Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # WholeSum Reinventing Sustainability at UK and Beyond ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://wholesumky.org/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [2025 Sustainability Champion Ryan Lark helps build a culture of recycling and sustainability at UK  ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9214) - Each year, the Sustainability Champion Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to sustainability at the University of Kentucky. At the 2025 Sustainability Showcase, Ryan Lark, UK Zero Waste Specialist, was recognized as a Sustainability Champion for his commitment to sustainability throughout both his academic and professional career. Ryan Lark’s passion for sustainability started long before - [2025 Sustainability Champion Lauren Cagle empowers next generation of sustainability leaders](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9212) - Each year, the Sustainability Champion Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to sustainability at the University of Kentucky. Named a Sustainability Champion in 2025, Lauren E. Cagle, Ph.D., Tracy Farmer Institute director and associate professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies, has spent her career empowering students, fostering innovation, and turning environmental communication into - [Intern Insights: Kentucky climate communications with Gracie French](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9086) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Intern Insights: Ezra Anderson branches out the Urban Forest Initiative's fundraising with new pop-up shop](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9068) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Intern Insights: Hal Siegel promotes circularity with UK's chemical upcycling program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9073) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Intern Insights: Henry Walke goes behind-the-scenes with utilities and energy management](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9080) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Intern Insights: Shayna tackles plastic with UK Recycling!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9107) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Oldest student-run environmental org in Kentucky comes back together after hiatus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9065) - Connectivity. The word current co-lead Jon Blatnik, a junior studying environmental sustainability studies and economics, uses to describe the revival of Greenthumb at the University of Kentucky. This word captures the organization’s legacy and future milestones. For over three decades, Greenthumb has connected students to each other, to their environment, and to the power they - [When UK expands, what happens to the water?: The environmental impact of rapid construction](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9113) - Whether you’re heading to class or grabbing coffee between lectures, walking past ongoing construction has become a normal part of daily life at the University of Kentucky. New academic buildings, research facilities, and renovations, in sums upwards of $6 billion, are transforming the campus. But while these projects represent growth for the university, they also - [When UK expands, what happens to the water?: Inside UK’s stormwater management system](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9116) - Every time it rains on campus, thousands of gallons of water move across rooftops, sidewalks, and construction sites before entering storm drains. Without proper controls, that water can carry pollutants into nearby streams and rivers. As the University of Kentucky continues a period of rapid campus expansion, managing stormwater runoff has become a critical part - [When UK expands, what happens to the water?: Why student actions matter more than you think](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9121) - “As a Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles major, I’m always thinking about sustainability in fashion, ways to reuse and reduce,” said Kya Washington, a senior student at the University of Kentucky. “But sustainability goes beyond clothing. How we treat our environment daily matters just as much. It’s easy to think one person doesn’t make a difference, - [Sustainability Champion Kenton Sena takes sustainability out of the classroom and to the community ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9135) - Each year, the Sustainability Champion Awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to sustainability at the University of Kentucky. This year, one of those champions is Dr. Kenton Sena, whose passion for the natural world and commitment to hands-on learning continue to shape how students see their environment. Kenton Sena’s love for the natural - [UK researcher addresses water sustainability challenges through workforce-focused engineering solutions](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9091) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 31, 2026) — Access to safe drinking water depends not only on infrastructure, but on the people who operate and maintain it. At the University of Kentucky, Diana Byrne, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Civil Engineering in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, is addressing long-standing challenges facing small water utilities. - [Make an impact during Earth Month at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9046) - This Earth Month, consider attending one of the many events UK and the local community are putting on to celebrate sustainability and the natural world. UK Sustainability will be hosting the Spring Sustainability Symposium on Earth Day, April 22 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the lobby of Gray Design Building, where interns from