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News & Events

Stay up to date with news, events, efforts, and highlights from Loyola Chicago's School of Environmental Sustainability.

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Thomas Crabtree in waders at LUREC
Students

SES Senior Thomas Crabtree Receives the Loyola President’s Medallion

The Loyola University Chicago President’s Medallion honors one student from each college, school, and institute who excels in leadership, scholarship, and service. This year, the award for the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) went to Thomas Crabtree, a senior from Annapolis, Maryland.

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Emma Pierce kneeling in a garden
Students

Supporting a Robust Food System in Chicago's Woodlawn Neighborhood

In the summer of 2024, Loyola student Emma Pierce embarked on an eye-opening internship experience at First Presbyterian Church of Chicago in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood. The internship is part of the Partners in Chicago Food Systems program, a School of Environmental Sustainability effort that supports local organizations working to increase food sovereignty in Chicago communities.

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Blessing Aleladia standing in a Michigan wetland

Sowing Seeds, Reaping Rewards for the Planet

Graduate student Blessing Aleladia is training to take on global environmental challenges. While pursuing her master's degree in environmental science and sustainability, she is building expertise and experience in the ecological restoration of vital wetland ecosystems.

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A large audience listens to Indigenous Peoples' Day speakers in Damen Student Center
Community Engagement

Loyola Honors Indigenous Peoples' Day

On October 14, over 150 attendees gathered for Loyola University Chicago’s second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day event, hosted by the School of Environmental Sustainability. The event highlighted Indigenous rights and environmental justice.

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Energy Week at Loyola

Loyola's Office of Sustainability will hold its annual energy week from October 14 through 18. The week of events focuses on the university's commitment to green energy and energy conservation. Students, faculty, and staff can participate in the events below or find more sustainability-focused events here.

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Standing Rock Sioux administrative building

A Growing Collaboration Supports Indigenous Environmental Justice

Loyola University Chicago students and faculty are collaborating with leaders of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to advocate for environmental and social justice. The partnership started when Michael Schuck, PhD, introduced a new course on indigenous environmental justice.

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Shifting Gears to a Career in Sustainable Transportation

The SES master's degree program gave Carolyn Bidó the knowledge and skills to make a career change and join the growing sustainability workforce.

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The Energy Transition in Illinois, October 16, 2024, 3:30 p.m.

SES Seminar: The Energy Transition in Illinois

On October 16, the School of Environmental Sustainability will hold a seminar examining the policies and processes behind the transition to renewable energy in Illinois. Anthony Star and Kelly Turner from the Illinois Power Agency (IPA) will shed light on how the state manages electricity procurement, and how the state is increasingly moving toward electricity generated from renewable sources such as wind and solar.

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Loyola Celebrates Transportation Week

This week, Loyola kicks off a year-long series of sustainability events with Transportation Week. It's the first of many weeks focusing on how everyone on campus can help make Loyola sustainable.

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Reuben Keller Receives Faculty Member of the Year Award

Loyola’s Faculty Council presented the 2024 Faculty Member of the Year award to Professor Reuben Keller of the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES). The award recognizes a faculty member demonstrating outstanding teaching, research, and service.

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students installing air quality monitors
Student research

Studying Air Pollution from the Ground Up

Loyola’s Community Air Research Experience (CARE) is engaging students from underrepresented backgrounds in hands-on environmental research and fostering their passion for geoscience. Students collect real-time data about air pollution in the Chicago area and shares their findings with the community.

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Stephany Virrueta Herrera, PhD: Pursuing a Passion for Science Education and Accessibility

A Loyola alum, Stephany Virrueta Herrera, PhD, looks forward to mentoring students and sharing her passion for science in her new role as an SES lecturer. 

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Wesley Zebrowski: Exploring Agriculture, Policy, and the Environment

Wesley Zebrowski, PhD, joined the SES faculty in fall 2024 as an assistant professor. Their research focuses on the economic, social, and environmental consequences of agricultural policy.

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Indigenous People’s Day Event Explores Native American Citizenship

Loyola University Chicago will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 14 with a panel discussion highlighting the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act.

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Research

$2.5 million grant supports Loyola professor studying the shift to solar energy

School of Environmental Sustainability faculty member Gilbert Michaud, PhD is part of a team that received a $2.5 million grant to study the best ways to work with stakeholders to site large solar installations.

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Natalia Szklaruk working in the field sampling small aquatic organisms
Alumni

Spreading Knowledge to Stop Aquatic Invasive Species

Natalia Szklaruk earned her master's degree from Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability in 2023. She now works as an aquatic invasive species educator at Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. She shared her thoughts about how her education prepared her for a career in aquatic ecology and conservation.

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Weslynne Ashton
Events

SES Launches a Seminar Series with a Presentation on Food Systems

This fall, the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) will launch a new seminar series, starting with a presentation on just, equitable, and circular food systems. Over the academic year, SES will host five seminars, with one on each of the school's five focus areas.

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Student Life

Advice to new students from recent graduates

Each August, Loyola University Chicago welcomes new students to campus. Members of the School of Environmental Sustainability’s 2024 graduating class shared their advice for students just starting their college journeys.

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Garrett Klepitsch working in the field
Alumni

Advancing Conservation through Soil Science

Garrett Klepitsch graduated from Loyola in 2017 with a bachelor's in environmental science. Today, he is pursuing his passion for conservation as a soil scientist with the US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

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The Integral Ecology Program for Jesuits at Loyola University

The Integral Ecology Program at Loyola University Chicago engages young Jesuits in a multifaceted exploration of the current environmental crisis. The program draws inspiration from Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, which calls on people to care for humanity and the natural world.

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Megan McCawley
Alumni

Fostering a love of nature

Loyola alum Megan McCawley connects people with nature at Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo.

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Alumni

Loyola alum Tony Minnick helps build sustainable, equitable food systems

As the Agriculture Park director at the Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture in Columbia, Missouri, Loyola alum Tony Minnick works to create more sustainable and just food systems. His experience as an undergraduate in the environmental science program prepared him to launch a meaningful career focused on making a positive difference in the world.

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Loyola takes second place in the Bike Commuter Challenge

From May 13 to June 9, Loyola University Chicago participated in the annual Chicago-area Bike Commuter Challenge. Loyola took second place among educational institutions and seventh overall out of 112 participating organizations.

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Alumni

Putting a dollar value on clean water

SES graduate Emma Donnelly received national recognition for her research evaluating the economic impacts of environmental cleanup efforts in some of the most polluted areas in the Great Lakes.

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Monique Sosnowski holding a large snake
Alumni

Meet the SES Alum Fighting International Wildlife Crime

SES alum Monique Sosnowski, PhD, develops strategies to enforce laws and regulations that protect endangered and threatened wildlife. 

