An interdisciplinary group of faculty members from UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative attended the recent United Nations global climate summit, aka COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, where they observed progress being made — but also missed opportunities.

Fifty students from Lowell High School and Greater Lawrence Technical High School, along with their teachers, learned about plastics recycling and environmental sustainability during the Plastics Sustainability Forum, held recently at the Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center on North Campus.

More than 6 tons of appliances, electronics, batteries and more were collected at Fall into Recycling, a popular waste diversion program that contributed to UMass Lowell being named a Top 10 Zero Waste Campus by the Post-Landfill Action Network.

The university has installed eight solar-powered streetlights along the new Northern Canal Overlook on East Campus — one of the city’s busiest areas for foot traffic. The lampposts were funded in part by a $10,000 grant from the Lowell Green Community Partnership, an alliance between UML and the city.

The Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy has awarded 2021-22 fellowships to Assoc. Prof. of Electrical and Computer Engineering Cordula Schmid, Analytical Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Elizabeth Farrell and chemical engineering major Andrew Parker.

An interdisciplinary team of UML faculty, led by Assoc. Profs. Meg Sobkowicz-Kline and Chris Hansen, have received a nearly $3 million National Science Foundation Research Traineeship award for a new graduate student program focused on developing sustainable materials and chemicals that won’t harm water resources.

Science education can help slow the pace of global warming, because people who understand climate science can make informed decisions, says Education Assoc. Prof. Jill Hendrickson Lohmeier. Lohmeier does research on using artwork in informal settings to educate the public about climate science.

Assoc. Prof. Kelsey Mangano, a nutrition researcher, says that the health of the planet and our own health go hand in hand – and that by improving one, we can improve the other.

Returning students will notice several changes across campus this fall, including the new Global and Professional Studies Center opposite University Crossing, refurbished instructional and research labs, and the addition of outdoor amenities such as hammocks, Adirondack chairs and covered bike racks.

UMass Lowell, in partnership with the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology in Boston, has received a $241,300 grant from the Commonwealth to develop academic pathways that increase the participation of underrepresented populations in the offshore wind industry.

“Integrating Climate Change into the K-12 Classroom,” a free professional development workshop hosted by EEAS Assoc. Teaching Prof. Lori Weeden and the university’s Climate Change Initiative, showed teachers how they can address the topic through a variety of educational lenses.

Through an ongoing partnership with a local nonprofit, the university last month installed 500 growing containers for herbs, vegetables, and flowers covering the 2,300-square-foot mezzanine roof at O’Leary Library on South Campus.

A new rooftop garden of 500 herb, flower and vegetable plants has taken root at O’Leary Learning Commons on South Campus, the latest piece of UMass Lowell’s Urban Agriculture Program — a collaboration between the Office of Sustainability and Mill City Grows.

Hammock gardens, Adirondack chairs and patio heaters are just some of the amenities the university is adding to improve outdoor spaces for when students return to campus in the fall.

Transportation engineering graduate student Jenna Howard ’19 is leading the design of UML’s Pawtucket Greenway project through her work as a transportation infrastructure designer for the civil engineering firm TEC.

The Lowell Green Community Partnership, an alliance between UMass Lowell and the city, awarded its first $50,000 in grants to five joint university-community projects that advance urban sustainability initiatives.

With the collaboration between UMass Lowell’s Office of Sustainability and its Athletic Department serving as a model, the America East Conference has created a sustainability network that gives its 10 member institutions an opportunity to share best practices and advance green initiatives.

UMass Lowell was named “Innovator of the Year” at the first-ever Casella Sustainability Leadership Awards for the new and creative ways that the university sustains resources and diverts waste destined for landfills.

A plan to boost ridership on Lowell’s city buses won the second annual Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy Climate Mitigation Challenge, which asks students to find ways to reduce CO2 emissions by 10,000 pounds in 10 weeks.

Environmental Science Prof. Juliette Rooney-Varga, director of UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative, says we must depolarize the politics of climate change — an issue that President Biden has made a top priority in his new administration.

UMass Lowell’s Climate Change Initiative, in partnership with the Environmental, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department and the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy, is hosting a virtual spring seminar series featuring experts from across the country.

Mechanical Engineering Prof. and Dept. Chair Christopher Niezrecki has been named the 2020 Distinguished University Professor for exemplary teaching, research and service to the university.

Using centralized building management technology, Facilities Management keeps fresh, outside air flowing in classrooms, labs, offices and residential halls on campus, which helps prevent the possible spread of COVID-19.

The Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy has awarded its inaugural fellowships to Asst. Prof. of Economics Kelly Hellman, plastics engineering major Kerry Candlen and chemical engineering major Maria Fonseca-Guzman.

UMass Lowell has received a $100,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources to develop a campus-wide renewable energy master plan that will help advance the university’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

A new honors seminar that helps students think critically about different sources of energy is inspiring research involving renewables, including projects at UMass Lowell’s Haiti Development Studies Center.

The Pawtucket Greenway, a collaboration between UML and the City of Lowell that will connect South and East campuses with a continuous, shared-use pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists, got a boost from a pair of state grants.

UMass Lowell is No. 16 on Sierra magazine’s “Cool Schools” list for 2020, the university’s highest ranking ever in a survey that assesses colleges’ performances on everything from sustainability-focused courses, carbon-neutral energy and land policies, eco-friendly dining halls and student engagement.

By taking simple steps like turning off unneeded computers and lights and adjusting air conditioners during peak periods of energy demand, UML faculty and staff helped the university reduce its projected utility bill by $180,000 for the coming year.

Environmental science students from the Kennedy College of Sciences led free educational sessions on Zoom for middle and high school students who, like them, are stuck at home because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The university is advancing its sustainability and cost-saving goals through new partnerships and programs with its utility provider, National Grid, doubling both its electric vehicle charging stations and its incentives for energy efficiency.

As food insecurity grows because of the coronavirus pandemic, the university’s Urban Agriculture Program is helping to provide fresh, healthy produce to the community through its partnership with Mill City Grows.

Graduate students from the Francis College of Engineering’s Solar Energy Association are helping the community by inspecting the city of Lowell’s solar-powered parking meter kiosks as part of an extracurricular service-learning project.

This month the City of Lowell and the university announced the Green Community Partnership — an alliance committed to driving down the carbon footprint of the Mill City.

Three student projects proposing ways to reduce the university community’s carbon dioxide emissions by 10,000 pounds in 10 weeks received the first-ever Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy (RISE) Student Innovation Awards and a share of $1,000 in prize money.

Faculty and student researchers examined what the state must do to incorporate renewable energy sources into the electrical grid to reduce carbon emissions in “The State of Grid Energy Storage in Massachusetts,” a report commissioned by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

The commonwealth of Massachusetts recognized UMass Lowell for its sustainability efforts across campus with a 2019 Leading by Example award, which Chancellor Jacquie Moloney accepted at a State House ceremony. 

The National Science Foundation recently recognized Asst. Prof. Hsi-Wu Wong of the Department of Chemical Engineering with a prestigious faculty early career development grant, called the “CAREER” award. This highly competitive annual program selects the nation’s best young university faculty-scholars “who most effectively integrate research and education within the context of the mission of their organization.”

UMass Lowell has dedicated Perry Hall Plaza, a new greenspace that is the latest step in the university’s work to further enhance the the beauty and sustainability of the campus.

UMass Lowell today announced it is establishing the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy to bring together the university’s numerous efforts in areas from clean energy and energy resiliency to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and water use.

Brian Rist, a member of the college’s class of 1977, offered the largest singular gift in UMass Lowell history and was recognized for his charity with the establishment of the Rist Institute for Sustainability and Energy.

The Office of Sustainability held its first Sustainable Move-In event on campus, collecting 62 large trash bags of plastic foam and enough cardboard to fill four large dumpsters.

Rover the River Hawk, an Industrial Capstone Senior Design project that Engineering students are building to clean debris from the city’s canals, received a Green Design award from the Lowell Sustainability Council and a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan.

The university’s waste reduction efforts ranked fifth in the 2019 Sustainable Campus Index, up five spots from the previous year. The university’s Urban Agriculture Program was also highlighted in the index, which is published by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

The UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative, in conjunction with the National Association of Geoscience Teachers and the College of Education, hosted a professional development workshop for two dozen area K-12 teachers on incorporating climate change education into the classroom. 

Students donated more than 14,000 pounds of clothing, bedding, food and personal items during this spring’s Sustainable Move Out Donation Drive, which benefitted a half-dozen nonprofit organizations across the community.

From grazing sheep to battery-powered lawn mowers, Grounds Operations Manager Erik Shaw is coming up with innovative ways to maintain the campus grounds – and help boost the university’s sustainability efforts.

Faculty, staff and students dropped off more than 6 tons of personal electronics, appliances and more during April’s two-day Spring Into Recycling event, run by the Office of Sustainability and Information Security.

