VISIONING SUSTAINABILITY AT PITT

In January 2023, MCSI convened 37 faculty and staff from 25 different departments. Each attendee was a leader and advocate for sustainability research and education within their field and at Pitt

Conversations and discussion focused on how Pitt could have the greatest impact to address regional and global sustainability challenges, with the workshop leading to the formation of key working groups which convened over a 6-week period to further institute goals.

The emerging Pitt Sustainability Institute vision and mission are:

Sustainability is a universal value in the Plan for Pitt. We have worked across campus to develop a strategic plan and broad partnership to define how the core value of Sustainability can be further:

• Woven and advanced into academics at Pitt; Accelerate the positive impact of our research on key sustainability topics;

• More closely connect various sustainability centers, initiatives, programs, and activities on campus; and

• Strengthen the critical link between academics and research to our operations, student activities, and communities.

Vision: Co-create research, education, and engagement opportunities by shattering silos and fostering critical connections to solve the complex challenges facing our planet while co-creating more just, equitable, and sustainable communities at the University, within the region, and around the world.

Mission: As the collaborative, interdisciplinary hub of sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh, the Pitt Sustainability Institute is making positive impacts that address our grand challenges. The Institute connects, strengthens, and complements existing, emerging, and exploratory sustainability nodes at Pitt.

“Thank you so much for all the planning yesterday. It was just fantastic. It is always difficult to convene so many people across various fields, but you created meaningful discussions (with a delicious, veggie-friendly lunch! Thank you!).”

Dr. Cassie Quigley, School of Education

Description

Break down silos, share capacity, elevate existing nodes of activity, and provide places for collaboration and innovation.

Expand impact in priority research areas and their intersections; environmental and climate justice are a thread woven throughout.

Emerging Research Themes

Front door for sustainability at Pitt, welcoming external partners, establishing service opportunities, & advancing global impact.

Education and interfacing opportunities for faculty and students, including using campus as a living laboratory

Cross-disciplinary working groups of the Faculty Ad Hoc Committee for Sustainability strategically focused on where a future Sustainability Insitutte should expand the positive impact of sustainability research in areas most aligned with Pitt’s current and emerging areas of research.

Connecting research efforts across Pitt’s academic schools and centers will help produce a larger impact on Pitt’s sustainability research constellation. As outlined in the figure below, four research themes have been proposed (and are still in development). Environmental and climate justice will be a thread that weaves through them all and helps guide each research thrust.

The Pitt Sustainability Challenge launched in November 2022 as a public competition for a $300,000 implementation grant to advance carbon neutrality that benefits the Pitt community.

Envisioned and co-led by MCSI and the Office of Sustainability, proposals from internal & external teams were received & evaluated by an external Evaluation Panel (below). Following months of deliberation, five (5) finalists were announced on July 7th A public event will be held on September 14, 2023 where all five finalists will publicly pitch their solutions. A winner will be announced at this event. Get to know the finalists