Time to register for courses? Consider taking sustainability courses or courses that include sustainability! The Office of Sustainability tracks these courses for the University.
Office of Sustainability
Updates
The Office of Sustainability will have variable in-person hours for the indefinite future, but is open virtually during normal business hours. Please subscribe to our for monthly updates or email sustainability@ohio.edu with questions.
What is Sustainability
花季传媒 defines sustainability as the capacity to simultaneously benefit people, the planet and prosperity now and in the future. Life-cycle analysis, life-cycle costing, social financial proxies, and multi-criteria decision analyses are tools that are used to evaluate sustainability. Also used at 花季传媒 is a popular but less actionable definition, adapted from the Bruntland definition of sustainable development: sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Mission
花季传媒鈥檚 Office of Sustainability facilitates the implementation of the 花季传媒 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan by providing services and support to the campus community and ensures fulfillment of institutional commitments to environmental, social and economic well-being.
Give $25, Get an Acorn
This year for Giving Day (April 9), we're giving a Red Oak acorn from a College Green tree to anyone who donates $25 to the Office of Sustainability.
News and Announcements
A botanical breakthrough: OHIO undergradua...
September 18, 2025
When Collin Thacker began studying wildlife biology, he never expected to fall in love with a tiny, often overlooked flower. Now, in his senior year, Thacker has helped identify what may be four entirely new species of violets in the mountains of Virginia, two of them in the heart of Shenandoah National Park.
The discovery is the result of months of meticulous fieldwork, research and mentorship under OHIO professor Harvey Ballard, Ph.D., whose enthusiasm for violets sparked Thacker鈥檚 unexpected botanical journey.
鈥淒r. Ballard and his infinite passion for violets is just incredibly contagious,鈥 Thacker said. 鈥淲hen I began my time with Dr. Ballard, I couldn鈥檛 pick out a violet in a field full of them. But he was so knowledgeable and helpful that I found it pretty easy to catch on.鈥
Thacker鈥檚 work has focused on the collection, observation and cultivation of violet species in the wild. As part of his research, he has spent countless hours identifying subtle morphological differences, or traits, that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Environmental studies graduate completes 1...
September 18, 2025
After she graduated from 花季传媒 in May 2025, Helena Karlstrom had a busy summer.
Her summer wasn鈥檛 filled with job interviews or an internship, though, instead, she spent it in the wilds of Northern Minnesota and Canada. The Honors Tutorial College and Environmental Studies 尘补箩辞谤鈥攁苍诲 Voinovich Undergraduate Research Scholar鈥攋oined three friends in an all-female crew, dubbed the , for an epic 1,200-mile canoe trip to highlight stewardship of public lands and to inspire young girls to engage in paddle sports.
The entire trip took 85 days, starting at the Grand Portage near Lake Superior, through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), one of the most remote nature areas in North America, then onto Lake Winnipeg before ending at the southern mouth of Hudson Bay in central Manitoba. The conditions were rugged, with volatile weather and whipping winds constantly dictating their daily route. They had to navigate through open water, canoeing through choppy waves and navigating rapids on certain rivers. And they did all of this while carrying 115-pound bags of gear.
Secondhand Style, First-Class Impact: Move...
August 27, 2025
Join us for a two-day sustainability-focused event invites students, faculty, and the local community to explore an eclectic mix of secondhand treasures while supporting local organizations and promoting eco-conscious living.
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, October 29
7:00 PM 鈥 9:00 PM
Athena Cinema
Wednesday, November 12
7:00 PM 鈥 8:30 PM
Athena Cinema
Office of Sustainability Featured Programs
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Climate & Sustainability Ambassadors
The Climate and Sustainability Ambassadors program is an initiative of the Sustainable Administration Hub. The Ambassadors are an energetic and enthusiastic group of students who assist in the implementation of the 花季传媒 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. You can find them leading the Earth Day Sustainability Parade; instructing Bobcats fans on proper disposal of game day waste; teaching in the local middle schools; labeling our storm drains with "drains to river" markers; and more!
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Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP)
The Sustainability Tracking and Evaluation Program (STEP) is a sustainability certification program which aims to recognize departments or offices across campus for their sustainable efforts, whether they be existing practices or new changes.
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Sustainability Project Laboratory
Students, do you need an idea for a course project or thesis? Faculty, are you looking for project ideas for a project-based course? Our Sustainability Project Laboratory may have the projects you are looking for! These projects are designed to advance goals in the 花季传媒 Sustainability & Climate Action Plan while providing experiential and/or community-engaged learning opportunties for students.
Sustainability Hubs
We welcome participants to our Sustainability Hubs! The dates and topics for the Hub Seminar Series can be found on the . For more information, please or visit our Hub webpages. For other sustainability events, please visit the , and search using the keyword "sustainability."