the Sustainability Internship - [Intern Insights: From roots to reflection](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8351) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Celebrating our Trees: University of Kentucky awarded Tree Campus Higher Education honor for 15th consecutive year](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9051) - Since the University of Kentucky was founded in 1865, our campus landscape has been an important part of who we are and how our community engages with the campus. This year, UK received its 15th consecutive Tree Campus Higher Education recognition in honor of high levels of attention in the care of our campus canopy. “From - [Applications open for 2026-2027 Sustainability Internship Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9013) - Applications are now open for the 2026-2027 Sustainability Internship Program (SIP). The SIP pairs students with sustainability-related offices and units from across the campus to advance sustainability initiatives in exciting and meaningful ways. Interns are paid $15.55/hour for 8-10 hours of work per week. The internships start in mid-August and run through the end of - [Creating a seat for sustainability: UK student turns recycled fabric into modular chair](https://wholesumky.org/?p=9009) - Anna Quarles, a product design senior in the College of Design, prioritized sustainability in her final Soft Spaces class project last semester. With the help of Erin Geibel, recycling coordinator in Facilities Management, she transformed old t-shirts, blue wrap, and grocery bags into a unique piece of children's furniture. Throughout the class, Quarles worked - [Product design student transforms red oak tree into functional work bar](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8985) - Chase Lobaldo, 3rd year product design student, was working in the Fabrication Lab at the University of Kentucky’s College of Design, when the Office of Sustainability approached him with a clear goal in mind: create a multi-person workspace where students, employees, and visitors can work and conversate in front of the large glass windows overlooking - [New SAVS courses prioritize sustainable materials for studio practices](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8953) - The University of Kentucky’s School of Art and Visual Studies (SAVS) is reimagining what an art studio can be. Two courses, Healthy Materials Lab and Digital Matrix Modeling, led by fabrication lab specialist Hannah Smith and professor Jonathan McFadden last fall, aimed to eliminate toxic materials from studio practices and introduce students to safer, recycled, - [University of Kentucky receives STARS silver rating for sustainability achievements](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8991) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 12, 2026) — The University of Kentucky has earned a STARS Silver rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education. The University of Kentucky’s STARS - [Exploring business, land, and community through Kentucky's sheep and hemp industries with Vincent Stanley](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8956) - Vincent Stanley has spent over five decades shaping the values and practices of Patagonia is one of the world’s most recognizable and reputable brands. As the company's longtime storyteller and current Director of Philosophy, Stanley has dedicated his career to exploring how businesses can act to serve both the people and the planet. In November - [Make an impact tackling plastic pollution in Memphis, Tennessee over spring break](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8952) - Spend your spring break making a meaningful impact in Memphis, Tennessee, with Alternative Service Breaks (ASB), exploring the urgent issue of plastic pollution and its impact on local ecosystems. This immersive experience centers on hands-on sustainability work where participants will partner with community organizations to support conservation efforts, learn about environmental inequities, and explore how - [UK community invited to create quilt squares with the Climate Change Quilt Movement](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8945) - Climate change can feel overwhelming to address, but the Climate Change Quilt Movement reminds us that action begins with connection. This spring, the Lewis Honors College Scholars Lounge will transform into a space for creativity, conversation, and climate action from 2:00–4:00 p.m on February 17th. The UK community is invited to participate in a hands-on - ['Birds are the great unifier’: UK study on avian migration and survival takes flight](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8904) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2025) — At the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), researchers and students are studying how wildlife populations respond to conservation activities. The McNeil Lab, led by Darin “DJ” McNeil, Ph.D., assistant professor of wildlife management in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR), focuses on researching forest birds in Kentucky and - [The Arboretum at UK receives global accreditation](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8928) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2026) — The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky at the University of Kentucky has been recognized for its achievements and dedication to horticulture and native plant conservation — receiving accreditation by the ArbNet Arboretum Accreditation Program and The Morton Arboretum. ArbNet is an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta and the only global initiative to officially recognize arboreta based on a set of professional standards. Today, the program recognizes more than 700 accredited - [UK student inspired to create compostable paper recycling program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6072) - Inspired