SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES PROGRAM
Image: Tray of plant seedlings Courtesy of Wade Isphording
A MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL DIRECTOR
A Year's Overview
Welcome to the annual report from the School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS), the home of Environmental Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati
The School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS) is thriving Students, faculty, and alumni continue to address pressing challenges facing the Greater Cincinnati area and the planet
SEaS is the home of the Environmental Studies BS and BA, as well as two minor tracks, which combined serve around 300 students
We are thrilled to provide unparalleled experiential learning opportunities to our current students, from study abroad opportunities in Brazil, Costa Rica, and Germany to research experiences in the local area on gaslight emissions
We are excited to grow our program and are in the process of creating micro-credentials, certificates, and graduate degrees in sustainability
We continue to thrive with alumni support and partnerships in the Greater Cincinnati Area as well as through co-curricular and extracurricular partnerships with student organizations on campus, such as Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection (LEAP), Net Impact, UC Students for Burnet Woods, the Horticulture Club, Ornithology Club, and Mountaineering Club, amongst others
SEaS is also excited to partner with the UC Center for Field Studies We would welcome you to check out its programming Open throughout the week, its 17 6-acre parcel of land is one of the university’s most advanced teaching and research facilities
Want to stay involved? Here is how:
Learn more about recent SEaS news by visiting our website
Support our programs and give to a fund that furthers the work of our school
Connect with us to discover opportunities to interact with, mentor, and employ our current students
LauraZanotti,PhD DirectorandProfessor SchoolofEnvironmentandSustainability
ABOUT US
The School of Environment and Sustainability (SEaS) is a community of scholars and students dedicated to understanding and meeting the world’s environmental challenges. The School of Environment and Sustainability is home to the Environmental Studies BS and BA, minors in Environmental Studies and Environmental Analysis and Policy as well as microcredentials in sustainability.
SEaS brings together expertise in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to create a transdisciplinary approach to problem solving both in the classroom and beyond. Students, faculty, and staff in SEaS co-create impactful action that can meet the seemingly insurmountable challenges we face.
COOPERATIVELY CREATINGAJUST ANDECOLOGICALLY THRIVINGWORLD.
Image: SEaS faculty and students tabling at the UC Sustainability Fair in Fall of 2024.
TEACHING & LEARNING
STUDENTS ARE AT THE HEART OF WHAT WE DO.
Image: A group of Environmental Studies students during the pandemic at Gorman Heritage Farm
WE OFFER
Majors
Environmental Studies, BS
Environmental Studies, BA
Minors
Environmental Studies Minor
Environmental Analysis + Policy Minor
Micro-Credentials
Introduction to Sustainability
Advanced Topics Sustainability
Graduate Sustainability Micro-Credential
STUDENTS AND FACULTY WORK TOGETHER IN ACTION-ORIENTED CLASSROOMS THAT SUPPORT COOP, INTERNSHIP AND RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS CAREER PLANNING.
Image: During an interactive presentation at Greenacres, an Environmental Studies student holds up two different types of soils.
CAPSTONE PROJECTS
Annually, our most senior students embark on formulating, researching, and completing group-based projects. Through engaging with partner organizations and community members, students tackle a sustainability challenge together. Below, we share the titles of the range of interdisciplinary projects our students led this year to make a difference!
2024-2025 PROJECT TITLES
A Better Bin: Hamilton County Recycling Plan Proposal
An Analysis of Community Perceptions Toward Natural Gas Street Lamps in the City of Cincinnati
An Evaluation of E. coli in the Soil and Water of Burnet Woods’ Lower Valley
An Interdisciplinary Investigation of Steel Production Pollution in Middletown, OH
Assessing the Presence of Per-/Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Along the Mill Creek Waterway: Locating Point Sources and Prospects for Remediation
Biodiversity and Health of Coral Species in Cahuita National Park
Cincinnati Arboretum Biodiversity Assessment
Designing and Testing Educational Signage for Greenspaces
Effects of Natural vs Artificial Light on Growth, Productivity, and Hardiness of Thymus vulgaris
Planter Boxes for Pollinators & Communities
Pollution in Soils: Microplastics in Soil and their Effect on Berseem Clover (Trifolium alexandrinum)
The Effects of Biodiversity Loss Due to Climate Change on African Communities and Their Livelihoods
Utilization of Invasive Species in North America for Invasive Species Management
STUDY ABROAD
Experiential and place-based learning in international contexts afford our students opportunities to engage in cross-cultural exchange, increase awareness of local to global problems, and learn critical skills for the global workforce.