The university’s Climate Change Initiative hosted members of the state’s House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change for a roundtable discussion on climate science and policy at which faculty members shared scientific research and expertise to help inform policy decisions.

Rows of kale, Swiss chard and collard greens are growing on the new Green Roof vegetable garden at University Crossing, a collaboration between Mill City Grows and UML’s Urban Agriculture Program, Student Government Association and Office of Sustainability.

The university marked two major milestones at its Earth Day celebration: the completion of its $23.1 million Accelerated Energy Program and its latest STARS Gold rating, which moves UML into the top 10 nationally.

UMass Lowell and the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) celebrated the completion of the university's $23.1 million Accelerated Energy Program (AEP) at a ceremony Monday.

Six of the 12 projects to receive a share of the $50,000 Sustainability Encouragement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund this year were led by students, the most in the fund’s three-year history.

The River Hawk Shop now gives customers recyclable paper bags instead of single-use plastic bags, a move that will eliminate around 10,000 plastic bags from the waste stream each year. 

The 2018 David Lustick Climate Change Teach-In, “Invisibilities: Seeing and Unseeing the Anthropocene,” explored how images can both shape and obscure our understanding of climate and environment. It was organized by Assoc. Prof. of Art History Kirsten Swenson as part of the IDEA Leadership Grant Initiative.

Chancellor Jacquie Moloney signed the Universal Declaration of Humankind Rights and Duties, which says humans have a responsibility to protect the environment for future generations. UMass Lowell is the first U.S. university to sign the accord.

Marjorie Yang, chair of the $1 billion Hong Kong-based textile company Esquel Group, visited campus and talked to students about sustainability and social responsibility. Her father, Y.L. Yang, earned a master of science in textile chemistry from the Lowell Textile Institute in 1948.

The university planted 25 mature trees and shrubs behind Allen House on South Campus, all donated by the Lowell Parks & Conservation Trust via a $10,000 grant from TD Bank.

The new Cumnock Marketplace offers more food options and provides students on North Campus with a comfortable place to spend time between classes.

UMass Lowell has climbed to No. 22 in Sierra magazine’s annual “Cool Schools” ranking of North America’s greenest colleges and universities.

Linens, blankets and towels donated during Spring Move Out have returned to campus as good as new and are available to students in need, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Office of Sustainability, Student Affairs and the nonprofit organization Grad Bag.

Tyler Lagasse just brought home his third silver medal in golf from the Special Olympics USA games. An author and motivational speaker with autism spectrum disorder, Lagasse will keynote the 50th anniversary celebration of Special Olympics at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in September.

The university is piloting a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program this summer, a joint initiative between the Office of Sustainability, the Center for Public Opinion and Mill City Grows, to lay the foundation for a self-sustaining CSA at the university while also providing research opportunities.

With more visibility and space, the university’s new Outdoor Center and Bike Shop is better equipped to keep pace with students’ growing interest in cycling and recreational programs.

Spring Move Out yielded a record haul from students, with 16,500 pounds of clothing, household goods and nonperishable food items collected by the Office of Sustainability and donated to local nonprofits.

Compost generated from the university’s dining hall food waste is now available for purchase by the bag, thanks to a new pilot program run by the Office of Sustainability.

A team of MBA and MSBA students represented the Manning School of Business at the Net Impact MBA sustainability case competition in Connecticut.

Earth Day is observed every April 22 across the globe to raise awareness about environmental protection and sustainability. But in Lowell, the celebration is bigger than just a single day.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a group of UMass Lowell student researchers a “P3” grant to develop an innovative technology that would turn seafood waste into fertilizer.

Ten projects led by students, faculty and staff received more than $50,000 in support from the university’s Sustainability Encouragement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund, which saw a jump in applications in its second year.

Mechanical engineer students, led by senior lecturer Michele Putko, are helping improve energy efficiency at the Lowell Transitional Living Center through an independent study project funded by a mini-grant from the university’s Sustainability Encouragement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund.

Students, faculty and staff are averaging more than 10,000 free bus rides each month, thanks to the university’s growing collaboration with the LRTA and MVRTA.

The LEED Gold-certified Pulichino Tong Business Building received the Green Design Award from the City of Lowell as part of its annual Sustainable Lowell Awards.

The new Pulichino Tong Business Center became the second building on campus to receive LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized the university’s food waste reduction efforts for the third straight year, while the university’s “Fall Into Recycling” diverted 7,000 pounds of electronics from landfills.

UMass Lowell was among eight urban agriculture projects from across the Commonwealth to share in more than $343,000 in state grants, which were announced at the ceremonial opening of the Urban Agriculture Greenhouse on East Campus.