by ideas from a Symposium on Energy, University of Kentucky student and UK Recycling’s programmatic support intern, Shaun Lavin, started a pilot composting program for brown paper towels on campus. The following is authored by Lavin about his experience. Wash your hands, grab a paper towel, dry your hands, toss the paper towel and - ['Greentalks' on WRFL features UK's recycling and waste reduction specialist, Ryan Lark](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5897) - On Monday, February 6th, Faith Roberts interviewed Ryan Lark on Greentalks, a WRFL segment supported by the UK Student Sustainability Council. In the interview, Ryan discussed his role with UK Recycling, UK's new list of expanded recyclables, and the University's goal to become a zero-waste campus by 2030. In October 2022, Ryan Lark was hired - [UK Recycling’s Partnership with WestRock Expands Accepted Recyclables on Campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5857) - At the start of 2020, the University of Kentucky (UK) embarked on an exciting new partnership with WestRock, a materials recycling center and paperboard manufacturing company. Since then, all of the items you place in the blue, mixed recycling containers on campus have been collected and transported to WestRock’s local facility in Louisville, Kentucky. WestRock’s - [Meet Jesse Okorafor, a doctoral student and an energy engineering intern at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5692) - In this article, I conduct an interview with doctorate student, Jesse Okorafor, who also plays an active role in sustainability on UK's campus. I spoke with Jesse about his background in energy conservation, his involvement with the University of Kentucky's Sustainability Strategic Plan, and his future plans for his career. He also shared a few - [UK Recycling continues food waste program at Univerisity Flats](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5716) - After the success in past school years, University of Kentucky Recycling is continuing the residence hall food waste program at University Flats under the leadership of Recycling Program Support intern Shaun Lavin. In collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA), UK Dining, UK Housing, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) and UK Residence Life, this - [5 students selected as Sustainability Summer Research Fellows](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6277) - Five University of Kentucky students have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship program, a high-impact learning experience that contributes to the students’ academic growth as well as sustainability-focused research initiatives at UK and in the community. As a learning institution, UK engages in sustainable practices by collaborating with faculty, staff and students across all colleges - [Say hello to Oscar Sort, UK Recycling’s new AI-powered, waste-sorting system](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6147) - University of Kentucky Recycling has a new “helping hand” on campus. Oscar Sort, an artificial intelligence waste-sorting system from Intuitive AI, has been installed on campus to empower better recycling decisions and divert waste from landfills. Oscar automatically identifies recyclables from waste, by using AI technology to understand the item that a person is trying to dispose of, - [Department of Product Design creates conference table for UK Sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5947) - The third-year Product Design studio at the University of Kentucky was approached by the Office of Sustainability to create a custom circular conference table. The table was made from six different species of wood from the Campus Woods, an initiative between the Office of Sustainability, UK Grounds, and the University Forestry Department to find alternative - [The not-so-secret garden](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6529) - Audrey Wathen scampers between the yarn-covered “wishing tree” and the spot where giddy toddlers gleefully make billowing bubbles in large orange vats. She’s trailed closely by her younger sister, Eleanor, and her best friend, Ransom Corso. A distinctive squish-squish sound follows them as they run, their rubber shoes still soggy from wading in the nearby stream. They - [UK oral history project documents climate change, empowers Kentuckians](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6628) - How important is word of mouth when understanding climate change? A new project, led by the Kentucky Climate Consortium (KYCC) research team at the University of Kentucky, is proving that oral histories can provide an intimate view of our shifting world. KYCC acts as a catalyst for climate research and education across the Commonwealth by providing networking opportunities - [UK receives renewed award to continue environmental health research in Appalachia](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6465) - The University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES)will continue its work to study major environmental health impacts on Kentuckians with a renewed award from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The grant totaling $7.4 million will continue to fund UK-CARES over the next five - [2023-2024 SIP Cohort Introductions](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6342) - Karen Capellan University of Kentucky Office of Sustainability Communications Intern Senior; Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Economics "Hello! I am excited about showing UK what sustainability can be! I hope to increase awareness and engagement with UK's sustainability efforts through social media." Fun Fact: I can play the violin! Kayla Payne Built Environment Intern Junior; - ['Behind the Blue': Building diversity and inclusion in UK Purchasing with Barry Swanson and Marilyn Clark](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6286) - With