BRAZIL
Dr Stephen Matter and Dr Laura Zanotti lead students to Brazil on two separate study abroad programs The Amazon River basin is one of the largest, intact, tropical ecosystems in the world and has long been stewarded by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. These courses offer students the opportunity to personally experience and develop a passion for sustainability, community collaborations, and biocultural diversity as they reflect on the interconnectedness of riverscapes across the Americas
COSTA
RICA
Dr Teri Jacobs leads students to Costa Rica where students are immersed in learning about how a nation can meet sustainable challenges and address a myriad of environmental problems (eg , sustainable farming for coffee and chocolate, biodiversity conservation, ecotourism, etc ) At the same time, students responsibly enjoy beaches and rainforests, boost local economies, support local host communities, reduce ecological impacts, restore biodiversity, and understand Pura Vida (i.e., the way of Costa Rican life).
GERMANY
Dr David Stradling offers a Germany study abroad experience to Amsterdam and Essen where students analyze the development of American and German cities in the second half of the 20th and early 21st With a mix of environmental and urban history techniques, the students learn how to addresses the economic factors leading to deindustrialization and the many attempts to repair environmental damage and reverse urban decline through the development of sustainable and resilient cities
Image: A student on the Brazil abroad course taking a photo amongst banana trees
Image: A view of a landscape in Costa Rica.
Image: Students on David Stradling’s recent trip to Germany in Spring 2025
ARNOLD I. MILLER AWARD
We annually offer awardsto honor an outstanding students in Environmental Studies.The ArnoldI MillerAward recognizes students for high achievement in the classroom and extraordinary engagement in the community Theaward alsocomes with a monetary prize
Miller is an emeritus professor of geology, former senior associate dean, and a former director of the EVST program Students Wade Isphording and Sarah Austgen were the Arnold I Miller Awardees in 2025.
Sarah Austgen was recognized for her work with the UC Student Organization Net Impact, internship with the Urban Farming Initiative, and her recent efforts that landed a GCP Seeds of Change youth grant for a project she is am working on with the Director of Horticulture to beautify the planter beds at the main entrance of DAAP by turning them into a pollinator garden.
