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Education
Goal: Incorporate sustainability into the depth and breadth of every student's experience by including core concepts of sustainability in every applicable field and research opportunity and by using the campus as a living laboratory for sustainability.
As part of the ongoing effort to infuse sustainability into increasing numbers of courses on campus, Sustainable Duke initiated the Trillium Student Research Initiative to assist faculty in creating courses or adapting existing coursework to provide sustainability learning outcomes. Most recently, two undergraduate students worked with Dr. Nicki Cagle from the Nicholas School of the Environment (NSOE) to work on the "NSOE Undergraduate Diversity Strategic Plan." Students researched and identified barriers that deter under-represented minority and first-generation students from taking sustainability and environmental courses to make recommendations to NSOE leadership.
The broader Trillium faculty training program celebrated its 10th year with the largest ever cohort of Trillium Fellows. Co-hosted at N.C. Central University as part of a regional partnership among Triangle institutions, 68 participants attended the 2019 workshop on "Justice & Sustainability." This theme explored the extent of justice in reaching sustainability goals. There are currently 228 Trillium Fellows overall.
The undergraduate Sustainability Engagement Certificate was designed to facilitate learning and research that confronts the interconnections between environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability both inside and outside of the classroom. Since the beginning of the certificate program in 2016, it has grown to 19 undergraduate students, including 5 recent graduates.
Communication
Goal: Enhance understanding and foster changes in behavior among members of the Duke community that reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Duke.
Creating a vibrant campus culture of sustainability, takes significant effort across Duke to engage students, faculty, and staff. In fiscal year 2019, more than 2,500 members of the Duke community attended sustainability focused workshops, events and tours hosted by Sustainable Duke.
Thirty-five Green Devil student interns worked across campus to educate and empower individuals to personally connect and take action on the University's broad sustainability goals. In particular, the Green Dorm Room Challenge engaged every residence hall on East Campus to compete for the greatest number of sustainability-certified dorm rooms. Students took an online survey to practice sustainable behaviors such as reducing food waste and limiting water and energy use. More than 750 students, or about one-third of the first year class, certified their dorm room with Randolph, Brown, and Giles taking home the top spots.
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