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Thank you to all of the students, faculty and staff who participated in Earth Month 2025.

Throughout April, the UIC community engaged in a wide range of sustainability-focused events, including tree tours, electronic recycling collections, tabling with local organizations at Student Center East and more.

Events such as Sustain to Summit, presented by Recreation and Wellbeing and Noche de Poetas, presented by the Latino Cultural Center and supported by the Sustainability Fund, highlighted the diverse ways individuals became involved with sustainability at UIC.

Activities like these helped foster dialogue, generate valuable feedback and strengthen our collective commitment to a more sustainable campus.

Planning, Sustainability and Project Management (PSPM) facilitates a for-credit student internship program in partnership with the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and the School of Public Health through a dedicated course offered each fall and spring.

The course, US/PUBH 390, provides undergraduate students with the opportunity to apply classroom sustainability concepts through project-based internships. Students are placed with UIC departments or units to support campus sustainability initiatives while gaining hands-on experience. The course will meet on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the Behavioral Sciences Building classroom 185. Interns will contribute approximately eight hours per week outside of class to their internship assignments.

While this internship is unpaid, students will receive three academic credit hours for their participation.

Many students enjoy visiting the Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the Student Recreation Facility. This campus eatery will soon implement a change to its smoothie cup that supports the zero waste climate commitment outlined in the university’s Climate Commitment Action Plan 2024. Once its current inventory is exhausted, the cafe will shift from traditional Styrofoam cups to recyclable plastic cups.

The new cups are made of polypropylene, a widely recyclable plastic that provides a more sustainable beverage service option. The change reflects a step toward greater alignment with UIC’s sustainability initiatives and waste reduction goals and is a good example of collaboration with the cafe and UIC Recreation and Wellbeing.

In collaboration with the Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, UIC’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs is seeking diner feedback on food containers and utensils used in restaurants and dining halls. Its survey is part of a research effort that is exploring safer and more environmentally responsible food service products and is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency.  

Participants will be entered into a drawing for a  $25 gift card.

Please visit the survey web page to share your feedback.

The UIC Urban Transportation Center is seeking community input on emerging transit technologies to support ongoing research on the future of mobility.

You can share your thoughts through a brief survey that explores public perspectives on autonomous (self-driving) buses - vehicles that operate independently using technologies such as sensors, cameras and GPS. These systems are being considered in cities around the world as a potential innovation in public transportation.

The survey takes approximately 10–12 minutes to complete. Responses are anonymous and are used solely for academic research.

Your input will help researchers better understand how emerging transportation technologies may impact mobility and daily life.

Please visit the survey web page to share your thoughts.

There is a hidden garden located at the corner of Wood and Polk Streets, next to the College of Pharmacy. Maintained by the Pharmacognosy Institute, it features a variety of species used in traditional and modern medicine and is a unique resource for researchers, trainees and visitors to learn about the role of medicinal plants in human health.

Each summer, the garden hosts the Annual Atkins Garden Walk, a free open house with opportunities to explore the space, speak with researchers and attend a scientific lecture.

This year’s event will be held on August 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature the Norman R. Farnsworth Lecture by Dr. Jean-Luc Wolfender of the University of Geneva.

Schedule:
10 a.m. – Garden browsing and conversations with researchers
12:30 p.m. – Lecture by Dr. Jean-Luc Wolfender

All members of the UIC community are welcome.

UIC is recognized as a Bee Campus USA by the Xerces Society, a national organization dedicated to pollinator conservation. This designation reflects the ongoing work of the UIC Grounds team and various campus programs, including the Heritage Garden, Nutrition Garden and the UIC Greenhouse.

Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA are offering a free webinar this May focused on pollinator conservation.

On May 22, Dr. Jordan Kueneman, a research associate at Cornell University, will share insights from Project GNBee on ground-nesting bees and how to support community science efforts.

The webinar will be recorded for later viewing.

Please visit the Bee City USA events page for details and registration links.

Thinking about a career in climate action or sustainability? Here are some resources:

• So You Want to Work in Climate is a practical resource offering insights into pathways, skills and sectors within the climate workforce.

• The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance is a resource for those seeking opportunities closer to Chicago.

• The Chicago Wilderness Career Center maintains a regularly updated Careers page with job listings in energy efficiency and sustainability across the region.

These sites may be especially useful for recent graduates or anyone considering a shift into climate-related work.

Greenlights is pausing publication in June and July and will return in August with more updates and opportunities related to sustainability at UIC.

Have a safe, restful and sustainable summer.

Sustainability Manager - Loyola University Chicago

Clean Energy Extension Managing Director and Professor - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Campus Nutrition and Sustainability Manager - Western Carolina University

Sustainable Labs Manager - University of Virginia

Connect with us via Instagram, Facebook and YouTube to stay updated about sustainability-related events, news, jobs and involvement opportunities.

Become an EcoVolunteer
EcoVolunteers help eventgoers properly sort waste, set up and run annual events like the Great Stuff Exchange, talk about UIC’s sustainable initiatives and spread the good word at campus events. EcoVolunteers also help plant trees and native plants on campus.

More information can be found on the EcoVolunteer web page.

Join EcoReps
EcoReps act as liaisons between their unit/department and Planning, Sustainability and Project Management. Group members attend webinars throughout the year to learn about sustainability issues and how to make their office space and culture more sustainable. They also share information with their organizations about upcoming sustainability events such as the Great Stuff Exchange, Campus Electronic Recycling Events and Earth Day.

You can find out more on the EcoReps web page.

The Chancellor's Committee on Sustainability and Energy (CCSE) focuses on implementing CCAP 2024 and achieving the UIC Climate Commitments.

Join a subcommittee!