Wade Isphording’s journey with Environmental Studies has greatly shaped his understanding of sustainability and has inspired him to take an active role in environmental stewardship as well as community engagement. Through his work at the Bearcats Pantry, he has harvested over 200 pounds of produce to support students facing food insecurity His leadership in UC Horticulture Club has allowed him to foster a sense of community regarding all thing's plants whether it be plant propagation, field trips to botanical settings, and educational meetings on gardening/keeping houseplants Wade’s work with Mt Auburn community gardens and Groundwork Ohio River Valley has strengthened his dedication to environmental education
Image: Wade Isphording (left) and Sarah Austgen (right) at Springfest in Burnet Woods holding their award certificates
ARNOLD I. MILLER AWARD
Images: Photos provided by Wade Isphording and Sarah Austgen representing the range of their activities and impact
EXTRACURRICULAR STUDENT GROUPS
Our students lead and participate in a wide variety of UC student organizations, which we regularly partner with to put on events, organize programming, and take action
Leaders for Environmental Awareness and Protection LEAP is a student organization
Images: A UC Net Impact group photo during an event
RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP
MEETOURFACULTY
LauraZanotti
Professor+Director
EnvCulture,Film,Rights CommunityEngagement
BobHyland
AssociateProfessorEducator
EnvWriting,EnvJustice, CommunityEngagement
RobertSkipper Professor HistoryandPhilosophyofBiology
TeriJacobs
AsstProfEducator UndergradDirector Geography,SoilScience, Conservation
StephenMatter Professor Ecology,InsectPlantInteractions
DavidStradling
ZaneL MillerProfessor ofUrbanHistory EnvironmentalHistory,Pollution, Urbanization,Dredging
JuliaS.Carlson AssociateProfessor Romanticism,EnvFilm, Ecopoetics
DanielMurphy AssociateProfessor Culture,Economics,Risk, Pastoralism
SarahSturmer Instructor-AdjunctAnn EnvironmentalStudies
MuhammadFaruque AssociateProfessor Philosophy,Environment,Ethics, Religion
KennethPetren Professor Conservation,Comparative landscapegenetics
AmyTownsend-Small Professor ImpactsoftheOil&Gasindustry, CommunityEngagement
RESEARCH
Research is built into the Environmental Studies curriculum Students can select from a wide range of experiences to conduct research, during their capstone projects, co-ops, internships, in advanced courses, or in partnership with research faculty.
For example, in 2024, students undertook community engaged service-learning projects with the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability.
Each year, students celebrate and present their work at the UC Undergraduate Scholarly Showcase or at the Midwest Regional Climate Summit. For a full list of research opportunities, please check out our Undergraduate Research Page.
Images: A photo of Amy Townsend-Small (left) and EVST student (Right) presenting their work on gas streetlights and methane emissions.
UC SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS
Daniel Murphy
Associate Professor
At UC’s Annual Sustainability Week in January of 2025, Associate Professor Daniel Murphy (Anthropology, School of Environment and Sustainability) was recognized by the UC Office of Sustainability as the recipient of the UC Sustainability Research Award for the year
Bob Hyland
Associate Professor-Educator
Associate Professor Educator Bob Hyland (School of Environment and Sustainability, English) was one of two professors at UC who in 2025 received the Faculty Award from the UC Office of Sustainability. Hyland’s award also was given during an award ceremony held by the UC Office of Sustainability during UC’s Annual Sustainability Week
OHIO RIVER VALLEY CLIMATE CHANGE & HEALTH CONFERENCE
AUGUST
6 & 7, 2025
Dr. Amy Townsend-Small is hosting an Ohio Valley Climate Change and Health Conference on UC’s campus in the summer of 2025 to build wellbeing and resilience in the Ohio River Valley. The conference will include sessions on the largest geo-health issues in our region such as increased levels of environmental contaminants, extreme heat, flooding and combined sewer overflows. This is a results-oriented, interactive conference for scientists and students in the Earth and health sciences. Participants will meet new people, exchange ideas, and create tangible outcomes!
ENGAGEMENT
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
SEaS is a vibrant community! Each year we collaborate on several events to serve broader publics and celebrate work together. From annual end of the year celebrations like Spring Fest to partnerships with the city to introduce electrification to our students there is something for everyone. A sample of some of the many events we hosted last year are below! Many thanks to all of our cosponsors.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND ADVOCACY SYMPOSIUM
Image: SEaS Postcards featured at the Summit.
Alumni Advisory Board
We are thrilled to welcome the new Alumni Advisory Board! Alumni provide critical advice on and insights to our program, regularly visit Environmental Studies classes, mentor current students, supervise internships, and - starting this yearformed and sustained an Alumni Advisory Board.
The Alumni Advisory Board at UC has set up a LinkedIn group for current students, alumni, and faculty Join us to connect, post job opportunities, and share events!!
Scan the QR code to join!
Image: Work at a local garden. Courtesy of Wade Isphording.
Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who makes this work possible. A special thanks to our Alumni Advisory Council and our donors for your ongoing support and generosity.