Sustainability stories from the greater USC community in Los Angeles, the media, and other organizations.
- USC shares approaches to measuring sustainability literacy
USC presented results from annual population survey on sustainability at higher education conference. - Peace garden brings community greenery
University volunteers maintain a plot of land near the Shrine Auditorium to promote sustainability and wellness. - 2022 Tyler Prize awardee connects climate change to human health
Sir Andy Haines wins USC award for environmental achievement. - Green Slack workspace connects students and sustainability
The “Supdate” group provides members with handpicked sustainability opportunities, information and events geared toward students. - Price alum uses drones to reforest land
Tomio Daumit created a project using drones to disperse seeds in targeted forest replanting sites. - Gone and back again: the conundrum of aluminum water bottles
After losing his reusable bottle, Patrick Warren examines the pros and cons of alternatives to single-use plastic water bottles. - It’s not too late to talk about climate change
USC Annenberg’s new Sustainability Desk plans to re-center climate change journalism to be people-first — and wants your input. - USC earns top ratings for sustainability innovations and operations
Environment-friendly groundskeeping and dining services highlighted as part of university’s ambitious sustainability goals. - Becoming a part of DDT history
Environmental Science major Amulya Jasti researches the long-term impacts of pesticide dumping grounds off the Southern California coast. - Executive Order advances sustainable biotechnology
The White House will coordinate biotechnology and biomanufacturing innovations to address climate change and related issues. - Our Communities, Our Bay: preparing our communities for climate change
USC sponsored conference showcases how researchers and community organizations come together to address climate change in the Bay Area. - Student innovator creates sustainable nutrition business
Kyler Caldwell turned personal struggles and a love of baking into a sustainable nutrition bar company — among other ventures. - USG plans free shuttle service to LAX
Under a new plan proposed the student government, USC students would be able to take a free shuttle ride between campus and the LAX airport. - What’s in a photo? The potential to change the planet
A paid internship program by the Wrigley Institute trains students to communicate environmental science research to the public. - In a warmer world, half of all species are on the move
A new computer modeling tool provides a more accurate analysis of species range shifts under climate change – and it’s even bleaker than expected. - New app fights food waste around L.A.
The app allows you to buy surplus food at significant discounts from restaurants and bakeries around Los Angeles. - A warning as a heat wave roasts the U.S. West
Extreme heat wave plus air pollution can be deadly, and the health risk together is worse than either alone. - President Folt shares her excitement about fall semester
In her welcome back message, President Carol L. Folt previews all the new things happening on campus this fall. - Sustainable systems for generating solar fuels
Chemistry Ph.D. student Thabassum Ahammad is developing a sustainable energy technology to replace fossil fuels. - What’s the Temperature?
How a faulty thermometer at the Coliseum became a pet project of Viterbi students and faculty. - Global tsunamis driven by underwater volcanic eruptions
USC researchers track tsunamis to evaluate the impact of climate change on the destructive force. - L.A. County flea markets to check out this semester
Local flea markets are a great opportunity to reuse and recycle everyday goods. - Architecture students work to change their neighborhoods — and the world
USC student-led Architecture + Advocacy program teaches young people civic engagement skills. - Widespread EV adoption remains out of reach for most despite incentives
USC assistant professor Hovig Tchalian explains the challenge of moving to electric vehicles. - The psychology behind accepting climate change misinformation
Lauren Lutzke, Ph.D. candidate, is researching how political ideologies expressed on social media impact the communication of science. - USC complies with new emergency water restrictions
Due to drought conditions in Southern California, USC is expanding water conservation efforts around campus. - Kicking oil companies out of school
Cambridge University is poised to end all funding from fossil fuel companies, building upon divestment movement. - How an aquafarm is saving the environment with oysters and mussels
Innovative shellfish farm demonstrates the benefits of eco-friendly aquaculture to coastal sustainability. - Bigger, hotter fires require new solutions
USC’s Bill Deverell, director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West, says catastrophic wildfires are no longer the exception. - How psychology can help fight climate change—and climate anxiety
American Psychological Association spotlights a surprising tool to help combat climate change: understanding human behavior. - Why routines matter more than conscious choices
Understanding and changing the environment in which habits form is a critical step when approaching major societal challenges such as climate change. - USC helps identify more equitable responses to climate change
Adam Rose participated in a FEMA committee to address the impact of climate change on marginalized communities. - Viterbi offers new minor in innovation and design for global crises
Open to all USC majors, students travel the world and collaborate to find solutions to challenging problems. - Chemical bonds that can lead society to carbon neutrality
USC Chemistry Ph.D. candidate Adam Samuel is researching novel ways to store renewable energy more effectively and sustainably. - Air pollution surges as heatwave sweeps across Europe
Air pollution is spiking in Europe due to the unprecedented heat wave and raising ozone levels to unhealthy levels. - I drank recycled sewage to get a taste of southern California’s water future
LAist writer takes a personal journey into understanding the clean water reclamation process. - Could nuclear desalination plants beat water scarcity?