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Meet the Class of 2024

Congratulations to the School of Environmental Sustainability’s class of 2024. Meet some of the graduates who exemplify the spirit of SES.

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Crain’s Chicago Business Honors SES Dean Nancy Tuchman

Crain’s Chicago Business has named Nancy C. Tuchman, PhD, founding dean of Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), among their 2024 Notable Leaders in Sustainability.

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Loyola students fight food waste, expand access to sustainably grown food

A new student-driven initiative from the School of Environmental Sustainability aims to fight hunger and reduce waste, contributing to a more equitable and sustainable food system.

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Abrams Challenge Winners for 2024

We are happy to announce the three teams that won the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge this year. The winning teams received cash prizes to help launch their green ventures.

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Loyola Honored as a Climate Action Hero

Loyola University Chicago received a Climate Action Hero Award for education from the Climate Action Museum, an institution committed to raising awareness about climate change and promoting environmental stewardship.

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Spring Greening at Loyola

The flowers are blooming in Chicago, and with the arrival of spring, Loyola is implementing several projects to create greener campuses and reduce carbon emissions.

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Meet the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Finalists

The Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge is a year-long immersive learning opportunity for Loyola students who want to plan, launch, and scale eco-friendly ventures. On April 19, four teams will present their business concepts to a panel of judges for the chance to win up to $20,000 to start their ventures. Meet the 2023-24 finalists.

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Celebrate Earth Week at Loyola

Earth Day is April 22, 2024, and at Loyola, we’re extending the celebrations for an entire week. Join fellow Ramblers to celebrate sustainability and care for the Earth.

MORE EVENTS

Composting Made Easy

Loyola's compost bucket program allows individuals to conveniently compost food scraps from campus offices, dorm rooms, and off-campus student apartments.

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Madeline Palmquist and two other Team Typha members in a wetland

Student Research Advances Ecological Restoration

Undergraduates in the School of Environmental Sustainability prepare for meaningful careers while contributing to vital ecological research. Environmental science major Madeline Palmquist studies how invasive plants impact wetland birds in the Great Lakes region.

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Water Week Highlights Responsible Water Management

Loyola is dedicated to smart water management that preserves natural resources and protects our neighborhoods. As part of a multi-phased initiative, the University is building stormwater resiliency that diverts runoff from city sewers and prevents it from carrying pollutants into Lake Michigan.

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Study Abroad Adventure in Belize

In January 2024, 14 Loyola students embarked on an unforgettable study abroad journey to Belize, immersing themselves in the lush tropical ecosystems of Central America.

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Campus Sustainability

Converting Used Cooking Oil into Fuel

Students in Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability are converting used cooking oil into renewable biodiesel fuel. Learn more in a new video.

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students in front of a mural at Standing Rock

Loyola Students Visit the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation

A group of Loyola students visited the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation to foster a deeper connection with the Lakota People. The trip allowed students to learn firsthand about the indigenous nations’ continuous struggle with the Dakota Access Pipeline.

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Events

Announcing the 2024 Climate Change Conference Keynote Speaker

The Loyola Climate Change Conference kicks off on Thursday, March 14, with a keynote presentation by author and journalism professor Amanda Little.

Evaluating Air Quality in Chicago Neighborhoods

Loyola student researchers are collaborating with community organizations to help people understand air pollution levels and take action to protect their health.

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Students and instructors talking on a trail in the woods

Summer Courses Offer a Fun and Immersive Learning Experience

Immersive summer courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC) give students the opportunity to learn via hands-on, place-based education and deepen their appreciation for the natural world. Explore our class offerings for the May 2024 session.

Feeding a Changing World: The 2024 Climate Conference

Climate change poses a growing threat to global food security. Loyola University Chicago’s 2024 Climate Change Conference will convene experts from multiple disciplines to explore how climate change impacts global food security. Speakers will discuss strategies for developing equitable, resilient, and sustainable food systems.

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SES Master's Student Identifies an Invasive Species New to the Chicago Region

This summer, Loyola graduate student Alex Quebbeman found an invasive aquatic plant called starry stonewort in a Chicago harbor. It was the first time anyone had identified the nonnative species in the Chicago region. View a video about her discovery.

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Bobbi Lammers

Celebrating Roberta Lammers-Campbell, PhD, a Leader in Restoration Ecology

This November, Loyola students, faculty, staff, and community volunteers came together to recognize Roberta Lammers-Campbell, PhD, professor emerita, for leading ecological restoration efforts at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus.

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Evaluating Campus Air Quality for a Healthier Future

Loyola senior Emma McBride is evaluating campus air quality to benefit students, faculty, and the surrounding community.

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Connecting Sustainability, Business, and Economics

SES is expanding its interdisciplinary approach with a new bachelor’s degree program in environmental economics and sustainability.

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SES student receives the Loyola President's Medallion

Mereya Riopedre is the 2023 SES recipient of the President's Medallion. The award honors one student from each college, school, and institute who excels in leadership, scholarship, and service.

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Land Acknowledgement Statement sign near the lake shore

Loyola Honors Indigenous Peoples’ Day

On October 11, Loyola University Chicago held an event to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day and unveil new signage displaying the university’s Land Acknowledgement Statement. Nearly 90 people gathered to hear from a panel of local Indigenous leaders and view the signs, which feature illustrations by Native American artist Buffalo Gouge.

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Graduate Student Investigates How Wildfire Smoke Impacts Chicago Air Quality

Loyola graduate student Nora Hartnett is investigating how wildfires across North America impact air pollution levels in the Chicago area. Her findings could inform new strategies for improving air quality and human health.

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Members of Team Typha Tex

Announcing the 2024 Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge

This October, Loyola kicks off the third year of the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge. The challenge invites Loyola students to envision, plan, and launch green business ventures.

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SES urban ag student team leader carrying a crate of produce.

SES Urban Agriculture Program Celebrates 10 Years

The School of Environmental Sustainability's Urban Agriculture Program is celebrating 10 years since its founding. The program provides food for local farmers' markets and restaurants and serves the community through donations to local food pantries. View our latest video to learn more.

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Meet the faculty: Mark Mackey, SJ, MS

Mark J. Mackey, SJ, MS, is a Jesuit brother and an ecologist. He became a full member of the School of Environmental Sustainability faculty in the fall of 2023. In his teaching, he connects ecology, stewardship, and spiritually.

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Fall 2023 Progress Report

It has been a year of growth and renewal at the School of Environmental Sustainability. Read about new academic programs, impactful research, student accomplishments, alumni careers, and more in the Fall 2023 Progress Report.

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Summer Internship Focuses on Exploring Botanical Treasures

Marinda Vacanti embarked on a transformative journey during her summer internship at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. As a collections intern, Marinda's role focused on meticulously preserving and understanding botanical specimens, providing her with hands-on experience in museum collections.