Mill City Grows unveiled its new greenhouse, part of a partnership with UMass Lowell, to be able to extend its growing season, bringing fresh, healthy produce to Lowell residents even during long chills.

The eighth annual David Lustick Climate Change Teach-In at Cumnock Hall focused on community involvement and student interaction.

The university’s new Urban Agriculture Greenhouse, run in partnership with Mill City Grows, will be a testing ground for water and energy efficiency — while also providing food for the local community.

UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative Director Juliette Rooney-Varga received a three-year, $340,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to study whether college students who are exposed to the World Climate Simulation are more likely to become engaged with sustainability issues on campus.

Nine student, faculty and staff projects were awarded a share of the university’s first $50,000 Sustainability Encouragement & Enrichment Development (S.E.E.D.) Fund, which supports environmental sustainability initiatives that make a positive impact on the student experience.

Thirty student volunteers, led by juniors Zayna Basma and Maya Chin, collected, sorted and delivered more than 5 tons of move-out donations to local nonprofit organizations this spring.

What happens to all those colorful posters advertising events across campus every semester? The Office of Sustainability and Office Services repurpose them into sturdy notepads.

The Manning School of Business begins a new era with the opening of the $47 million Pulichino Tong Business Center.

The Bike UMass Lowell program offers students, faculty and staff an ever-expanding menu of resources, classes and riding opportunities to help them cycle safely.

Assoc. Prof. Juliette Rooney-Varga and members of the university’s Climate Change Initiative led a legislative briefing at the State House on “Meeting the Climate and Energy Challenge,” introducing their interactive simulation to policymakers.

Gina McCarthy, former head of the Environmental Protection Agency and an architect of the university’s Toxics Use Reduction Institute, encouraged students to be environmentally minded during a guest lecture at O’Leary Learning Commons.

Students working in the TURI Lab helped the campus bike shop adopt cleaning products that are safer for the environment and workers.

Students, faculty and staff who rely on public transportation to get to campus appreciate the university’s new partnership with the LRTA and MVRTA, which lets them ride buses for free.

The UMass Lowell Police Department has added a Nissan LEAF electric vehicle to its fleet through the Massachusetts Electric Vehicle Incentive Program.

The EcoSonic Playground, a research project led by Asst. Prof. Elissa Johnson-Green and visiting lecturer Christopher Lee, brings musical play to underserved communities while teaching kids STEM skills as they build their own musical playground structures from recycled materials.

Crossroads Café at University Crossing has been recognized as a “3 Star Certified Green Restaurant” by the Green Restaurant Association.

At the university’s 2016 National and International Partnerships in Sustainability Workshop, a broad range of attendees collaborated on existing initiatives — and explored new ones.

The university earns gold rating from Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, becoming one of three institutions in the state to reach that level.

With four UMass Lowell buildings recognized for advanced energy and environmental design, it was the perfect hub for the state on Thursday to announce a milestone for energy-efficient state buildings.

New solar panels on the South Campus parking garage will nearly double the university’s solar power production and slash its annual electric bill by $31,000, just one of several energy-saving projects completed this summer.

McGauvran Dining Hall has been certified as the university’s first “Green Restaurant” by a national nonprofit organization that promotes environmental responsibility.

The UMass system’s move to divest from direct fossil fuel holdings is a personal victory for senior biology major Sabrina Pedersen, president of the Climate Change Coalition.

The Center for Irish Partnerships at UMass Lowell co-sponsored the Irish Diaspora Conference in Donegal, Ireland, where co-director Frank Talty addressed the U.S. presidential race.

Students donated more than 14,000 pounds of clothing, furniture and miscellaneous dorm room items during spring move-out, which the Office of Sustainability provided to local charities.

Students in Assoc. Prof. Juliette Rooney-Varga’s climate change course produce one-minute PSA videos on the plight of Earth, which are screened at Lowell Eco-Film Series.

From more locally sourced food options, to Green Restaurant Certification for South Campus Dining, University Dining is making big strides when it comes to sustainability.

This year, thanks to more than two dozen community partners including UMass Lowell, Lowell is dedicating the entire month of April to eco-conscious activities and educational events as part of Lowell Earth Day Celebration 2016.

Thanks to Prof. John Wooding's creative economy grant, the university is partnering with more than two dozen community groups for the monthlong Lowell Earth Day Celebration 2016.

The university expands its fleet of Zipcars on campus to 10, making it even easier for students, faculty and staff to rent a vehicle by the hour or by the day.