Floating nuclear-powered vessels equipped with desalination systems could supply fresh water and energy. - Hydrogren Sulfide and Health Infographic
Division of Environmental Health at USC developed an infographic to illustrate the health effects of hydrogen sulfide from urban oil drilling. - Rampant wildfires once led to global mass extinction
Los Angeles Times quotes David Bottjer of USC Dornsife on what the Permian-Triassic mass extinction can teach us. - Developing a zero-carbon method for processing iron ore
USC Ph.D. student Sara Spears shares her experience studying sustainable alternatives for making iron and steel. - EV demand is so hot that Tesla owners are flipping their cars like houses
Lawrence Harris of the USC Marshall School explains how consumers are taking advantage of opportunities. - High heat, heavy smog, a deadly combo
Keck School of Medicine researchers reveal extreme heat and air pollution is not sustainable and lethal to human life. - Single-use plastic waste is getting phased out in California
California signed into law the country’s most sweeping restrictions on single-use plastics and packaging. - Dirty Water in Los Angeles
USC historians uncover L.A.’s long battle over drinking water, irrigation, and development of the Port of Los Angeles. - Water Works and Sustainability
USC Dornsife scholars make a splash as they address challenges centered around water. - Global warming continues long after emissions end
Climate scientist illustrates how carbon dioxide is rapidly raising Earth’s temperature. - Global security master’s program includes environmental studies
New M.A. in Global Security Studies offers a holistic approach to security. - Urban planning can make sustainable cities
Forbes highlighted research by Geoff Boeing of USC Price that looked at eight key indicators for healthy and sustainable cities. - 5 Questions on Sustainability Reporting
USC Marshall’s Richard Sloan discusses the role accountants play in informing investors about a company’s impact on the environment and society. - Hospitality Director Pursues Sustainability Solutions
Heather Heleloa, who is pursuing her online MS in Hospitality and Tourism, is exploring how to create lasting environmental changes in the industry. - Architect Builds Expertise in Equitable, Sustainable Urban Planning
USC Price’s Colin Montoute is an architectural innovator who leads sustainable urban planning projects around the world. - Exposure to air pollution can worsen patient outcomes from COVID-19
Keck School of Medicine study finds a link between exposure to airborne particulates and increased risk of serious coronavirus. - When Will Space Flight Be As Safe as Air Flight?
USC Viterbi adjunct professor Michael Kezirian explains why advancing space safety and sustainability measures advances space exploration. - 2022 Graduate Yun Li Awarded Top PhD Honor for Exemplary Research
Yun Li researches the impact of energy system decarbonization and land surface properties on urban air quality in southern California. - USC Viterbi-Led Team Wins $15 Million NSF Expeditions in Computing Award
U.S. National Science Foundation’s award will fund USC’s work to address scaling challenges and significant power demands in computing. - How do we warn future generations about our toxic waste?