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Members of Team Typha in waders pulling a small boat in a wetland

Restoring Biodiverse Wetlands

At the northern tip of Michigan’s lower peninsula, researchers from Loyola University Chicago’s School of Environmental Sustainability are devising new methods of restoring biologically diverse wetlands. They recently secured more than $1.1 million in federal funding for a large-scale project that could inform wetland management practices throughout the Great Lakes region.

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SES Graduates Share Advice for New Students

Members of the School of Environmental Sustainability’s 2023 graduating class shared their advice for new students just starting their college journeys.

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Loyola Receives Laudato Si' Champions Award

On July 27, Catholic Climate Covenant announced the winners of the organization's first U.S. Laudato Si' Champions Awards. Loyola University Chicago received the award in the university category.

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Students Explore Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands

This summer Loyola students participated in an unforgettable study abroad program exploring Ecuador's "four worlds."

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STARS gold seal

Loyola Receives STARS Gold Rating for Sustainability

Loyola University Chicago has earned a STARS Gold rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education in recognition of the University's sustainability achievements.

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Community Partnership Supports Native Plants and Pollinators

The SES Urban Agriculture Program team is collaborating with the Edgewater Environmental Coalition to help disperse native plants throughout the neighborhood.

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Ray Dybzinski teaching a class outdoors at LUREC

Students Explore Nature’s Classroom

This summer, students learned about ecological principles, explored Northern Illinois’ diverse natural areas, and encountered local wildlife during an intensive three-week session at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus.

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Master's program graduate Dikshya Dahal
Student Research

Students Study Food Justice in the Chicago Region

Several SES students have engaged in research that aims to contribute to a more just food system.

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Student Research Contributes to Local Ecological Restoration

A small project that began in a School of Environmental Sustainability classroom has grown into something bigger with the potential to create positive change in Chicagoland public areas.

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Loyola Gets Rolling During the Bike Commuter Challenge

The Chicago area’s 2023 Bike Commuter Challenge kicks off on May 15, and Loyola University Chicago is competing. Find out how to join the team.

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Meet the Class of 2023

Congratulations to the School of Environmental Sustainability’s class of 2023. Meet some of the graduates who exemplify the spirit of SES.

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SES Faculty Member Receives Mentoring Award

Brian Ohsowski, PhD, assistant professor in the School of Environmental Sustainability, received the Langerback Award for Undergraduate Research Mentoring. The award recognizes his extraordinary commitment to supporting and guiding undergraduates in research endeavors.

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2023 Abrams Challenge Winners

Meet the three winning teams from this year’s Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge.

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SES Faculty Member Recognized for Excellence in Engaged Learning and Teaching

Loyola’s Center for Engaged Learning, Teaching, and Scholarship honored Assistant Professor Tania Schusler, PhD, with the Adolfo Nicolas SJ Excellence in Engaged Learning and Teaching Award. Her work exemplifies the School of Environmental Sustainability's commitment to experiential learning.

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Loyola Commits to Clean Power in Illinois

A new solar project will provide 100 percent of the University's electricity needs.

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Meet the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge 2023 Finalists

On April 21, six teams of Loyola students will compete in the final round of the second annual Abrams Sustainable Business challenge. Meet the teams who will pitch their green business ideas for a chance to win start-up funding for their ventures.

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Urban Agriculture Program Prepares Alums for Rewarding Careers

Many Loyola alums who participated in the Urban Agriculture Program have gone on to successful careers connected to agriculture and sustainability.

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Takeaways from Loyola's 2023 Climate Change Conference

Today an estimated 100 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide, and that number is likely to rise dramatically in the next 30 years. On March 16, 2023, Loyola’s annual Climate Change Conference examined how climate change impacts global human migration.

Mikayla Ballard
Student Research

Undergraduate Mikayla Ballard Studies Invasive Crayfish in Chicago’s Waterways

Mikayla Ballard, a junior studying environmental science, is researching invasive crayfish and pollution in Chicago's North Shore Channel.

Meet the 2023 Climate Change Conference Keynote Speaker

Filmmaker Michael Nash will deliver the keynote speech at the 2023 Loyola University Chicago Climate Change Conference. His award-winning film Climate Refugees premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and has been screened around the world.

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People navigate flood waters in South Sudan

The 2023 Climate Change Conference: Climate Refugees

On March 16, the Loyola University Chicago Climate Change Conference will explore how climate-driven migration impacts communities globally and locally.

Where You Live: Examining Environmental Racism

The color of your skin shouldn't determine how clean your environment is, but it often does. In this Ask an Expert video series, Tania Schusler, assistant professor in the School of Environmental Sustainability, explains what environmental racism is and what we can do to combat it.

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Waste Week Invites Ramblers to Cut Trash Production

February 20 to 24 is Waste Week at Loyola, an event focused on educating students from all campuses about waste and materials management.

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Loyola Student Investigates Strategies for Reducing Road Salt Pollution

SES undergraduate Kristina Tsakos is participating in wetland ecology research and studying ways to protect ecosystems from road salt pollution.

Ugar Uyger teaching a class
Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge

Courses Support Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Participants

The Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge empowers Loyola students to envision, plan, and launch green businesses. Three faculty members shared how their spring semester courses complement the challenge.

Kevin Erickson working with hemp plants in the SES greenhouse

Using Hemp Plants to Remove Lead from Soil

Many yards and gardens in Chicago have dangerously high levels of lead in the soil. That means playing in the backyard or growing vegetables could come with a risk of lead poisoning. SES staff member Kevin Erickson studied how hemp plants can remove lead from contaminated soil. He talked about his research on WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio.

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The Organizer

The future of our planet is a matter of life and death. Loyola SES alum Paul Campion is fighting to save us all.

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Out of Sight: SES Graduates Tackle Waste

Two Loyola SES alums, Liam Donnelly and Kelly Hof, have discovered rewarding careers delivering solutions that reduce waste and protect the environment.

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Loyola Named a Silver-Level Bicycle-Friendly University

This November, Loyola earned a renewal of its Silver-level Bicycle Friendly University award in recognition of our institution’s achievements in promoting and enabling safe, accessible bicycling on campus.

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Correcting the Record

With so much climate misinformation circulating, how can you separate fact from fiction? Lean how Loyolans are working to spread accurate, mobilizing information about climate change.

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Marlene Brito-Millán Connects Social Justice and Environmental Science

Marlene Brito-Millán, PhD, joined SES this year as an assistant professor of ecology, and her extensive research background and solidarity work make her an exciting addition to Loyola’s faculty.

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Loyola Faculty Members Share Insights on What We Can Do about Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most urgent problems the world faces today. Three faculty members in Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability shared their thoughts on priority actions that will make a difference in the fight against climate change.