over 60 employees, University of Kentucky's Purchasing Division handles around $1.4 billion worth of transactions for the entire university community. Barry Swanson, UK’s chief procurement officer, says that number grows as the university grows, and he expects it to surpass $2 billion in just a few more years. The mission of the Purchasing Division, which includes - [Free commute planning assistance available through Transportation Services](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6332) - Do you need help discovering the best way to get to, from and around the University of Kentucky's campus? UK Transportation Services staff can assist you with customizing your commute... for free! The department offers commute planning services designed to help you make the most convenient and accessible commuting choices. These personalized plans are tailored - [UK Recycling's Give & Go Donation Stations return for 7th year](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7282) - University of Kentucky Recycling, in partnership with Goodwill Industries of the Bluegrass, is continuing to offer their Give and Go Donation Stations for the seventh year. The stations, set up in the lobby of every residence hall and some Greek Houses on campus from now through May 3, are available for students to drop off any items - [Introducing UK Recycling's Hydration Station](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7206) - As we move towards a more environmentally friendly conscious future, the University of Kentucky is proud to announce the introduction of a portable hydration station on campus, a move aimed at reducing waste from disposable cups and plastic bottles at events. Following the successful implementation of hydration stations during the fall 2023 Big Blue Move-in, - [UK Recycling to host sixth annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7188) - UK Recycling is excited to announce its sixth annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up in partnership with Student Organizations and Activities and Wildcat Wardrobe! The Pop-Up shop promotes reuse on campus, helping UK to achieve our fourth Sustainability Goal: becoming a zero-waste campus. Event Details: When? April 9th, 2024 Where? The Student Center Ballroom A When? 11am-1:30pm - [Celebrating Black Environmentalists during Black History Month](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7028) - In the vibrant field of environmental activism, voices from diverse backgrounds bring unique perspectives and solutions to the forefront. Today, we shine a spotlight on black environmentalists who are making significant strides on the University of Kentucky's campus-challenging stereotypes, making positive impacts on conservation, and driving positive change in their communities and beyond. We recognizing - [The Reuse Resource Map is Updated and Ready! ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7447) - Hello! I’m Dot Shaw, and I am a rising junior attending Lafayette High School in the Pre-Engineering and SCAPA for Visual Art programs. I was selected to participate in the UK Summer Youth Program where I began an internship in the UK Recycling department. I was drawn to the program for real life job experience - [Cenergistic, a partner in sustainability at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7270) - Cenergistic is a self-funded conservation platform that transforms energy usage into a sustainable success story. Cenergistic commits to improving energy efficiency, create healthier buildings, optimizing existing equipment and increasing budget flexibility. The company, partners with UK's campus to conserve energy throughout all campus operations. Through these energy conservation strategies, money saved can be reinvested elsewhere. - [Embracing sustainability at UK HealthCare: A commitment to a healthier future](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7852) - At UK HealthCare, we believe that a commitment to health extends beyond the exceptional patient care we provide; it encompasses our environment and the communities we serve. As a leading healthcare system, we recognize our responsibility to promote sustainability and to implement practices that protect our planet for future generations. Why Sustainability Matters in Healthcare - [2024 Sustainability Showcase recognizes outstanding students, faculty, and staff for contributions to sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7768) - The annual Sustainability Showcase was presented by the Office of Sustainability, The President's Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. The initiatives featured at the Showcase fall into four general categories: The Student Sustainability Poster Competition sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research Sustainability - [UK Recycling introduces mini hanging landfill containers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7656) - UK Recycling is committed to becoming a zero-waste campus by 2030, meaning that 90% of all discarded waste will be diverted from the landfill by recycling, composting, donating, or other means. To reduce the amount of recyclable material ending up in the landfill, campus employees who work at a desk may now receive hanging mini - [Introducing UK Recycling's Waste Wizard](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7654) - UK Recycling is excited to announce a new addition to our website, the Waste Wizard! With this new tool, learning about what is recyclable at UK is quicker and easier than ever before. The Waste Wizard functions as a search engine which allows users to type in words like “plastic bottle”, “Styrofoam cup”, or any - [Introducing the 2024-2025 Sustainability Internship Program cohort](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7569) - The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-focused offices from across the campus to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor on supporting a specific sustainability unit on campus, develop an independent project, and participate in a professional development series with the full cohort of interns. - [UK wood kiln firing: A transformative opportunity for students](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8081) - The second inaugural firing of the UK Wood Kiln marks a significant milestone for UK's College of Fine Arts students and community. Designed as a hands-on educational experience, the kiln offers an invaluable opportunity to explore traditional ceramic firing. In 2010, School of Art and Visual Studies (SAVS) Professor Hunter Stamps received a $157,000 grant - [CAER, State Energy & Environment Cabinet launch sustainable aviation fuel study](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8159) - The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) are launching a survey as part of a collaborative Biomass Feedstock for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Project, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program that is administered by EEC. SAF has become a major push across the globe - [UK celebrates America Recycles Day](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8052) - Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day, a day to celebrate the impact and importance of recycling. University of Kentucky Recycling will participate in this national celebration with six installations across campus that highlight how recycling helps create new products and reduce landfill waste. “Here at UK, the community has the opportunity to take impactful action for - [From waste to wonder: Narwhal art debuts at Kentucky Children’s Hospital](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8532) - What do you get when you mix a mountain of medical waste, a splash of imagination and a pinch of pure magic? At Kentucky Children’s Hospital, the answer is two cheerful narwhals, stitched from syringe caps, IV tubes and a whole lot of heart, swirling through an ocean where trash transforms into treasure. The art piece, the result - [From connections to conservation, student interested in wildlife career finds everything she needs at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8551) - As a University of Kentucky student, Callie Black has “the best of both worlds.” From Knox County, Kentucky, Black was drawn to UK because Lexington was “a sweet spot” for someone interested in both wildlife conservation and the opportunities that a bigger city brings. Black will be a senior in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food - [UK’s Utilities and Energy Management team receives grand award for stormwater harvesting system](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8528) - The University of Kentucky’s Utilities and Energy Management team in Facilities Mangement was honored with a Grand Award at the 2025 Engineering Excellence Awards, presented by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky. This recognition celebrates the team’s innovative work on the Central Utility Plant (CUP) Stormwater Harvesting System, a project that began in - [6 students selected as 2025 Sustainability Summer Research Fellows](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8379) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 27, 2025) — Six University of Kentucky undergraduates have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship, a program that supports student-led projects that advance sustainable practices and community impact through research. Now in its 11th year, the fellowship is a collaboration between the Office of Undergraduate Research, UK Sustainability and the UK Student Sustainability Council. Since its launch - [Product design students build charging station with Campus Woods](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8308) - In the fall semester of 2024, students in UK’s second-year Product Design course, PRD 220, were tasked with designing and building a new battery charging station using materials from Campus Woods, a program that repurposes felled campus trees into usable lumber for student projects. The finished shelving unit - now holding batteries for backpack blowers - [Learning beyond the classroom: UK students turn sustainability lessons into action](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8335) - The spirit of sustainability was alive and well on campus as part of the University of Kentucky community rolled up their sleeves to plant trees and contribute to a greener future. For the second year in a row, students from Lewis Honors College, along with the UK Grounds arboriculture team in Facilities Management, joined forces - [UK Facilities Management launches new on-campus composting system](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8331) - The University of Kentucky is turning food waste into a high value soil amendment with its newly launched composting system — an innovative, on-campus facility designed to expand composting operations and support UK’s commitment to becoming a zero-waste campus by 2030. Spearheaded by UK Recycling and UK Sustainability in Facilities Management, the new process uses - [Using campus as a classroom: Students explore UK’s energy infrastructure](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8305) - At the University of Kentucky, students have access to a dynamic living lab — an 800-acre campus with more than 20 million square feet of building space and all the infrastructure and operations of a small city. At the heart of this opportunity is Facilities Management. In addition to creating an environment where students can learn - [Intern Insights: Wear it forward at UK's seventh annual Thrift Shop](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8287) - UK Recycling hosted its seventh annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up on Friday, April 4th. The event initially began in 2018 as the independent project of Olivia Tussey and