentalism. 

The Campus as a Living Laboratory (Living Lab) program is an FSU Sustainable Campus initiative that pairs courses with community partners to give students practical and hands-on experience through multidisciplinary learning and applied research projects. Having a community partner to conduct research for and present final products to is beneficial on both ends, as evident through the Social Media Campaigns course this past fall.