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Engrained Café Earns 4-Star Green Restaurant Certification

Loyola’s green café Engrained recently received a 4-star certification from the Green Restaurant Association, the highest possible distinction from the organization.

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Jonathan Ostroff presenting at the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge pitch competition

Catching Up with Last Year’s Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Winners Part 3: Fusion Foods

The Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge engages Loyola students in planning and launching green ventures. As the 2023 challenge gets underway, we checked in with last year’s third-place winner Jonathan Ostroff to learn more about his sustainable food enterprise, Fusion Foods.

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Zach Samaras conducting a waste audit

SES Alum Zach Samaras Tackles Waste

Zach Samaras discovered a passion for waste management while working on his master's degree at Loyola's School of Environmental Sustainability. He now helps companies and organizations reduce waste as a technical assistance engineer with the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

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Congratulations to Cosette Ellis, the SES President’s Medallion Recipient

Cosette Ellis from Seattle, Washington, has been awarded the prestigious President’s Medallion for Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability (SES). The President’s Medallion honors one student from each college, school, and institute at Loyola who excels in leadership, scholarship, and service.

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Celebrating 10 Years of Healing Earth

In October 2012, 31 collaborators from Jesuit institutions around the world formed the International Jesuit Ecology Project (IJEP) to address environmental challenges. Led by Loyola’s Michael Schuck, PhD, the group developed Healing Earth, a free online environmental science textbook used globally and highly regarded in the Jesuit community. This October, we celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the project with the release of the third edition of Healing Earth.

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Support Loyola Students’ Sustainable Halloween Costume Contest

Loyola undergraduates Paul Schnell and Zach Neybert are calling attention to one of the scariest parts of Halloween: its environmental impact.

Catching Up with Last Year's Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Winners Part 2, LOOP

The kickoff gathering for the second annual Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge took place on Friday, October 14, on Loyola's lakeshore campus. As the 2023 challenge gets underway, we continue with our deep dive into the top three winning teams from the Spring of 2022.

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From SES to the EPA

Meet SES master's degree program alum Carter Cranberg, project officer with the US Environmental Protection Agency.

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Catching Up with Last Year's Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Winners

The School of Environmental Sustainability and the Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility are gearing up for the second annual Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge, an entrepreneurial competition available to all Loyola students. We checked in with last year’s winners to see how their sustainable business ventures are progressing.

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Sarah Ku Brings Business and Sustainability Together at Loyola

Dr. Sarah Ku, newly-appointed assistant professor of sustainable business management at Loyola, joined the SES community this fall to serve as a bridge between the fields of environmental science and business. Her dissertation research entitled Stakeholder Governance: Empirical and Theoretical Developments was recently accepted into the Honor Roll of Responsible Research in Business and Management.

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student workers at the farmers market

Harvesting Knowledge

Loyola University Chicago’s Urban Agriculture Program combines education, hands-on experience, and community engagement. Student workers and volunteers learn about sustainable food production and gain real-world experience growing and selling produce. The program also offers students opportunities to build leadership skills and manage projects. Meet the current student leaders working as urban agriculture program assistants.

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Progress and Growth at SES

At the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES), we are developing solutions to critical ecological problems, working toward environmental justice, and training the next generation of sustainability leaders. Read our latest progress report to learn more about our accomplishments in education, research, and environmental action.

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Students Share Their Summer Internship Experiences

Students in the School of Environmental Sustainability benefit from a wide variety of hands-on, applied learning opportunities, including internships. Over the summer, many students participated in internships that enriched their education, provided real-world professional experience, and expanded their social and professional networks. Several shared their thoughts on what they gained from the experience.

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Abrams challenge graphic

The Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Invites Students to Launch Green Ventures

As we kick off the academic year, we are happy to announce an exciting opportunity for Loyola students to bring their ideas for sustainable business to life through the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge. The challenge is a year-long immersive learning experience for Loyola students who want to envision, plan, launch, and scale eco-friendly ventures or products. Teams will pitch their ideas to an esteemed panel of judges in April 2023. The winning teams will receive up to $20,000 in prize money to launch their ventures. To learn more, attend an online information session on Wednesday, September 28, at noon, or join the kickoff event on October 14 at 5:30 p.m.

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graphic of campus map

Our Green Campuses

Loyola's sustainability efforts extend far beyond the classroom. Explore the environmentally sustainable features of our three campuses.

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Father Arturo Sosa, S.J., Superior General of the Society of Jesus (left) with Michael Schuck (center) and Nancy Tuchman (right)

Loyola Faculty Receive Lifetime Achievement Awards for Sustainability Leadership

Nancy Tuchman, founding dean of the School of Environmental Sustainability, and Michael Schuck, professor in the Department of Theology and the School of Environmental Sustainability, received lifetime achievement awards this month for their work advancing environmental sustainability in Jesuit higher education. The International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU) presented the two with the St. Peter Canisius Medal for Extraordinary Service to Jesuit Higher Education for the North American region.

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The Air We Breathe

Researchers at Loyola are investigating the stark difference in air quality on Chicago's South and North Sides. Students assisting with the study are gaining valuable experience monitoring and evaluating air pollution.

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THEA Institute students, group photo

High School Students Explore Environmental Sustainability at SES

This summer, Loyola welcomed high school students from all over the country for the Theology of Healing Earth in Action (THEA) Institute, a week-long college preparatory retreat program focused on environmental sustainability. The THEA Institute invites rising high school juniors and seniors to Loyola to explore their gifts and reflect on how they can help build a world rooted in spiritual grounding, community, and sustainability.

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Students gather in front of the Loyola Information Commons

Two Decades of Sustainability at Loyola

Summarizing all that Loyola has done on the sustainability front over the past two decades is a tall order; a commitment to the planet's health has become a lodestar for University leadership, influencing decisions massive and marginal. This commitment is seen clearly in Loyola's campus, one of the greenest in higher education.

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Students and instructor exploring a wooded area

Immersive Learning Fuels a Passion for the Natural World

The School for Environmental Sustainability offers unique opportunities for students to learn through hands-on experiences. During intensive summer courses at the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus (LUREC) students get their hands dirty, deepen their appreciation of the natural world, form new friendships, and gain memories that will last a lifetime.

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Study of Microplastics in Migratory Birds Could Reveal a Broader Environmental Threat

Two Loyola researchers set out to explore the environmental impacts of microplastics by investigating how they accumulate in the digestive systems of birds. They found bits of plastic in the intestines of every bird they examined.

Loyola Faculty Members Discuss Integral Ecology at an International Gathering in Rome 

In the 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Francis called for the world to take action to protect the natural ecosystems and adopt a worldview that recognizes the connections between sustainability and social justice. This June, Loyola faculty members presented at an international conference that brought leaders from Catholic institutions together to discuss the challenges of putting Laudato Si' into practice.

