March Sustainability News

Office of Sustainability and the Environment

Earth Month Events Hub

Do you have an Earth Month event you want us to help promote? Submit your upcoming event here!

Check out the other events posted in the hub including Earth Expo, Recycled Runway, and Make Your Own Grass Head Pets for Earth Day!

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Mark Your Calendar

Prompt for the Planet Workshops

Join Melinda Myers for fun Prompt for the Planet workshops that let you connect with nature through art! Whether you're an experienced artist or just starting to dip your toes into the world of creativity, this workshop is open to all skill levels. Individuals, classes, and other groups nation-wide are responding to the prompt, giving voice to the planet at this critical moment in history. Workshops are held March 21, 24, and 28.

Workshops are free, but space is limited. Save your spot and register today!

The Prompt:

“Think of one element and speak in its voice through pictures and words."

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Upcoming Events

Local Authority of Environmental Issues | March 4 at 12:45 p.m.
U.S. Leadership in the Multilateral System | March 6 at 5:30 p.m.
Night At The Museum: Wikipedia Edit-a-thon | March 7 at 5:00 p.m.
Why Women Peacebuilders Matter | March 8 at 12:00 p.m.
International Perspectives on Environmental Enforcement: Plastics, Climate, Monitoring Technologies, Environmental Justice and More | March 18 at 12:45 p.m.
Prompt for the Planet Workshop | March 21, 24, 28
Artist Talk: Suzanne Tick Making Materials Matter | March 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Facing the Inferno: Visiting Artist Kari Greer | March 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Midwest Climate Summit 2024 | April 3-5
Wetlands Preservation after Sackett v. EPA: Land Conservation and What it Means for Iowa Panel Series | April 5 All Day
Climate Solutions Surround Us | April 22 at 3:00 p.m.
Growing Sustainable Communities Conference | April 23-24
More Earth Month Events

Get Involved

UMACS Call for Proposals

UMACS seeks proposals for conference sessions that will further our mission to “advance a more sustainable and just Upper Midwest”. We welcome proposals from anyone working to advance sustainability in higher education (including students, staff, faculty and community members).

Proposals are due April 1.

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Tippie Sustainability Case Competition Kickoff

The inaugural Tippie Sustainability Case Competition will challenge teams of UI undergraduate students to integrate knowledge from core business disciplines to solve a sustainability challenge facing organizations today. Students from all disciplines will have the opportunity to develop leadership and decision-making skills that will help them maximize economic, social, and environmental sustainability in their future jobs.

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Campus Connections

UI Students Discuss Their Involvement with the Native American Student Association

Along with learning more about Indigenous culture and advocating for Native students, the Native American Student Association also believes that sustainability efforts are crucial. Indigenous peoples have accumulated valuable traditional knowledge about nature and sustainable practices and continue to protect biodiverse areas around the world.

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UI Hosts Inflation Reduction Act Event

On Friday, February 16, the University of Iowa hosted a series of panels discussing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in Iowa, organized by Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, Rewiring America, the UI Labor Center, and the Iowa Environmental Council. The event was held in the Boyd Law Building and featured numerous speakers to cover various aspects of the legislation.

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Iowa News

Iowa State to Host "One Sustainable Iowa" Student Conference

Iowa State University will host the One Sustainable Iowa Student Conference on Friday, April 26. UI students who want to attend but need assistance with the registration fee and/or transportation to/from the conference are encouraged to contact the UI Office of Sustainability and the Environment (OSE) for assistance. The OSE will cover registration and transportation for a limited number of UI students. Contact us at sustainability@uiowa.edu by April 1^st for consideration.

Conference date: April 26

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Iowans Can Soon Unlock Electrification & Efficiency Dollars with IRA Home Energy Rebates

The State of Iowa can now submit its application for the Home Energy Rebate programs, created through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), following the release of program and application guidance by the Department of Energy (DOE) this summer. Iowa will have a combined $120 million available to the state through the Home Energy Rebates, with around $60 million earmarked towards each program.

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Tools & Resources

Climate Intervention Webapp

Effectively reducing climate change requires dramatic, global behavior change. Yet it is unclear which strategies are most likely to motivate people to change their climate beliefs and behaviors. This tool demonstrates research conducted across 59,440 participants from 63 countries and shows which climate change interventions are most effective based on demographics.

Use tool here

Yale Climate Opinion Maps

Public opinion about global warming is an important influence on decision making about policies to reduce global warming or prepare for the impacts, but American opinions vary widely depending on where people live. Explore the maps by clicking on your state, congressional district, or county and compare the results across questions and with other geographic areas.

Use tool here

Jobs and Internships

On-Campus

Research Positions | Open Until Filled

Off-Campus

Iowa Wildlife Camps Instructor | Open Until March 8
Iowa Wildlife Camps Program Coordinator | Open Until March 8
Iowa Wildlife Camps Bus Driver | Open Until March 8
Iowa Wildlife Camps Assistant Coordinator | Open Until March 8
State of Iowa Natural Resources/Environmental Science Intern | Open Until March 25
Restoration Specialist - The Wetlands Initiative | Open Until Filled
Wildlife Program Manager - Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department | Open Until Filled
Green Iowa Americorps | Open Until Filled
Wetland Specialist - Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department | Open Until Filled
Climate Change Specialist - Mashkiiziibii Natural Resources Department | Open Until Filled
Green Corps Organizer Program | Open Until Filled
Director of Communications - Food Recovery Network | Open Until Filled
Sustainable Iowa Land Trust | Multiple Positions
Indian Creek Nature Center | Multiple Positions

Grants/Scholarships

Student Travel Awards | Apply 4 Weeks Before Travel Date
Research Supply Grant | Open Starting January 16
Hawkeye Experience Grant | Due March 20

Job Boards

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education | Multiple Positions
County Parks | Multiple Positions
City of Iowa City | Multiple Positions
Environmental Education | Multiple Positions
Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) | Multiple Positions
NASA STEM | Multiple Positions

UI Pomerantz Career Center

Save the Date

The University of Iowa is located on the homelands of the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe (Chippewa), Báxoǰe (Iowa), Kiikaapoi (Kickapoo), Omāēqnomenēwak (Menominee), Myaamiaki (Miami), Nutachi (Missouri), Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha), Wahzhazhe (Osage), Jiwere (Otoe), Odawaa (Ottawa), Póⁿka (Ponca), Bodéwadmi/Neshnabé (Potawatomi), Meskwaki/Nemahahaki/Sakiwaki (Sac and Fox), Dakota/Lakota/Nakoda, Sahnish/Nuxbaaga/Nuweta (Three Affiliated Tribes) and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago) Nations. The following tribal nations, Umoⁿhoⁿ (Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa), Póⁿka (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska), Meskwaki (Sac and Fox of the Mississippi in Iowa), and Ho-Chunk (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) Nations continue to thrive in the State of Iowa and we continue to acknowledge them. As an academic institution, it is our responsibility to acknowledge the sovereignty and the traditional territories of these tribal nations, and the treaties that were used to remove these tribal nations, and the histories of dispossession that have allowed for the growth of this institution since 1847. Consistent with the University's commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, understanding the historical and current experiences of Native peoples will help inform the work we do; collectively as a university to engage in building relationships through academic scholarship, collaborative partnerships, community service, enrollment and retention efforts acknowledging our past, our present and future Native Nations.