The NC State Sustainability Fund has awarded $176,703 in grants to 13 sustainability projects on campus.
The Fund, which is generated by a $2.50 per semester student fee, is managed by a student-run Advisory Board that reviews grant proposals from the campus community. Grants are awarded annually to sustainability projects that have high student impact and help the university advance sustainability.
The projects selected for funding during the 2022-2023 academic year are:
- A project led by the Sustainability Stewards to create an outdoor terrace garden at Talley Student Union that will educate students about pollinator-friendly plants
- A project by NC State Athletics to fund a student internship that will coordinate the transition of gameday scripts and information from print to a new digital-only process
- A project by Grounds Services to grow perennial plants for use in campus landscapes
- The development of an inaugural climate leaders symposium on campus that will engage students and others in sustainable climate change solutions
- A project to install two water bottle refilling stations in the Wilson College of Textiles Building that will encourage use of reusable water bottles
- A project to create and distribute education magnets about campus recycling and composting guidelines to students
- A project to install additional edible plants and other infrastructure at the student-led SOL Garden, which is located in Parents Park on West Campus.
- A project that supports new student internships at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm, where students will facilitate events, workshops and other student engagement activities
- A research and engagement project at the campus Compost Facility and Research Cooperative, where students will monitor microbial composition of compost and create educational and engagement activities for students to learn more about campus composting
- A project by the student chapter of Engineers Without Borders to implement a hydroponics system at Interfaith Food Shuttle, which donates produce to the Feed the Pack Food Pantry and other community organizations
- A project to enhance the existing educational orchard at the NC State Agroecology Education Farm
- A habitat preservation project that will engage undergraduate student researchers in the development of a landscape plan to preserve a campus habitat for ground-nesting bees
- The construction of three hiking trails at Lake Raleigh Woods that will add additional outdoor academic and recreational opportunities on campus
The next request for proposals for Sustainability Fund grants will be issued in the Fall 2022 semester. Learn more at the Sustainability Fund website.
Also on the Sustainability Fund website, students can apply to join the Sustainability Fund Advisory Board for the 2022-2023 academic year. The Board is seeking to fill several student positions.