An interdisciplinary research team at CSU, led by Sue VandeWoude, was awarded $12.5 million from the National Science Foundation to study microbes that live in the air, known as the aerobiome. The project is named BROADN, or Biology Integration Institutes: Regional OneHealth Aerobiome Discovery Network, and gained momentum in 2019 through a SoGES Global Challenges Research Team award. LEARN MORE. VandeWoude is Director of the CSU One Health Institute and a University Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology.

Aleta Weller is co-first author on this paper published in Sustainability that outlines the ANGLES network co-created skills and aptitudes for leadership training for graduate students in sustainability. ANGLES is a network of universities in the U.S. and Canada working together to accelerate and improve sustainability-focused leadership development in graduate education. Weller is the Senior Research and Engagement Officer for SoGES and co-leads the ANGLES network.

Gretchen Kroh and Xoco Shinbrot have been named AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellows, with Kroh being awarded placement at the USDA Office of the Chief Scientist and Shinbrot being awarded a placement at the NSF Office of Polar Programs. LEARN MORE. Kroh was a 2018-19 Sustainability Leadership Fellow (SLF) and earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Biology. Shinbrot was a 2016-17 SLF and earned a Ph.D. from the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources and the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology.

A cross-campus group of CSU faculty, including SoGES Executive Council Member Joe von Fischer, published a commentary piece in the American Geophysical Union journal Earth’s Future. It describes their vision of a new federal climate agency that catalyzes solutions for climate-related problems and, critically, places issues of culture and equity at the forefront, alongside new science and technologies. They've dubbed their proposed new agency “ARPA-C,” or Advanced Research Projects Agency-Climate. LEARN MORE. Von Fischer is a Professor in the Department of Biology.

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) will host a webinar focused on new understanding of climate-induced wildfires, their effects on soil biodiversity and ecosystem processes, and research priorities for the future. Panelists are: Elizabeth Wandrag (University of York, UK), Konstantin Gongalsky (Russian Academy of Sciences), Marie-Charlotte Nilsson (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), and Mac Callaham (U.S. Forest Service). Free and open to the public, September 14th, 8am. REGISTER HERE. The GSBI secretariat is housed at SoGES.

SoGES Director Diana Wall was featured in a recent episode of the podcast series Our New World, which is part of of the Millennium Alliance for Humanity and the Biosphere, an initiative of Stanford University. Wall talks about her research, our relationship with soil, and gives insight into what it takes to become an academic. LISTEN HERE.

Pat Keys was a part of a recent Ecological Society of America (ESA) annual meeting panel discussion co-hosted by incoming ESA President Dennis Ojima. The panel explored what future advances in ecological research will be needed to meet the challenges that threaten the sustainable future of our planet. Keys is the Lead Scientist for SoGES. Ojima is a member of the SoGES Executive Council, Emeritus Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, and Senior Research Scientist in the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory.

SoGES is now accepting proposals for the 2022 Sustainability Curriculum Innovation Grants to develop creative approaches that integrate interdisciplinary sustainability content into existing and new coursework at CSU. These grants, open to all CSU faculty, are created in partnership with the President's Sustainability Commission. Proposals are due October 1st. LEARN MORE and APPLY.

The Global Soil Biodiversity Initiative (GSBI) is hiring a part time Webinar Specialist at the graduate or advanced undergraduate level to assist with their monthly webinar series, GSBI Speaks. The position will engage virtually with an international network of soil biodiversity scientists. LEARN MORE. The GSBI secretariat is housed at SoGES.

The Salazar Center for North American Conservation is accepting scholarship applications for the Elevating Voices program, which will provide CSU undergraduates mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities related to conservation, storytelling, and film production. LEARN MORE and APPLY by September 27th.

The Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (Soil BON) is seeking global collaborators to achieve balanced coverage of sample sites across the world for an upcoming soil biodiversity observation experiment. LEARN MORE. Soil BON is co-led by Carlos Guerra of the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research and SoGES Director Diana Wall.

The Sustainability and Development Initiative, based at the University of Michigan, is now accepting abstracts for the third annual Sustainability and Development Conference, which will be held January 24-28, 2022. The conference aims to foster knowledge production, sharing, and collaboration around goals such as ecosystem conservation, greater equality and justice, and transformative actions. Abstracts are due October 1st. LEARN MORE.

The Climate Challenge Cup is a new international competition to elevate and help scale transformative civic research partnerships between research bodies, civic organizations and local communities in the U.S. and U.K. to combat climate change. The Cup will culminate in an innovation showcase and award ceremony during COP26, the United Nations 2021 Climate Change Conference in November. Project applications are due September 24th. 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.