On December 4th, in conjunction with World Soil Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations released a first-of-its-kind report on soil biodiversity. A collaborative effort by more than 300 scientists around the world, this project was led by several organizations, including the Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative, whose secretariat is housed at SoGES. READ the report and LEARN MORE.

SoGES inaugural director Diana Wall is among the current and past presidents of the American Institute of Biological Sciences who have come together to write the latest BioScience viewpoint, declaring "the assault by politicians and special interest groups on the use of scientific knowledge to guide public policy decision-making alarming and dangerous." READ the full viewpoint and LISTEN to an audio recording.

Ken Salazar, former U.S. Senator and Interior Secretary, and the Salazar Center for North American Conservation were featured by the The Denver Post in December. The article says that Salazar hopes Americans can find common ground on the most pressing environmental problems, like climate change, land use, water quality and quantity, and that the Salazar Center can bring together diverse ideas and people. READ the article.

Ed Hall, SoGES Resident Fellow and Associate Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, along with grad students from the Hall Lab Group, hosted an NREL Soup and Science Seminar in December. They discussed the lab group's ongoing research, partially supported by Hall's SoGES fellowship, on the impacts of freshwater aquaculture in Honduras. WATCH the recording of the seminar.

Amy Charkowski, Professor and Head of the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management, and Edwin Chong, Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, were recently named AAAS Fellows. LEARN MORE. Charkowski and Chong were principal investigators on SoGES Global Challenges Research Teams in 2019-20 and 2018-19, respectively.

The Africa Center, housed in SoGES, has released the latest installment of its podcast blog, Field Notes. On this episode they interview Melinda Laituri, Professor Emeritus of the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability. Laituri, who has been on several SoGES Global Challenges Research Teams, is a geographer, a geospatial analysis specialist, and Founding Director of the Geospatial Centroid at CSU. LISTEN HERE.

SoGES selected five projects for the 2021 Sustainability Curriculum Innovation Grants, created in partnership with the President's Sustainability Commission. These projects will expand and improve interdisciplinary sustainability content across the CSU curriculum. LEARN MORE.

The Interdisciplinary Training, Education and Research in Food-Energy-Water Systems (InTERFEWS) Program is now accepting applications for the Fall 2021 cohort, open to CSU Ph.D. students entering the 1st or 2nd semester of their program. Deadline to apply is January 15th. LEARN MORE and APPLY.

"Welcome to Jurassic Park: Can genetically modified mosquitoes create a healthier and more sustainable future?"

Lyndsey Gray, Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology

Pascal Jundt, Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Physics

Cassidy Jackson, Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Chemistry

Online minor enrollment is available. Visit the SoGES education and training webpage to learn more and download the minor course check sheets.

The Global Environmental Sustainability (GES) Minor offers undergraduate students in every department at CSU a curriculum that enhances their major with the core knowledge to address real world sustainability challenges and the tools to bring sustainability into their careers. To enroll, students must meet with SoGES Advisor Dale Lockwood (virtual appointments available). Watch this video and email GESadvising@colostate.edu for more information.

The Interdisciplinary Minor in Sustainable Energy (SEM) is jointly offered by the Energy Institute and SoGES. This minor offers undergraduate students, regardless of their major, an opportunity to gain a deeper knowledge of the many dimensions of sustainable energy. To enroll, students must meet with SoGES Advisor Dale Lockwood (virtual appointments available). Email GESadvising@colostate.edu for more information.

The Sustainable Water Interdisciplinary Minor (SWIM) is 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 management and its use. To enroll, students must meet with SWIM advisor Julie Kallenberger (virtual appointments available). Email Julie.Kallenberger@colostate.edu for more information.

The Role of Sustainability in Peace and Reconciliation Studies (SPRS) Interdisciplinary Minor is open to students who want to understand more about the philosophical roots of peace and reconciliation and its expression within various academic disciplines, research, and service. To enroll, students must meet with SoGES advisor Dale Lockwood (virtual appointments available). Email GESadvising@colostate.edu for more information.

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.

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.