Sustainability stories from the greater USC community in Los Angeles, the media and other organizations.
Raising the Stakes of Sustainability
As a graduating master’s student researching carbon capture and clean energy production, Aadish Panchmia is determined to make a difference.
An Adventurer’s Approach to Academic Achievement
Natalia Ratner, a graduating student studying environmental engineering, has combined a superstar academic career with experience in community teaching and sustainable farming.
Harnessing the Power of Ocean Energy
Sophie Beitel, a graduating student studying environmental engineering, is helping to design and build a deep-sea battery.
From Sea to Space: NASA preps for moon missions at Wrigley Marine Science Center
NASA has long used underwater training to simulate the zero-gravity environment of outer space.
In His Element: Ariel Nehoray ’25 fuses passions for chemistry and the environment
Graduating senior Ariel Nehoray talks about charting his own path through the USC Environmental Studies Program.
USC Wrigley Institute selects fellows for 2025 Storymakers program
Established researchers from the UK and across North America will complete a weeklong intensive in environmental storytelling.
Fire and Water: USC Viterbi Magazine
Read stories of engineering resilience in the midst of fires, drought and climate change.
Let It Flow: Building the World’s Largest Recycling Plant ― in Orange County
USC Viterbi alumnus Michael Markus oversaw the facility’s design and construction, ensuring a reliable water supply to a parched county.
How to Build a More Resilient City of Angels
From 3D printing houses to retardant firing artillery, USC Viterbi engineers offer 10 potential solutions for the future.
Sydnee Yu named USC Price School valedictorian
Yu connects art to climate change and urban planning – while being a good role model for her little sisters.
Science in the Studio: Experimental photography exhibit captures hidden side of water pollution
A scientist’s fieldwork and an artist’s vision come together to tell a story of environmental impact.
USC’s sustainability initiatives produce remarkable results
EARTH MONTH: The practical action USC has taken to become more sustainable is making a real impact. Read the story and watch the videos.
USC Researchers Develop Plastic Substitute from Mineral Found in Seashells
Biomedical engineers at USC Viterbi have created a new biocompatible material that is safe for marine life and avoids harmful microplastics.
Making climate action “cheaper, faster, better”
Climate investor, former presidential candidate and best-selling author Tom Steyer has had a career spanning many disciplines, but at the core of his work is a relentless commitment to climate action, which he sees as both a necessity and a historic economic opportunity.
- USC celebrates environmentalism and art at the annual Arts & Climate Collective festival
Murals, music, and locally-grown food were showcased to display the importance of environmentalism. - Recap of event: How to be a Sustainable Trojan
To celebrate Earth Month, USC Staff Assembly invited Lilian Ledesma from the USC Office of Sustainability to present on How to be a Sustainable Trojan. - Powering Up Lithium Valley
Southern California’s Imperial Valley is a region of economic distress and environmental trauma. Can untapped lithium reserves near the Salton Sea fuel a clean-energy economy — and a more prosperous future? - Housing 10x Symposium Will Respond to Housing and Climate Crises
On April 11, 2025, USC School of Architecture will host the symposium, Housing 10x: A Platform to Accelerate Innovative Responses to the Housing and Climate Crises. - USC Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab and Greif Center Host Pitch Contest Aimed at Global Impact
At USC’s Hult Prize Competition, students presented ideas toward United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for a chance at $1 million. - New USC Graduate Program to Train Tomorrow’s Energy Technology Leaders
USC Viterbi launches a unique multidisciplinary MS in Energy Engineering for students who are passionate about solving our critical global challenges in energy transition. - Study: Extreme Heat May Speed Up Aging in Older Adults
People in neighborhoods that experience more days of high heat show faster aging at the molecular level than residents of cooler regions, say USC researchers. - Sustainability leader Chris Boone installed as USC Price dean
During Monday’s event, USC Price’s new dean gave credit to a family that taught him the value of higher education. - Coastal erosion threatens this ancient city — and others much closer to home
USC research on the vanishing coastlines of Alexandria, Egypt, offers nature-based solutions for protecting coastal cities globally, including those in California. - How the oil industry and growing political divides turned climate change into a partisan issue
The climate policy pendulum is swinging back again with Trump in office. Money, lobbying and talking about red vs. blue states all play a role in the political and public divide. - Could Crowdsourcing Hold the Key to Early Wildfire Detection?
USC researchers develop low-cost wildfire detection system to accurately detect wildfires minutes—even seconds—after they ignite.