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Students Around the World Reflect on Laudato Si'

Laudato Si' Week 2022 marks the seventh anniversary of the Pope Francis's powerful encyclical calling on people everywhere take action to preserve biodiversity, combat climate change, are care for each other and our common home. Students around the world reflected on the call to action in inspiring videos.

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During Laudato Si' Week, Loyola Celebrates our Commitment to Caring for the Earth

Seven years ago, Pope Francis issued a powerful call to action in his encyclical "Laudato Si': On Care for our Common Home." The encyclical calls for concrete steps on climate change and biodiversity loss, emphasizing the need to give special attention to how ecological degradation disproportionately impacts the poor. Loyola plays a leading role in mobilizing Catholic universities to engage with the Laudato Si' Action Platform, which includes a 7-Year Journey Toward Integral Ecology. During Laudato Si Week, we recommit ourselves to this journey.

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Red swamp crayfish

SES Professor Reuben Keller Discusses Invasive Species with WTTW Chicago

Volunteers discovered a bright red crayfish during a cleanup event hosted by Friends of the Chicago River. It turned out to be a red swamp crayfish, also known as the Louisiana crawfish, and it is an introduced invasive species. In a WTTW/Chicago PBS story, SES professor Reuben Keller explained how this invasive creature crowds out native species and disrupts local ecosystems.

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Eight 2022 SES graduates received outstanding achievement awards.

Congratulations to the Class of 2022

On May 10, the Loyola University Chicago School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) held commencement for the class of 2022. Of the 144 total graduates, 49 earned master’s degrees in environmental science and sustainability, 89 completed bachelor’s degrees, and six received post-baccalaureate certificates. Meet the graduates who received awards for outstanding achievement in academics, research, leadership, and environmental stewardship, and service.

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Congratulations to the Winners of the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge

On Earth Day, Friday, April 22, six teams of Loyola students pitched their eco-friendly business plans to a panel of expert judges in the final round of the Abram's Sustainable Business Challenge. The three winning teams received cash prizes to help them launch their sustainable ventures. Meet the finalists and learn more about their inspiring enterprises.

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Graduating senior Beth Thilges

Student Government Honors SES Student

This spring, the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC) held a year-end banquet to honor members who have shown extraordinary leadership. School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) student Beth Thilges received the Ignatian Leadership Award for her outstanding accomplishments this year as the chair of the SGLC Sustainability Committee.

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Six teams will compete in the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge pitch competition.

The Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge Finalists

This year on Earth Day, teams of Loyola University Chicago students will pitch their ideas for sustainable businesses to a panel of expert judges in the Abrams Sustainable Business Challenge. The top teams will win funds to help them launch their environmentally friendly ventures.

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We are honored to have Father Josh Kureethadam provide SES with a Vatican Blessing.

Watch this Blessing of SES from the Vatican

We are honored to have Father Josh Kureethadam provide SES with a Vatican Blessing.

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Announcing the New School of Environmental Sustainability and Big Plans Ahead

September 24, 2020: Dear Loyola Community, I am pleased to share the news that the Board of Trustees has approved the elevation of the Institute of Environmental Sustainability (IES) to the School of Environmental Sustainability, creating Loyola University Chicago’s 11th school. The School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) solidifies our University’s continued commitment to addressing the causes and impact of global climate change.

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Helping hands

Inside the School of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola is addressing its hand sanitizing needs with creativity and resourcefulness.

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Youth climate activists strike for hope and aim to educate

Tokata Iron Eyes and Greta Thunberg have learned they have a lot in common. Both Thunberg and Iron Eyes are 16-year-old climate activists who are missing school in order to “fight for their futures and that of their children.” On October 6, the activists spoke to an audience of supporters that included SES Dean Nancy Tuchman and IES Professor Michael Schuck at Iron Eyes’s high school in South Dakota.

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Congratulations to all of our IES Graduates!

It has been our great privilege to guide and mentor you through your development and watch you become the strong environmental scientists and advocates that you are. We are proud of your accomplishments, and grateful in return, for all you have taught us -- helping us to continue to grow as an Institute.

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The New Class Zoom

Carissa Hipsher knew that her “Foundations of Environmental Science” lab would be trickier to reorganize than her traditional lecture classes. In the hours leading up to Loyola University Chicago’s transition to online or virtual instruction on March 13, that lab—or, technically, the lack of one—is where she focused all her energy.

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Empowering environmental leaders

Read our 2019 annual report and learn what IES is doing to care for our common home and empower our future leaders.

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IES 2016 Alumn Monique Sosnowski featured as a Wildlife Criminologist on PBS

Monique Sosnowski answers our questions about illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.

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IES Professor Ben Johnson featured in this news story on WBEZ

Loyola University Chicago history professor Ben Johnson was in the middle of a lecture on World War II one early morning last week when he tried to share a picture of Norman Rockwell’s Four Freedoms with his class via Zoom video.

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A change of texture

The new and improved foaming version of Loyola's Biosoap was rolled out across campus at the beginning of 2020.

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The Amazon Synod: Plus Tard Sera Trop Tard

IES Professor Michael Schuck reflects upon the Catholic Church's recent Amazon Synod

Meet Kevin White: IES's latest Presidential Medallion recipient

“When I think of my Jesuit education, I think of generosity and giving back to others. Loyola has given me a voice I can use for positive change.”

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Loyola University Chicago honored among 2019 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools

CHICAGO and WASHINGTON D.C., September 25, 2019- Loyola University Chicago was honored for its achievements in sustainability by the U.S. Department of Education at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C. Loyola, along with 53 other honorees were named a US Department of Education Green Ribbon School.

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Driving toward a more sustainable world: master’s and certificate options open up new professional advancement

From the loss of biodiversity and polluted waterways to growing waste, the globe’s greatest challenges continue to intensify. The need to protect the world’s natural resources and create more sustainable ways of living remains not only an urgent problem but an ultimate problem in need of informed, decisive action.

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Loyola announced as 2019 USG NACDA Sustainability Award winner

The National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USG Corporation (NYSE: USG) have announced Loyola University Chicago as the winner of the fifth annual USG NACDA Sustainability Award. Loyola was chosen from a pool of three finalists and received the award for its work on the Alfie Norville Practice Facility. The Sustainability Award will be presented to Loyola at an on-campus event this fall.

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Lead’s dangerous legacy

With lead lurking in the paint, soil and water, many Chicagoans are at high risk. IES's Analytical Chemist Zhenwei Zhu is featured in this piece.

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Introducing IES’s new graduate program: The Master of Science in Environmental Science and Sustainability (MSESS)

A changing climate requires a changing professional. At the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, we are educating the next generation of professionals - environmental science and sustainability professionals who can apply an interdisciplinary approach to solve today’s environmental problems.