Bethany Schagane, UK Recycling interns who were part of the Sustainability Internship Program. Now, in partnership with Student Government Association (SGA) and Wildcat Wardrobe, it continues to expand - [Sip, recycle, repeat: UK Recycling to tackle coffee cup waste on campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8273) - n an effort to boost recycling rates on campus, University of Kentucky Recycling, a department within Facilities Management, is launching a coffee cup recycling awareness campaign in partnership with UK Dining. This initiative, which begins today, aims to educate the campus community on the recyclability of both paper and plastic coffee cups, encouraging proper disposal - [Campus Woods gives UK trees new life](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8241) - The University of Kentucky is home to over twelve thousand trees, representing a variety of the 120 tree species native to our state, such as walnuts, yellow-poplar, bur oaks, hickory, and ash trees. When a tree is removed from campus, if it isn’t diseased or structurally compromised, and if it is large enough that it - [UK doctoral student collaborates with adviser to write key primer on hydrocarbon biofuels ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8226) - “Hydrocarbon Biofuels” will not top the New York Times’ best-seller list for nonfiction books, but for Great C. Umenweke, it’s quite an opportunity, and one that could help humans turn waste into renewable energy. Umenweke, a doctoral candidate in chemistry in the University of Kentucky’s College of Arts and Sciences, has published the primer along - [UK researchers develop greener, more sustainable ways to recover metals from electronic waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8212) - As electronic waste (e-waste) piles up globally, researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering are spearheading innovative methods to recover valuable metals from discarded devices and industrial waste. E-waste — including smartphones, laptops and spent batteries — contains critical materials - [UK HealthCare recycles thousands of stored x-rays](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8187) - In July 2024, University of Kentucky implemented a new healthcare enterprise policy allowing protected health information (PHI) to be destroyed following HIPAA-compliant guidelines if the film was created more than 30 years ago. This new policy created a sudden and large demand to dispose of the film which had been collected across all its healthcare - [2025 Sustainability Showcase celebrates campus changemakers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8852) - The Sustainability Showcase is a celebration of the incredible sustainability work happening across campus - from research and student initiatives to operations and community engagement. Its awards recognize the passionate students, faculty, staff, and community members who are helping to shape a more sustainable future at UK. Students from all majors had the opportunity to - [Behind the blue bins: UK’s new recycling video reveals the journey of your waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8895) - The University of Kentucky is turning one person’s waste into another’s pizza box, soda can, Adirondak chair or a plethora of other items that can be found around campus. “Recycling is one of the easiest ways everyone on campus can make an impact,” said Ryan Lark, zero-waste specialist in Facilities Management. In 2024, the university - [Announcing The Thrifty Cat: A zero-waste campus resource  ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8813) - The Thrifty Cat, UK’s new ‘campus free store’, started as the independent project of Olivia Smith, a UK Recycling intern through the Sustainability Internship Program. Smith joined UK Recycling as an intern in Fall 2024. Inspired to offer a creative and long-term solution to the amount of waste generated during move-out each year, she developed - [Meet the 2025-2026 sustainability internship cohort](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8707) - The sustainability internship program has been around since 2016, giving undergraduates the opportunity to engage with others through campus projects, research, and outreach within sustainability. Each intern works within a unit within the sustainability department, strengthening their professional and technical skills while enhancing their leadership skills. This year, 17 interns represent the sustainability department. Adreonna RaineyStorytelling - [Understanding the resilience of Kentucky ash trees at reforested sites](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8630) - For over 20 years, Reforest the Bluegrass has been Lexington's premier community tree planting festival, resulting in the planting of more than 215,000 tree seedlings. It has started to increase canopy coverage in the city of Lexington. While about 65% of the trees planted survive their first year, what do these sites look like after a - [The changing canopy of UK's campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8619) - UK has long been a growing epicenter of healthcare and academics, and large facilities have been built, renovated, or demolished to accommodate this. But with all this expansion, what is the impact of growth on our campus tree canopy? As a 2025 Summer Sustainability Research Fellow, I have been examining university archival material to showcase - [Tracking the rise of Dahurian buckthorn in Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8588) - Heading into my senior year as a Natural Resources and Environmental Science major at UK, I became interested in studying the Dahurian buckthorn (Rhamnus davurica), a woody invasive that is emerging in central Kentucky. This plant is extremely under-studied and could have tremendous impacts on our ecosystems if left untreated. My mentor, Dr. John Cox, - [Signage study at UK’s Arboretum explores