Sustainability Scholars

Our Sustainability Scholars have varying interests, majors and class years.

Each is placed with a private, public, or nonprofit community institution to focus on a discrete project during the summer, and we also meet as a group to discuss how individuals and institutions can move the needle at the community-scale on environmental issues, with a particular emphasis on climate change.

Learning Objectives

Through hands-on experience and dynamic group discussion, sustainability scholars gain unique knowledge and insight as well as applicable skills, including the following.

• Urgency and agency to make positive change for the environment
• Familiarity with systems thinking and several sustainability-related examples
• Knowledge of key climate change drivers, impacts, and policies
• Knowledge of Charlotte-area sustainability challenges, opportunities, and champions
• First-hand experience with alternative transportation modes
• Proficiency in specific tool(s) for measuring and/or engaging sustainability
• Ability to identify advantages and barriers to community-scale sustainability action from the perspectives of individuals, private-sector, public-sector and nonprofit organizations

2024 Sustainability Scholars