In the New Humanist, USC’s Vincent Ialenti says nuclear energy’s toxic waste requires communicating with people 10,000 years in the future. - Hot Enough for You? Why City Dwellers Say Yes—and What They Can Do About It
As cities get hotter, cooling strategies can combat the dire consequences to our physical and mental well-being. - Class of 2022 Graduate Gets Thrifty in the Startup World
USC graduate Patricia Garcia is winning accolades for her startup company that allows students to sell their used collegiate gear. - New bill aims to limit frenzy of well drilling on California farms
Fran Pavley, environmental policy director at the USC Schwarzenegger Institute, warns that a 2014 well drilling law is being over used. - Fall 2022 course: Sustainability and Self-Care
The course will immerse you in alternative ways to integrate sustainability practices into your daily routine and navigate climate anxiety with balance. - Will the rise of Work From Home improve our health?
USC Schaeffer Center’s Matthew Kahn argues that Work From Home should be extended beyond the pandemic for the health of people and the planet. - California’s water conservation has been a bust so far. Will drought restrictions work?
In Los Angeles Times report, Kelly Sanders of the USC Viterbi School says people are becoming desensitized to drought issues. - USC Basketball wins 2022 Campus Race to Zero Waste competition
The USC Basketball team won a Zero Waste award, in the Game Day Diversion category, for reducing its waste footprint at games. - USC faculty: Latest IPCC report commands action, not words, from policymakers
Climate change is a matter of life and death – at least for humans. That’s one takeaway from the latest U.N. report. - California dystopia: climate change and fiction writers
In this USC Online seminar, climate change experts and fiction writers discuss a California that increasingly resembles science fiction novels. - More water restrictions are coming: how to conserve
Officials are imposing tough water-use restrictions on about 6 million people in southern California. Many are looking for practical ways to conserve. - LA City Council to phase out single-use plastics at city facilities, events
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday (April 27, 2022) to begin phasing out single-use plastics from city facilities and city-sponsored events. The city will also continue to take… - Eating Healthy on Campus
USC WorkWell Center and USC Hospitality created the Healthy Dining on Campus Guide to help you choose healthier food and beverages across campus cafeterias and restaurants. - Energy experts discuss sustainable action at Climate Forward Conference
USC’s Climate Forward 2022 Conference gathered energy and climate change experts for a dialogue on sustainable solutions and actions. - South L.A.’s ‘Gangsta Gardener’ speaks at USC
Environmental activist Ron Finley gave a presentation as part of USC’s Earth Week Celebration. Ron Finley, a self-proclaimed “rebel with a green thumb,” empowered students to be “gangsta gardeners” Wednesday as he… - Viterbi launches new center for energy transition
Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition at the Viterbi School will support researchers as they find solutions to move away from hydrocarbons to renewable energy. - Poll finds Angelenos are alarmed by air pollution, extreme heat and want action
Voters are alarmed by deadly heat waves, destructive wildfires and dangerous air pollution — and want solutions from politicians. - Business students want more sustainability in their curriculum at Marshall
Madeline Robbins (MBA’22) relished the opportunity to sell “greener” products but was frustrated that sales drive decision making and not sustainability. - Test Plot plants (native) seeds for restoration
The ecological restoration project involving faculty and students across the landscape architecture field is an experiment in community-based land stewardship. - USC students clean Alaska air pollution with “Chimney Cherries”
Students are developing solutions to cold-climate air quality in Fairbanks by using special wood stove filters — a literal smoke screen. - Author discusses government land use
UC Hastings College of the Law Emeritus Professor John Leshy hones in on the history of American public lands in his book, “Our Common Ground.” - Tackling climate change and public health with low-tech, sustainable design
As a biologist turned architect, School of Architecture Associate Professor Doris Sung approaches sustainable design in a unique way. - Community explores ways to manage climate anxiety
As the University addresses climate change, psychologists provide help with a sense of despair from the global climate crisis. - Undergraduate Student Government to expand sustainability initiatives
The Undergraduate Student Government hopes to expand and progress on their sustainability initiatives in the 2022-23 year by advocating for recycling bins to be implemented on the Row and calling… - USC’s next step toward carbon neutrality and zero waste: No plastic bottles