new ways to foster environmental literacy](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8595) - Walk through any arboretum, and you will find signs that guide your experience, naming plants, offering insights into the ecosystem’s role, or even helping you find your way around. However, many signs fall short of connecting with visitors or sparking a deeper understanding. My name is Bailey Little, and I study Environmental and Sustainability Studies - [Protecting Kentucky's horses with sustainable fly control](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8576) - As the “horse-capital of the world,” Kentucky is home to a thriving population of horses - and a rampant population of flies. As a horse owner myself, there is nothing I care more about than the welfare and comfort of my horse, and flies are one of the greatest obstacles to care we face; they - [Intern Insights: Creating pockets of green on UK HealthCare's campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8564) - As a recent graduate of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies program at the University of Kentucky - and a proud alum of the Sustainability Internship Program - I had the pleasure to serve as the UK Healthcare Sustainability Intern during my senior year. This experience allowed me to work on a variety of projects, ranging - [UK Recycling sets record with over 15 tons collected during 2025 campus move-out](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8559) - As University of Kentucky students moved out of campus housing this spring, UK Recycling set a new benchmark for sustainability efforts — collecting a record 31,110 pounds (15.6 tons) of donations and recyclables through its 2025 move-out initiative. The Give and Go donation drive, which helps divert gently used items from the landfill, hit a - [Reducing, reusing, and recycling at Big Blue Move-In](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6322) - Becoming a zero-waste campus is one of UK's sustainability goals. Actually, its one of our five guiding principles; Make the pursuit of these goals an integral part of the UK student experience Decarbonize campus operations Become a zero-waste campus Model environmental excellence Reinforce the University’s commitment to our people UK Sustainability and UK Recycling partnered - [The Food Connection publishes annual UK Dining report, showing strong local purchasing performance](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6707) - The Food Connection, an applied food systems center in the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, has recently published the FY23 dining report. The report's analysis tracks local food purchasing against predetermined benchmarks set forth by the University of Kentucky in partnership with their food service partner, Aramark. According to the - [UK students serve healthy, balanced meals to community through Meals on Wings](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6797) - At the University of Kentucky Campus Kitchen, a remarkable initiative — Meals on Wings — is taking flight, bringing nourishment and community spirit to those who need it most. Meals on Wings is not just about food, it's about bridging gaps and fostering a sense of unity within the community. Part of the UK Martin-Gatton College - [Fabricating play: the Big Blue Bench comes to Cornerstone](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6812) - The Big Blue Bench (figure 1) is a furniture piece and public art installation that serves as a prototype to demonstrate the reuse of plastic waste as building material (figure 2). The product is one result of a multidisciplinary effort funded by the 2021 UK Sustainability Challenge Grant Program to explore new uses for the - [UK Recycling Launches Oscar AI Rewards System](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6857) - By: Ryan Lark UK Recycling has introduced a rewards program to incentivize use of their Oscar AI waste sorting system. Last Spring, UK Recycling unveiled Oscar, a technology which identifies the user’s waste and instructs which container to place it in, providing instant feedback on what is recyclable at UK. Each time a user sorts - [How UK cares for over 13,500 trees](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6833) - There are over 13,500 trees on the University of Kentucky campus providing beauty, shade and solace for the campus community in addition to tremendous ecosystem services. A team of three full time arborists from UK Facilities Management do pruning, removal, planting and overall health care for all the trees on campus. “I think more than anything, - [Energy intern produces case study on UK's water conservation efforts](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6964) - SIP Interns: What are they up to? Sophomore Chemical Engineering major, Jennifer Bukowski, UK Energy intern, has created a case study for the new Stormwater Harvesting Project recently launched this past summer. Working with UK Utilities and Energy Management, Chemtreat, LFUCG, the case study will be a document that can be used primarily for external - [Built environment intern hopes to create cultural spaces through global gardens](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6970) - Junior Landscape Architecture major and Urban Studies minor, Kayla Payne, Built Environment intern, has started designing Global Gardens- Phase Two. Global Gardens, started in 2021, is a project on UK Campus that encapsulates cultivating inclusive cultural spaces through nutritional science. Built Environment is partnering with The Food Connection, UK Healthcare, College of Agriculture Horticulture Club, - [Freshii introduces compostable containers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8257) - The University of Kentucky is taking another step towards sustainability by partnering with Kanbol, a Kentucky Proud company specializing in compostable packaging. This collaboration