News
Kopstain, Breggin to co-chair Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Committee
Feb. 28, 2020—Vanderbilt University Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain and Vanderbilt Law School lecturer Linda Breggin, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C., and project director for the Nashville Food Waste Initiative, have been named co-chairs of the Nashville Sustainability Advisory Committee. Mayor John Cooper announced the formation of the committee during its...
Jim Rossi and Christopher Serkin win 2020 Morrison Prize for best scholarship on sustainability
Feb. 27, 2020—Jim Rossi and Christopher Serkin have won the 2020 Morrison Prize for best scholarship in environmental law with their co-authored paper “Energy Exactions.” Rossi holds the Judge D.L. Lansden Chair in Law and serves as associate dean for research; Serkin holds the Elisabeth H. and Granville S. Ridley Jr. Chair in Law and serves as associate dean for...
Wente, Kopstain launch new Sustainability Advisory Council
Feb. 21, 2020—Vanderbilt has established a new Sustainability Advisory Council to guide and support the university’s progress toward its comprehensive long-term sustainability strategy. The council will include students, staff and faculty selected by Interim Chancellor and Provost Susan R. Wente and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain. The council will ensure the university is applying diverse viewpoints, varied...
Students have front-row seat for international climate change negotiations
Feb. 11, 2020—by Amy Wolf Feb. 10, 2020, 9:51 AM As part of its continuing commitment to understanding and combating climate change issues through education and action, Vanderbilt University is now an accredited, official observer of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This designation allows students, faculty and staff to participate in negotiating conferences that bring together tens of thousands of...
Are you the greenest Commodore on campus?
Feb. 5, 2020—Waste Management Inc., the Vanderbilt Sustainability and Environmental Management Office (SEMO) and Vanderbilt Athletics are looking for the greenest Commodore on campus for this year’s Vanderbilt Basketball Sustainability Competition. Recycling, composting, using a reusable water bottle, taking alternative transportation and using energy efficient products are some of the many ways you can be sustainable on campus. Tag FutureVU Sustainability on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter with...
Vanderbilt commits to first-of-its-kind renewable energy partnership with TVA, NES
Jan. 22, 2020—Silicon Ranch Corporation to build Bedford County solar farm to open in 2022 Vanderbilt University has entered into a pioneering agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority and Nashville Electric Service to procure off-site large-scale renewable energy to help mitigate the campus’ greenhouse gas emissions. The 20-year agreement will support Vanderbilt’s goal to power its campus entirely through renewable...
Annual report on campus sustainability efforts now available
Jan. 20, 2020—Vanderbilt University greenhouse gas emissions have dropped 7 percent per square foot compared to FY17-18, and 18.5 percent compared to CY16. The finding is among those showcased in the annual sustainability report released today by FutureVU Sustainability in the Division of Administration. “The achievements highlighted in this report reflect the work of hundreds of faculty, staff and students in...
Make your voice heard! Provide feedback on Nashville’s transportation challenges at upcoming public listening sessions
Jan. 16, 2020—Ride a WeGo bus with the Vanderbilt group to the Feb. 18 Downtown Public Listening Session, and make your voice heard on the transportation challenges affecting Nashville. (Susan Urmy/Vanderbilt) Ride WeGo bus with VU group to Downtown Public Listening Session Feb. 18 The Mayor’s Office of Transportation is hosting a series of public listening sessions in January...
Join FutureVU Sustainability Leaders and help foster a sustainable campus
Jan. 15, 2020—As part of Vanderbilt’s commitment to achieving zero waste by the year 2030, the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office is launching a new program—Sustainability Leaders—to improve sustainability outcomes on campus through culture change, education and the facilitation of actionable goals. Sustainability Leaders will act as peer mentors to foster a community that raises awareness of...
Vanderbilt University commits to achieving zero waste goal by 2030
Jan. 13, 2020—Vanderbilt has announced its commitment to achieving zero waste by the year 2030 as part of the university’s comprehensive long-term strategy to significantly reduce its environmental footprint and drive positive change in the world. Zero waste is defined as a 90% diversion rate from the landfill, acknowledging that no institution is completely waste-free. Vanderbilt additionally has...
Vanderbilt mechanical engineers earn top materials research awards
Dec. 20, 2019—Vanderbilt mechanical engineers took home top awards at the Dec. 6 meeting of the Materials Research Society in Boston, Massachusetts. Kelsey Hatzell Mechanical engineering professor Kelsey Hatzell received the Materials Research Society Nelson “Buck” Robinson Science and Technology Award for Renewable Energy. Hatzell was selected from more than 25 candidates for her research contributions to...
Don’t Forget to Power Down Before Leaving for Winter Break!
Dec. 11, 2019—Please remember to power down before you leave the office or your home for an extended period over Winter Break. Your reductions in energy use can have a large impact when aggregated across the entire university. Here are some things you can do to help conserve energy while you are away: Turn off lights in...
Little, Pinker and Zimmer to discuss global challenges at Chancellor’s Lecture
Nov. 27, 2019—by Ann Marie Deer Owens Nov. 20, 2019, 9:36 AM A cognitive psychologist and two investigative writers—all of whom are noted for their deep focus on the future of our planet—will come together for a Chancellor’s Lecture Series event at Vanderbilt University on Dec. 3. Amanda Little, Steven Pinker and Carl Zimmer will sit down with moderator Jon Meacham to consider “2020 and...
Al Gore leads off 24 Hours of Reality climate crisis events at Vanderbilt
Nov. 22, 2019—by Ann Marie Deer Owens Nov. 22, 2019, 12:34 PM During former Vice President Al Gore’s presentation at Vanderbilt University on the global climate crisis and solutions, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said he remains optimistic about policy change—given not only the economics of renewable energy but also the determination he has observed in “the voices, the...
Division of Administration issues FutureVU progress report
Nov. 22, 2019—Sustainable building and landscape projects, safety and accessibility improvements and transportation and mobility accomplishments are just a few of the many achievements outlined in the first FutureVU progress report, released online by the Division of Administration. FutureVU is the overarching campus planning process that considers core themes including connectivity and community enhancement, diversity and inclusion,...