Sustainability stories from the greater USC community in Los Angeles, the media, and other organizations.
- USC OORI Awards Seven Faculty-led Proposals under the President’s Sustainability Initiative AwardBy implementing impactful sustainability initiatives across USC’s campuses, these awardees have not only enhanced our research strengths but also paved the way for a more sustainable future.
- A Ticking Toxic Time BombNew study sheds light on how a coastal, microscopic creature may become deadlier in our changing climate.
- Study finds extreme temperature swings hit minority, low-income communities hardestNew USC Dornsife research reveals that the nation’s marginalized groups face greater health risks from daily temperature variations than wealthier white populations.
- Ph.D. Student Tackles the Environmental Impact of Spacecraft Re-EntryJosé P. Ferreira, a doctoral candidate in astronautical engineering, has received the prestigious Space for Sustainability Award from the European Space Agency (ESA).
- Airborne Technology Developed at USC Brings New Hope to Map Shallow Aquifers in Earth’s Most Arid DesertsAirborne sounding radars can perform comprehensive mapping within a few hours compared to existing in-situ methods that would take a few years.
- Nina Weithorn ’24 is the 2024 Graduate National Olmsted Scholar Honor RecipientThe financial award will fund Nina Weithorn’s project on the Allensworth Agricultural Experiment Station, which deals with food justice, soil remediation, and cultural resilience.
- Former US presidential advisor and alumnus returns to campus to spark clean tech innovationWith extensive experience that includes service in the U.S. Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, David Livingston ’10 gives students a new take on environmentalism in his role as USC Dornsife’s inaugural innovation and sustainability practitioner in residence.
- Environmental Studies majors nurture vibrant gardens and bright mindsUndergraduate students intern with the Garden School Foundation to provide nature-based education to elementary schoolers.
- Ocean-inspired tech could speed up carbon capture from shipsNew technology from USC and Caltech could significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the global shipping industry.
- Wrigley Institute celebrates Earth Month 2024This April, we collaborated with USC Dornsife College, USC Office of Sustainability, USC Center for the Political Future, the Environmental Student Assembly, and more.
- Beach erosion will make Southern California coastal living five times more expensive by 2050, USC study predictsThe region’s sandy coastlines are vanishing at an alarming rate. It’s a warning sign for coastal communities worldwide, USC research suggests.
- Class of ’24 Spotlight on Riffath Sultana HidayathullahRiffath is dedicated to designing disaster-resilient and humanitarian architecture, using it as a tool for social empowerment and impact.
- Class of ‘24 Spotlight on Calder ScarpaGraduating with a Bachelor of Architecture, Calder Scarpa harnessed the value of interdisciplinary studies by exploring the relationship between food and architecture.
- Using State-of-the-Art Tools to Cocreate a Future for the LA RiverImagine restoring a 51-mile-long concrete river—running through the heart of the Los Angeles Basin in California—into a vibrant corridor reconnecting fractured communities and ecosystems.
- Class of ‘24 Spotlight on Anna Avdalyan“Sometimes, a simple shift in perspective or scale can unveil solutions. I’m passionate about material activism because we can’t ignore the consequences of our material choices any longer.”
- 2024 Research Symposium Focused on Resilient FuturesOn Thursday, April 11, USC School of Architecture hosted the annual Research Symposium on “Resilient Futures: Bridging Tradition and Innovation in the Living Environment.”
- Video: Celebrating 30 years of the USC Environmental Studies Program with Karla Heidelberg and Jill SohmIn honor of this milestone, we sat down at USC’s new Sustainability Hub for a chat between former ENST director Karla Heidelberg and current ENST director Jill Sohm as they reflect on the first 30 years of the program and share their vision for the next 30!
- Sharing Untold Stories: Ph.D. student Amber Santoro highlights community impacts of freeway constructionInaugural USC Libraries Sustainability Fellow curates digital exhibit to spotlight community displacement during L.A.’s heyday of freeway construction.
- BioFlare Wins The 2024 Min Family ChallengeThe USC student startup is developing a device that would transform most organic food waste into cooking gas and reduce indoor pollution for millions.
- Win Aung is Named on the Metropolis Future 100 ListUSC School of Architecture student Win Aung ‘24 has been named to the prestigious 2024 Metropolis Future 100 List, recognizing the top graduating architecture and interior design students in the United States and Canada.
- Talking about mental health in climate spacesThe climate crisis can make our current times feel quite challenging, especially if you are a young person trying to deal with all the other pressures in your life: school, work, interpersonal relationships.
- Media Panel: Transportation in LA with Nick Andert and Rachel UrangaOn April 11th, 2024, USC ITE had the pleasure of welcoming two transportation media professionals to our campus for a media panel discussion about transportation in Los Angeles.
- Recap of event: How to be a Sustainable TrojanTo celebrate Earth Day, USC Staff Assembly invited Lilian Ledesma from the USC Office of Sustainability to present on How to be a Sustainable Trojan.
- Keck Medical Center of USC receives sustainability awardOn April 17, the 2024 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Awards recognized Keck Medical Center of USC for finding a way to save over 1.7 million gallons of water in a single year.
- USC Wrigley Institute Selects 2024 StorymakersThe USC Wrigley Institute for Environment and Sustainability is pleased to announce the 2024 cohort of Wrigley Institute Storymakers fellows.