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Embracing the sciences

In some circles, Kevin White (’20) might be considered an overachiever. But he doesn’t see it that way; he's just someone who’s tried to make the most of his time as an undergraduate. Originally from Wooster, Ohio, White’s initial decision to attend Loyola University Chicago was largely based on athletics. A track and cross country athlete, he wanted to achieve athletically and academically (though he came in undecided) at a high level.

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5 Years of IES

This year's annual report marks the five-year anniversary of IES. In 2018, we can boast of 10 LEED-certified buildings, a beautiful campus landscape with native vegetation, and a University core curriculum that requires environmental science.

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Meet IES Student Paul Campion: A 2018 President's Medallion award winner

“We learned how to live justice, simplicity, faith, and community. When committed to these values, it feels impossible not to have hope," says Campion.

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Mayor announces Chicago Renewable Energy Challenge

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the launch of the first-of-its-kind Chicago Renewable Energy Challenge with seven founding members. The Renewable Energy Challenge is a voluntary leadership effort to accelerate the installation of renewable energy in commercial and institutional properties across the City. The initiative builds upon the City’s commitment to using 100% renewable energy to power all City buildings by 2025. Loyola University Chicago is one of the seven founding members.

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AWARD

Sienna Fitzpatrick Awarded President’s Medallion

IES Senior Sienna Fitzpatrick has been awarded the President’s Medallion for her steadfast commitment to leadership, scholarship, and service throughout her time at Loyola. Sienna received the award at the 2017 President’s Ball.

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How business can lead a sustainability revolution

Nancy E. Landrum, PhD, professor of sustainability management with an appointment in both Quinlan and Loyola’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability, outlines the key reasons all business leaders should care about the environment and what they can do to create a healthier planet.

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Sustainability

Environmentally Engaged

Olivia Urbanski is just one of many environmental studies majors graduating this May, but her Loyola experience has taken her from Alaska to Kenya

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Sustainability

Why Loyola received a Climate Leadership Award is no mystery: read our stats

For this year’s Climate Leadership Awards, USGBC and Second Nature chose winners who contributed to the environment through extensive sustainability efforts.

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Healing Earth

Dean Tuchman and Professor Schuck talk Healing Earth with Mike Nowak

How do you have an audience with a couple of people who have just had an audience with the Pope?

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Loyola Students talk with Mayor Emanuel at the North American Climate Summit on December 5, 2017. Photo Courtesy of the City of Chicago.
Climate Action

The Mayors Are Still In

North American Climate Summit shows that many Americans are ready to address climate change head-on.

Loyola's composting pilot program in 2011.

Achieving the Gold Standard

Loyola has participated in the STARS program since 2014, and currently holds a Gold STAR level rating received in February of 2017.

Healing Earth

Healing Earth wins Expanded Reason Award in Teaching Category

Organized by the University Francisco de Vitoria Madrid and the Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI Foundation, the Expanded Reason Awards “seek to support and acknowledge those professors and researchers who are working to broaden the horizons of rationality through a dialogue between the sciences and philosophy and theology, grounded in the certainty that the fundamental questions of human life cannot be ignored by scientific rationality.” Healing Earth is one of four winners from a field of 367 submissions from 30 countries.

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Sustainability

Congratulations to our 2017 Bike Commuter Challenge Winners!

Loyola won in the education category for employers between 2,500 and 4,999 staff. Loyola faculty and staff logged over 1400 miles during this two week event.

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What happens when we see ourselves as separate from or as a part of nature?

IES students pondered this question posed by the staff at the Center for Humans and Nature as part of the Center's Resilient Future series. Read our students' thoughtful responses.

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Invasive species have a massive impact, but wise policy can keep them out

IES Professor Reuben Keller wrote this Op-Ed for the Conversation

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Climate Change Conference

Former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy named as Keynote Speaker for our 2018 Climate Change Conference

As the head of EPA under President Obama, McCarthy led historic progress to achieve the administration’s public health and environmental protection goals and the Climate Action Plan. McCarthy will give the Keynote Address at our 2018 Climate Change Conference on March 15, 2018 at 7 p.m. in Jo Ann Rooney Hall.

In May, IES (Now SES as of 2020) graduated 58 seniors including 34 with a major in Environmental Science.

Congratulations to the IES Class of 2017!

Our graduating seniors have taken to heart Loyola's mission of social justice. This year's Senior Award winners have worked for the Southeast Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke; developed an innovative way to clean waste water in our biodiesel lab; managed our farmers market; brought solar to our campus, and much more.

AJCU Connections Features Hands-On Research at Loyola and IES

Throughout the year, Loyola University Chicago students conduct research to advance their education and gain valuable hands-on experience. This work is celebrated every April during the Weekend of Excellence, which includes a program of research symposia, awards ceremonies and a student performance.

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Weekend of Excellence 2017

IES Students and Faculty Take Top Honors at Loyola's Weekend of Excellence

The Outstanding Loyola Undergraduate Research Award has been established to honor Loyola undergraduates who conduct exceptional research, articulate their work to others, and integrate research into their overall learning experience. IES is pleased to honor the work of Erica Becker, Lian Lucansky, Samantha Panock, Daniella Herrera, Kristen Courage, Sean McNelis, Natalie Burgos, Aqsa Junagadhwala, and Marykate Fitzpatrick. We are also pleased to have our very own Father Stephen Mitten receive the Langerbeck Award for Undergraduate Research Mentoring. Congratulations to all!

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Every day is Earth Day at Loyola

Loyola has been a leader in sustainability for years, and it recently was named the seventh greenest college campus in the country by the Sierra Club.

Dancing with Science: Collaborating for Vocational Activism and Effective Citizenry

On a recent icy morning, a group of fourth-graders from Peirce Elementary International Studies School arrived at Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability to shoot a dance film.

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Alumni

Loyola alumni David Miller and Dr. Stephen Rivard profiled in Crain's for their business Iroquois Valley Farm

Access to capital is notoriously difficult for farmers. Growing and raising certified organic food is even more daunting. That's because the USDA requires organic farmers to work the soil for three years before allowing them to certify their crops as organic. What's more, yields are lower for a good five years after starting out while the soil becomes richer.

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A student at Chainlinks, Loyola's on-campus bike shop.

Sustainability Awards Round-Up

2016 was a stellar year for Loyola and sustainability initiatives across our campus. Take a look at some of the awards we received for the work the Office of Sustainability does on campus.

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Left to right: SES/Newman Center Cohort at COP  22.
Lian Lucansky, Paul Campion, Angelo Kelvakis, Jacob Kreiner, Stephen Tuscher, Rachel Monsey
Environmental Policy

My Top Five: SES Student Rachel Monsey ‘18 reflects on her experience at COP 22 in Marrakech

In November, a cohort of SES Students studying abroad at the Newman Institute in Sweden attended the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Marrakech, Morocco. Here, Environmental Policy major Rachel Monsey tells us her top five takeaways from her experience at COP 22.

