News
Wond’ry Commodore Cup Unleashes Student Innovation for Sustainable Campus Transformation
Dec. 4, 2023—This year, the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Center for Innovation, launched their first ever Commodore Cup, a design thinking challenge that was funded through one of Vanderbilt’s Sesquicentennial Grants, which resulted in teams showcasing their ingenuity with proposed sustainability improvements for Vanderbilt’s campus. We were elated to embark on the journey of creating a groundbreaking program centered...
Vanderbilt researchers explore new science education approach to build youths’ agency amid climate anxiety
Nov. 29, 2023—By Jenna Somers Heidi Carlone A three-year, nearly $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation supports a trans-institutional research team at Vanderbilt University investigating an innovative approach to STEM education that could help young people develop STEM identities and agency amidst climate anxiety. Children around the world experience growing levels of climate anxiety as they witness the worsening...
Vanderbilt sophomore attends release of National Climate Assessment at the White House
Nov. 27, 2023—Gabrielle Beck, a sophomore studying neuroscience and environmental policy, attended the release of the fifth annual National Climate Assessment on Nov. 14 after receiving an all-expense-paid invitation from program Director Allison Crimmins. The National Climate Assessment, a congressionally mandated report released by the White House every four years, provides scientific information about climate change risks, impacts and responses...
Vanderbilt welcomes ORNL researchers for collaborative climate and justice workshop
Oct. 30, 2023—Vanderbilt hosted the Vanderbilt University–Oak Ridge National Laboratory Workshop on Climate Change and Environmental Justice on Oct. 9, welcoming ORNL researchers for a dynamic discussion on the climate change research the organizations are undertaking and to explore potential collaborations. The workshop, sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Innovation, was the...
Aaron Feng, BA’18, champions the environment within finance, oil and gas industries
Oct. 30, 2023—By Amy Wolf Yalun Aaron Feng, BA’18, has long been fueled by optimism and a sense of challenge in his quest to build bridges between business and environmental advocacy. While a Vanderbilt undergraduate, the Wuhan, China, native and environmental sociology and political science double major launched a social enterprise company that made fully biodegradable plates out of tree leaves....
Innovative podcast explores creative, interdisciplinary responses to climate change
Oct. 24, 2023—You might not have ever thought about how art made of snow can communicate the threats of global warming. Or how an underwater opera can highlight the distress of our oceans. These unusual pairings—and many more—are the focus of a new podcast that explores unexpected connections between the arts and the sciences. The podcast, Art of...
From blackberry juice solar cells to forensic labs: VINSE outreach is shaping the next generation of scientists
Oct. 19, 2023—There’s a good chance many Middle Tennessee high school kids know more about nanotechnology than you do thanks to the Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, which has been making strides in its educational outreach for more than a decade. VINSE’s mission is to drive innovation in science, nanotechnology and education that benefits society. ...
Give Metro Nashville feedback on Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan
Oct. 3, 2023—To prepare Nashville and Davidson County and ensure its citizens’ ability to thrive for years to come, former Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s office, in partnership with Metro Nashville departments and the Mayor’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, have developed a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan. The advisory committee was chaired by Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain and Vanderbilt Law...
Vanderbilt contributes civil engineering and operational expertise to Nashville mayor’s climate adaptation and resilience plan
Sep. 26, 2023—Vanderbilt faculty and staff have been key contributors to a Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan that was released by Metro Nashville on Sept. 19. Jaclyn Mothupi, director of social innovation at the Wond’ry, Vanderbilt’s Innovation Center, and Janey Camp, research professor of civil and environmental engineering, co-chaired the subcommittee on adaptation and resilience as part of Mayor John Cooper’s Sustainability...
Four recognized with 2023 Vanderbilt alumni awards
Sep. 14, 2023—The Vanderbilt Alumni Association Board of Directors has announced its 2023 alumni award recipients. They will be honored during Reunion and Homecoming weekend Nov. 2–5. Cynthia “CJ” Warner, BE’80, is the Alumni Professional Achievement Award recipient. The award recognizes Vanderbilt alumni who have distinguished themselves through their professional accomplishments and whose contributions honor the legacy of excellence at...
Registration open for inaugural Commodore Cup, a campus-wide sustainability challenge hosted by the Wond’ry
Aug. 31, 2023—The Wond’ry, in collaboration with Clearloop and the Division of Administration, will host the inaugural Commodore Cup design challenge this September, with $10,000 worth of cash prizes up for grabs. Open to all students, staff, faculty and alumni, this year’s theme is Sustainability. Applications close on Sept. 1 at midnight. Register here.
New map app for all-electric VandyRide shuttles, other important updates to the service
Aug. 24, 2023—Vanderbilt University announced earlier this summer that it will deploy the first all-electric multi-vehicle shuttle fleet at a university in Tennessee. The new fleet will provide eco-friendly vehicles for VandyRide, a nighttime shuttle service for Vanderbilt students, by the start of the fall 2023 semester. The transition to these EV shuttles will help Vanderbilt further reduce...
Vanderbilt Campus Dining launches ReusePass reusable container program
Aug. 21, 2023—Vanderbilt University Campus Dining is introducing the ReusePass program, its latest effort toward integrating sustainability into daily campus life. Launching at the start of the fall 2023 semester, ReusePass offers a straightforward process that empowers participants to effortlessly make eco-conscious dining choices and help curb single-use plastic waste. ReusePass replaces the Fill it Forward program...
Jonathan Gilligan receives 2023–24 Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award
Aug. 18, 2023—Jonathan Gilligan, Vanderbilt University professor of earth and environmental sciences and of civil and environmental engineering, has received a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program award for the 2023–24 academic year from the U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Gilligan will be the visiting Fulbright Canada Research Chair in Digital Technologies and Sustainability...
Vanderbilt hosts SmartComp 2023, prestigious IEEE international conference on smart computing
Jul. 28, 2023—Vanderbilt University recently hosted the ninth Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers International Conference on Smart Computing, a reflection of the university’s leading role in AI and its involvement in advanced smart community projects. Organized with the support of the Institute for Software Integrated Systems, the conference drew a diverse mix of academics, community leaders and professionals from across...