With plans to ban plastic bottles and to implement sustainable infrastructure, USC has set an aggressive timeline to reach carbon neutrality. - L.A. County restricts single-use plastics in unincorporated areas
Los Angeles County on Tuesday became the largest government entity to restrict single-use plastic food ware items from restaurants, stores, hospital cafeterias and food trucks. County supervisors finalized an ordinance… - Healthy Planet, Healthy Aging
This Earth Day, it’s important to remember that our health as we age has a lot to do with the health of our environment from the soil to the sky. - Free Metro rides on Earth Day, April 22
Metro will be offering free bus, rail and bike share rides on Earth Day, Friday, April 22 in recognition of public transit’s role in helping improve the environment and reducing… - Resilience Engineer: School of Architecture Alumna takes on sustainable development
USC School of Architecture alumna Brittany Moffett (Master of Building Science ’16, BS Civil ‘14) has found a home at Arup, a mission-driven global engineering and consulting firm committed to… - Public health experts weigh in on the toll of climate change
Scientists in the Keck School of Medicine of USC’s Department of Population and Public Health Sciences are stepping up to evaluate climate change’s impact on human health — particularly for communities already… - How health care can go green
For physician-scientist Howard Hu, the irony is hard to take. The same medical community that makes its mission to improve health also substantially contributes to climate change, a global threat… - USC Dornsife students and alumni aim to cut off the plastic strangle-hold
The world now produces nearly 400 million tons of plastic pollution every year, and each piece takes some 400 years to break down. Less than 10% is recycled. Clearly, we… - USC’s Rima Habre explores how climate-related pollution affects maternal health
One NIEHS grant recipient is taking air pollution research to a new level and expanding knowledge about how climate change-related weather events such as wildfires can affect maternal and infant… - Keck School resources for making health care sustainable
The Keck School of Medicine of USC strives to make health care sustainable through research, improving practices, and awareness of the role medicine plays in contributing to and ameliorating environmental… - USC Earth Week events aim to address climate anxiety and raise awareness
An April 19 workshop, Finding Calm in the Storm: A Workshop on Climate Anxiety and Love for Our Planet, will help reduce your stress and anxiety around climate change. The workshop… - U.N. releases Climate Change 2022 report
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change, released a report on climate change mitigation progress and pledges. In… - Los Angeles County’s Climate Vulnerability Assessment
On April 11, 2022 at 10 am, the USC Schwarzenegger Institute will provide an overview of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, what it means for communities in Los Angeles, and discuss… - Environmental Student Assembly Earth Month Speaker Event
Join the ESA on April 11 at 7 pm for an interactive speech, performance, and Q & A by Pattie Gonian, focused on the importance of increasing queer representation in… - Calculate your impact on the environment
Answer a few questions about your lifestyle, and the Carbon Footprint Calculator will evaluate your carbon emissions and its impact on the Earth. The calculator assesses your personal household consumption,… - How to participate in Earth Week
Earth Week (April 18-22) has many opportunities for you to expand your knowledge, meet people, make connections, share ideas, and take action. Do you want to do something during Earth… - Psychologists’ report counters doom-and-gloom attitudes on climate change
Climate change isn’t an inevitable death sentence, and the discipline of psychology must strengthen its ability to act on the issue, new report says. “Addressing the Climate Crisis: An Action Plan… - Composting in your USC dorm
Currently, I am a student at the University of Southern California (USC) and consider myself lucky to live in a university apartment with a kitchen. At first, I was nervous to… - USC Alumna prioritizes sustainability as California’s State Architect
Ida Clair, USC School of Architecture ’87, was appointed the first female state architect by Governor Gavin Newsom, after serving as acting state architect since January 2019. She joined the… - Can concrete heal itself?
USC Viterbi School of Engineering researchers created a new method for developing self-healing concrete that replaces the natural aggregates (pieces of rock) in concrete with engineered aggregates that contain healing… - Wrigley Institute’s Randall Phelps wins Outstanding Achievement Award
For the last 25 years, Randall Phelps has been a mainstay at Wrigley Institute on Catalina Island, ensuring the smooth operation of crucial facilities and equipment. USC’s Dornsife College recently…