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Urban Agriculture

Through the Loyola Lens: Savannah Webb

IES Alumni Savannah Webb ('16) used her Urban Agriculture skills and her psychology major while working at the Global Garden Refugee Training Farm. More than 40 families from Bhutan and Burma work the formerly vacant one-acre plot growing organic fruits and vegetables and selling them in Chicago.

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The unintended impacts of mosquito insecticides

How do you minimize collateral damage in the war against disease-carrying mosquitoes? “In the long run, we need to think about better ways to control mosquitoes than applying chemicals.” says IES Ecotoxicologist Tham Hoang, PhD.

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STUDENT EXCELLENCE

Student leader committed to sustainability

President's Medallion recipient Christie Kochis has worked on several eco-friendly initiatives at Loyola and interned in the Office of Sustainability since 2013.

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J-Term

J-Term at LUREC

Spend your January watching movies or learning how temperate plants and animals survive and thrive during winter. We have two January Term classes scheduled at Loyola University's Retreat and Ecology Campus this year. Go snowshoeing and study Winter Ecology with Dr. Roberta Lammers-Campbell or relax and watch movies with Dr. Milan Pribisic.

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The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology invited Hoang and 200 scientists to a conference on “Fundamental Science and Society” where they met with the country's president to deliver recommendations to the presidential palace in Hanoi.

Ecotoxicologist sought out during Vietnam disaster

This spring, Vietnam experienced a massive localized die-off of fish populations in the waters off of four coastal provinces, a disaster that sparked rare protests across the country and affected thousands of people. IES (now SES) ecotoxicologist Tham Hoang, PhD was tapped by the Vietnam Environmental Administration to provide expert advice.

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Andreas Carlgren with students Olivia Urbanski and Kelsey Czajkowski from the first IES (now SES) Cohort to study abroad in Sweden at the Newman Institute.

Sustainable Living--Swedish Style

Unique study abroad program between the School of Environmental Sustainability (SES) and the Newman Institute in Uppsala, Sweden offers students a new view of environmental studies.

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Program turns invasive plants into energy

Loyola’s School of Environmental Sustainability is working to turn invasive plants around the Great Lakes into different types of green energy.

Dr. Nancy E. Landrum Selected as IES Abroad Research Associate

Dr. Nancy E. Landrum, professor at the Quinlan School of Business & Institute for Environmental Sustainability, has been selected by the Office of International Programs as an IES Abroad Research Associate for the summer 2017 term in London, England! IES Abroad, a Loyola-approved study abroad program provider, offers only two research grants to visiting faculty each year, making the process highly competitive. Her research will focus on the Circular Economy, a more sustainable economic model being adopted by Japan, China, Scotland, Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

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Loyola uses cutting-edge infrastructure and research to protect the Great Lakes.

SES Leads Water Efforts at Loyola

With the current Flint water crisis and recent reports of lead in Chicago’s water supply, water has been a hot topic over the past several months. Though we still face water challenges on a local and national level, Loyola has been taking action to ensure quality, conscious water-use within our own campus.

The jet stream currents move in something called Rossby waves—and Loyola assistant professor Ping Jing, PhD, is studying how climate change is affecting their shape. (Image credit: nasa.gov)

New tool could help track climate change

Loyola assistant professor Ping Jing, PhD, recently received a NASA grant to create a rating tool to measure the effects of climate change.

Loyola's campus is more friendly for migratory birds

Over the last several years the SOAR project has identified the large east facing windows of the Norville gym as being particularly dangerous for migrating birds.

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IES Student Marina Garcia was the first recipient of Loyola's Community Action Scholarship.
Urban Agriculture

SES student helps Rogers Park and Edgewater restore butterfly population

Last fall, a new program started at Swift Elementary School in Edgewater. Fourth grade students spent the afternoons outside away from screens and electronics, reconnecting with the outdoors. The program taught students about sustainable gardening, and specifically showed them how planting milkweed can save the monarch butterfly population. Loyola’s very own Marina Garcia started the program.

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Worldview joins us at our 2016 Climate Change Conference

WBEZ's Worldview featuring Jerome McDonnell attended our 2016 Climate Change Conference. They also toured IES during a live broadcast of their show. You can listen to the podcast here.

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Loyola has been a leader in sustainability for years, and it recently was named the fourth greenest college campus in the country by the Sierra Club. (Photo: Natalie Battaglia)

Every day is Earth Day at Loyola

As Earth Day approaches on April 22, 2016, Loyola is hosting several events on campus to help make the world a greener—and better—place. But the University’s commitment to the environment extends far beyond Earth Day. See what Loyola does year-round to promote sustainability.

Rivera (left) next to an image from the restoration site she worked on at LUREC.

SES Student Profile: McNair Scholar and first-generation college student Brittany Rivera

While some students relaxed over the summer, Brittany Rivera spent her time working as an LUREC intern researching invasive species and soil. Most days she worked with buckthorn and collected data on the wetland’s water table. Rivera used this internship to learn more habitat restoration.

STEP Class Highlight

SES student Sydney Stuenkel considers our unsustainable water use in this highlighted student paper.

From 2006-2011 Carlgren served as the Swedish Minister for the Environment. Throughout his term, he helped Sweden reduce emissions by almost 40 percent through investment in renewables and the green car industry.

Andreas Carlgren, former Swedish minister for the environment, examines the issues at play in the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21)

How can we develop international agreements to reduce green house gas (GHG) emissions? Will the Global Climate Summit in Paris (COP21) be a success or a failure?

President's Medallion: She takes urban agriculture to new levels

Give Magdalena Nykaza an open space on campus, and she’ll likely turn it into a vegetable garden. Nykaza, who was one of the first interns at the student farm on Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology Campus, is heavily involved in the University’s urban agriculture program.

STEP Class Highlight

SES senior Caitlin Dillon reflects on preparing a sustainable meal in our fast-food culture.

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SES student Conner Keeffe Blogs about her time at the Newman Institute in Sweden

SES (formally IES) students studying abroad in Uppsala, Sweden recently had the opportunity to begin their studies of forestry. Student blogger Conner Keeffe lets us follow along.

Assistant professor Reuben Keller, PhD, leads a class on freshwater ecology recently. Keller, who came to Loyola in 2011, is studying ways to keep invasive species in check. (Photo: Natalie Battaglia)

Taking on invasive species

His research takes new approach to age-old problem of invasive species

Assistant professor Reuben Keller, PhD, is an expert on invasive species—and he’s working on a new approach to try and solve this age-old problem.

“It’s not just a letter saying there’s a problem going on here,” Loyola’s Nancy Tuchman, PhD, says about the Pope’s encyclical. “It’s a directive. It’s telling us we are responsible and we need to act—now.”

