This networking event, held by The Africa Center, is an opportunity to meet faculty, staff, students, and community members who are interested in and working in Africa. Share ideas, stories, and research while enjoying African coffee, juice, tea, and breakfast snacks. 108 Johnson Hall, 2-3:30pm. The Africa Center is housed in SoGES.

Matthew R. Siegfried, Assistant Professor in the Department of Geophysics at the Colorado School of Mines, will present on the history of investigation into water systems beneath the Antarctic ice sheet and discuss two current projects that explore this area. Free virtual event, 6:30-7:30pm. REGISTER HERE.

Ryan Hearty of Johns Hopkins University will give a public lecture that explores the history of environmental engineers in the 1960s through 1980s who infused moral arguments about technology, pollution, marginalized communities, non-human nature, and societal risk into their teaching, writing, research, and career decisions. LSC Room 306, 4-5pm. LEARN MORE. Co-sponsored with the Public Lands History Center.

In this story from Empowering Colorado, SoGES Associate Director Peter Backlund discussed the importance of helping crop producers understand the complex interplay of changing growing conditions caused by climate change. The USDA technical report Climate Indicators for Agriculture, co-authored by Backlund and featured in this article, helps show that for Western Slope fruit growers, the primary factors at play are earlier bud break and bloom, microclimates, and water shortages from extreme drought. READ MORE.

Jenna Parker was lead author of a recent study that showed poaching adult elephants lowered the survival rate of their orphaned offspring, creating a longer-term effect on overall population. This study was featured in a recent SOURCE article, which also discussed a study lead by George Wittemyer that analyzed how the survival of different age groups affects elephant population trends. READ MORE. Parker was a SoGES 2019-20 Sustainability Leadership Fellow and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Wittemyer is a Professor in the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.

Richard C. Aster, V. Chandrasekar, and Paul Judson DeMott have been elected to the AGU 2021 Class of Fellows for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the field of geosciences. LEARN MORE. Elizabeth Barnes was awarded a James B. Macelwane Medal, which is given annually to early career scientists in recognition of their significant contributions to Earth and space science. LEARN MORE. Aster is a SoGES affiliate faculty member and Department Head and Professor in the Department of Geosciences. Chandrasekar is a SoGES affiliate faculty member and a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. DeMott was a principal investigator on the 2019-20 SoGES research team, Aerobiome Discovery Network, and is a Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Atmospheric Science. Barnes is a SoGES affiliate faculty member and an Associate Professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science.

Dimitris Stevis co-edited The Palgrave Handbook of Environmental Labour Studies, which explores the relationships between workers and nature in the context of environmental crises. LEARN MORE. Stevis has been on several SoGES research teams on environmental justice, including co-founding the CSU Center for Environmental Justice, and is a Professor in the Department of Political Science.

Ryan Morrison, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will lead CSU's involvement in a five-year NSF project, which aims to better connect urban and rural systems for a more sustainable future, focusing on sustainability, equity, and resilience in the Intermountain West. The other co-principal investigators are Aditi Bhaskar, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Dale Manning, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics; Camille Stevens-Rumann, Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship; and Kelly Jones, Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. READ MORE. Morrison is a former SoGES Curriculum Committee member. Bhaskar and Jones are SoGES affiliate faculty.

University Distinguished Professor Eugene Chen will lead a three-year, $3 million research project titled Polymer Upcycling Research to Reduce Plastics Waste, which will entail the development of next-generation polymers that, unlike commodity plastics of today, are chemically recyclable. READ MORE. Chen was a SoGES Resident Fellow from 2011 to 2013 and is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry.

The Africa Center, housed in SoGES, has released a new installment of its podcast blog, Field Notes. On this episode, Monica Lasky talks about her recent trip to South Africa for ecological field research, some of the challenges of conducting cross-cultural research, and being a NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Lasky is a master's student in the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. LISTEN HERE.

This three-part webinar series, "Everything on the Table: Reimagining Global-to-Local Food Systems," will feature policymakers, scientists, researchers, and producers on how we can reshape our food systems to be more sustainable and equitable, while feeding a growing population. Presented by the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and partners. The first webinar is today, October 5th from 12-1:30pm. LEARN MORE.

Visiting Scholar Natasha Bowens Blair, author of this year’s Rams Read book, The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming, will share her experiences about meeting people with incredible stories centered around food justice. LSC Ballroom and Lobby, October 15th from 4-5:45pm. LEARN MORE.

This event, "Social Justice and Human Carnivore Coexistence: Considering Indigenous Voices and Rights in Wolf Reintroduction and Management," will feature four speakers from 4:30-6:30pm, followed by a Q&A and dinner. Presented by the the Warner College of Natural Resources, the Center for Human Carnivore Coexistence, and the Warner College's Office of Diversity and Inclusion. LSC Theater, October 21st from 4:30-7:30pm. LEARN MORE.

Global Environmental Sustainability Minor (GES)

Our flagship minor, the GES program provides a deep understanding of the complexity surrounding the problems we face and the solutions that we need to implement to address climate change, biodiversity, pollution, public health, oceans, food security, and development on a global scale. LEARN MORE.

Jointly offered by the Colorado Water Center and SoGES, this minor focuses on water issues from social, political, economic, and ecological perspectives. Students gain knowledge of the complexities of water use and management. LEARN MORE.

This minor focuses on social, philosophical, and education aspects of peace and reconciliation and how these can address issues of sustainability. LEARN MORE.

Jointly offered by the CSU Energy Institute and SoGES, this minor focuses on the many dimensions of sustainable energy and breaking down traditional barriers that separate the science and engineering of energy from the social, economic, and political aspects of energy. LEARN MORE.

Online minor enrollment is available. Visit the SoGES education and training webpage to learn more, download the minor course check sheets, and set up an advising appointment.

SoGES addresses complex and global challenges by propelling sustainability research, educating future sustainability leaders, and connecting with the community. CLICK HERE to learn more about our School, our mission, and ways you can support our work.

PLUGGED IN: CSU's Sustainability Newsletter is distributed on the first Tuesday of each month. CLICK HERE to join our mailing list. Questions about this newsletter? Email micha.bennett@colostate.edu.