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A Unique Approach to Sustainability
Sustainability often calls to mind images of recycling bins and energy-efficient buildings, but for Duke students Yujin and Lalie, it’s about something more—infusing creativity and reflection into everyday life. Through their work with Say the Thing and Lark events, they are redefining waste by transforming discarded materials into interactive art experiences that encourage Duke students to pause, reflect and engage with sustainability in unexpected ways.
Yujin is a senior majoring in Environmental Science with a minor in Cultural Anthropology, while Lalie is pursuing a Master of Environmental Management with concentrations in Business and Energy and Environment. Currently, they share a common goal: making sustainability a more tangible and engaging experience for the broader Duke community.
Transforming Waste into Art
Yujin and Lalie's project, Say the Thing, a collaboration between Duke Chapel and Kenan Institute for Ethics, operates at the intersection of waste management and creative expression. By repurposing discarded materials—like old library book covers, outdated ticket machines and even misprinted paper—into interactive art installations, they challenge Duke students to rethink the value of objects often deemed useless.
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One of their most memorable projects was a Día de los Muertos event, where students wrote the names of lost loved ones on strips of repurposed book covers, creating a collective chain-link memorial displayed at the Duke Chapel. The event not only honored tradition but also highlighted how discarded materials can carry deep meaning when given a second life.
Another event featured a filing cabinet salvaged from campus discards, repurposed as a “wisdom archive.” Yujin and Lalie collected single-sided misprints from various campus departments and printed thought-provoking quotes on the blank sides. Students were invited to sift through the cabinet and select a piece of wisdom to carry with them. “It was amazing to see how something as mundane as misprinted paper could become a source of inspiration,” Yujin shared.
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The team has also hosted events using old sheet music from the Chapel, allowing students to create their own artistic expressions with stamps and quotes. “It’s all about giving people a moment to reflect, even in their busy schedules,” Lalie explained. “We want to create small pockets of mindfulness using materials that otherwise would have been discarded.”
Expanding Sustainability Across Campus
Beyond individual events, Yujin and Lalie are working to establish a more institutionalized approach to circularity on campus. They envision a system where Duke offices and departments can seamlessly exchange discarded materials, ensuring waste finds new purpose rather than heading to the landfill. Their latest collaboration with Duke Athletics aims to repurpose old sporting equipment—like tennis rackets and banners—into new, functional items for student projects and events. “We’re still in the early stages,” Yujin says, “but the idea of building a culture where sustainability is embedded in daily choices is what drives us.”
For them, sustainability isn’t just about environmental impact—it’s about creating a culture of care. “Every job is a sustainability job,” Lalie reflects. “Whether you're an engineer, artist, or manager, you can integrate sustainability into your work. It’s about shifting mindsets, not just behaviors.”
Their advice to students looking to get involved in sustainability? Look beyond traditional definitions. “Find what excites you,” Yujin says. “Sustainability isn’t one-size-fits-all. Whether through art, policy, or engineering, there’s a space for everyone to contribute.”
Whether you're an engineer, artist, or manager, you can integrate sustainability into your work. It’s about shifting mindsets, not just behaviors.
Lalie Marie
Looking to the Future
Through Green Devil Internship work, Yujin and Lalie are proving that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste—it’s about fostering reflection, creativity and connection. Their hope is that Duke continues to serve as a living laboratory for sustainable ideas, where the campus community sees waste not as an end, but as a new beginning for innovation and engagement.
For those interested in using Duke’s campus as a learning lab like Lalie and Yujin have done, please read more about the Sustainability and Climate Applied Learning (SCALe) program for resources and support.
This article is part of the SCALe Spotlight series hosted by the Office of Climate and Sustainability. The Sustainability and Climate Applied Learning (SCALe) Spotlight stories celebrate Duke students, staff, faculty and community partners who demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and climate education through applied teaching, learning and action.
Nominate someone today to shine the SCALe Spotlight on them!
Article written by Mason Ibrahim