Understanding the Pope’s encyclical

‘Our common home’

Pope Francis released his encyclical on climate change Thursday. Read what Loyola’s Nancy Tuchman, PhD, has to say about the Pope’s environmental call to action.

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Jon Barber trims microgreens inside the Ecodome as part of his research for a STEP course. “It’s not like a lot of other classes I’ve taken,” he said. “You have freedom to actually choose what you want to do and pursue that.” (Photo: Heather Eidson)

STEP courses give students chance to make a difference

Students each semester in the Solutions to Environmental Problems (STEP) class study, develop, and enact a service project to address a local environmental issue. The fun part? They get to pick the undertaking they want to study.

Weekend of Excellence

IES students take top honor at Weekend of Excellence

IES LUREC Biodiversity Research Interns Catherine Pacholski (Environmental Science 2015) and Samantha Keyport (Biology 2016) have won the STEM Outstanding Loyola Undergraduate Researcher Award for 2015 awarded at this year's Weekend of Excellence. Their research was titled Ecosystem Profile Assessment of Biodiversity at LUREC.

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Graduate Programs Expansion

Responding to the changing demographics and professional needs of our society, several graduate programs were developed to address those challenges. The new programs are offered in a variety of delivery models: on-campus, off-campus at the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills, online and blended.

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Searle Biodiesel Lab receives award

On July 21, the School of Environmental Sustainability’s Searle Biodiesel Lab was honored along with four other Chicagoland organizations by the Environmental Protection Agency. The five were among 21 recognized nationwide with the 2015 Safer Choice Partner of the Year Award.

National rankings

Loyola is No. 4 on Sierra Club’s annual list of greenest colleges

This year, Loyola finished near the top of the Sierra Club’s annual rankings of “Cool Schools”—making it one of the most environmentally responsible universities in the country.

Profile

For this alum, it’s all about making an eco-friendly impact

For someone who didn’t plan on studying environmental science, Loyola alum Kelsey Horton has left her mark on the local green community. Horton, who graduated in 2012 and helped start the Loyola Farmers Market, now works at the Chicago-based Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

Awards

Loyola Students Kill the Cup

Loyola University Chicago recently finished in second place nationally in the inaugural KillTheCup.com competition!

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Loyola Farmers Market Assists LINK Card Families with Increased Purchasing Power
Community Assistance

Farmers Market Assists LINK Card Families

The Loyola Farmers Market received funding to assist Illinois Link Card families to increase their ability to purchase more fresh, healthy local foods with Double Value Coupons for LINK-approved foods.

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Loyola Earns AASHE Gold Rating

This spring, Loyola achieved GOLD status through the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE) Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Ratings System (STARS). The STARS rating system is evaluated by reviewing a college’s curriculum, research, campus engagement, public engagement, operations (air & climate, buildings, dining services, energy, grounds, purchasing, transportation, waste, and water), and planning an administration. There are 650 institutions that have registered for the AASHE STARS reporting tool, and Loyola is one of only 61 schools that have received the GOLD ranking. Loyola is the first Jesuit institution to achieve this level.

Loyola's Farmers Market's new location is just steps from the Loyola stop on the CTA Red Line in Loyola Plaza.

New location, new vendors: Loyola's Farmers Market brings more to your table

Loyola's Farmers Market opens for its fourth season, Monday, June 9, at its new Loyola Plaza location, just steps from the Loyola stop on the CTA Red Line.

Dave Miller (BS ’75), left, with business partner and longtime friend Stephan Rivard (BS ’75, MD ’79).
Alumni

Back to the soil

Dave Miller (BS '75) and Stephan Rivard (BS '75, MD '79) founded Iroquois Valley Farms, which converts farmland back to an organic state.

Restoration

IES awarded $500,000 US EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant

Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Environmental Sustainability was awarded a $500,000 US EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant to implement an innovative coastal wetland restoration, invasive plant management, and renewable bio-energy production project: Furthering capacity to maintain high quality coastal wetlands in Northern Michigan.

Award winning SES faculty and SES students!

Jeremy Gouldey, Edgar Perez and Natalie Lynch have all received honors during the semester - congratulations to all!

Fall 2013 TGIF Projects Awarded

The first round of sustainability projects through The Green Initiative Fund (TGIF) have been awarded. All projects were proposed by students or student groups and have a staff or faculty sponsor. They will also be supported by a member of the TGIF Council and Loyola’s Office of Sustainability, Facilities Department and Student Development.

Loyola Purchasing Department Hosts Green Vendor Fair

Loyola's Purchasing Department and Warehouse Direct, Loyola's office supply vendor, hosted a green vendor fair in December to showcase effective and sustainable products.

U.S. Energy and Climate Change: Science, Ethics, and Public Policies

The School of Environmental Sustainability, Department of Theology, Office of the President, College of Arts & Sciences and Richard A. McCormic S.J., Chair present the U.S. Energy and Climate Change: Science, Ethics, and Public Policy Conference. There will be a keynote address by James Balog, director of Chasing Ice, on Thursday, November 14 at 7 p.m. The conference will be November 15 from 9 a.m - 4:00 p.m. at the Jo Ann Rooney Hall.

A fan favorite among environmental science professors, Ping Jing recently received Loyola’s Excellence in Teaching Freshmen Award. She hopes to instill a sense of environmental awareness in her students so that they can help create a greener world for everyone.

Ozone expert brings science down to Earth for students

Professor Ping Jing of the Institute of Environmental Sustainability recently received Loyola’s Excellence in Teaching Freshmen Award. Read more about the classes she teaches and what lessons she hopes to instill in her students.

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Crain's Chicago Business

Building for the future: Institute is almost finished

The $58.8 million Institute of Environmental Sustainability—is set to debut this month at the Rogers Park campus. The environmental structure “will raise our profile,” says the Rev. Michael Garanzini, Loyola's president since 2001. “We're building, I think, the best undergraduate university in the Midwest.”

Student Reflections

Early Bird Gets the Worm

SES students gave a wonderful account of one early morning spent at the Boone Creek Conservation Area, near Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus doing bird counts for the McHenry County Audubon Society and the Bird Conservation Network.

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Green Buildings

Green Building & Design

Fr. Garanzini and Loyola University Chicago are featured in the current issue of Green Building and Design magazine. Read about his environmental sustainability initiative and the greening of our campus over the past 12 years.

Loyola Magazine

Hope is the thing with feathers

Despite several degrees and years of experience that indicate otherwise, Stephen Mitten, S.J., doesn’t think of himself strictly as a scientist. “I see myself more as a naturalist,” he says. “I’m an ambassador for the environment.” As spiritual director and resident ecology faculty at Loyola’s Retreat and Ecology Campus, Fr. Mitten teaches several biology and conservation courses. But his real love is avian ecology.

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