brings Kanbol’s 32 oz compostable bowls to Freshii, offering our campus community an alternative to plastic bowls while supporting Kentucky businesses. Based in Auburn, Kentucky, Kanbol is on a mission to - [UK student transforms bourbon byproducts into biodegradable plant pots](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8880) - Small enough to fit in your hand, yet powerful enough to change how we think about sustainability, these biodegradable nursery pots, made from distillers’ spent grains, tackle two major environmental challenges: bourbon byproducts and plastic pollution. Designed to support seedlings as they grow and then break down naturally into the soil, each pot represents a - [Lewis Honors Students Plant 1,200 Trees, Help Restore Appalachian Forest](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3285) - Students from the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College recently traveled to Daniel Boone National Forest to help restore native forests on a surface mined site. The group partnered with Green Forests Work to plant 1,200 shortleaf pines. The service-learning field trip was part of an honors course taught by Kenton Sena, “The Ecology of Middle-earth.” Sena said - [UK Recycling on Track to Reach Waste Diversion Goal](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4980) - University of Kentucky Recycling had a 47% waste diversion rate for the academic campus in the 2021 calendar year. UK has a target of diverting 50% of its campus waste from the landfill by the end of 2022 and is on track to reach or surpass that goal by the end of the year. A waste diversion - [Meet the team merging nature and health on the University of Kentucky Medical Campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4844) - The University of Kentucky Medical Center strives to provide a nurturing and healthy environment for all its users including patients, families, hospital staff, faculty and students. UK has already led the way among Kentucky higher academic institutions in implementing sustainable campus landscapes. This project will substantively further this effort to transform portions of our medical - [Pollinator Gardens at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4848) - In the Fall of 2020, I was hired to serve as the Built Environment Intern through the Sustainability Internship Program, facilitated by the Office of Sustainability. Through this internship, undergraduate students participate in independent and faculty research and applications into sustainability within their field on campus. My position focuses on the built aspects of our - [Undergraduates Encouraged to Apply for Sustainability Summer Research Fellowships](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4651) - Applications are now open for the University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research’s Sustainability Summer Research Fellowships. The annual fellowship gives undergraduates the opportunity to study in a wide variety of disciplines over the summer term while doing intensive and self-directed research or creative work under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The fellowships support - [Participate in Campus Race to Zero Waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4798) - As a New Year's resolution, you may have decided to make changes in your behavior to minimize your environmental impact. Many of us want to consume less, implement more sustainable habits, and make environmentally conscious choices. One of the easiest changes you can make is to recycle more and learn about what is recyclable where - [My experience with the Sustainability Internship Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4793) - For the last two years, I have worked as an intern with UK Recycling through the Sustainability Internship Program offered through the UK Office of Sustainability, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my entire college career. While I worked as a general social media/events intern last year, I had the - [Apply today for the 2022-2023 Sustainability Internship Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4751) - If you are interested in actively participating in UK’s sustainability efforts, the Sustainability Internship Program is the best place to start! The Sustainability Internship Program offers students a chance to gain valuable tools, experiences, and connections to assist them in landing a professional career in sustainability after graduation. I spoke with Sophie Beavin about how - [A low-cost solution to mismanaged plastic waste in the developing world](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4637) - Plastic is a miracle of modern chemistry. From healthcare to food preservation to the automotive industry, these amazing polymers make modern life possible. Unfortunately, the properties that make plastic so valuable – low cost, endlessly formable, and chemically inert – have also created a global waste management crisis. Plastic does not naturally degrade in the - [UK students help revitalize historical community](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4590) - University of Kentucky landscape architecture students are using their design expertise to revitalize a historic property in Woodford County. Huntertown is an African American hamlet which once stood on 50-acres outside of Versailles, Kentucky. Established in 1871 by former slaves, it was active until 2006. Now whittled down to 38 acres, the area recently opened - [Students to manage funds from UK’s endowment with a focus on sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4404) - The University of Kentucky will offer a Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF) Course focused on Sustainability in the fall of 2022. A focus on sustainability in the investment world is often denoted by the acronyms ESG (Environment Social and Governance) or RI (Responsible Investing). At this time there are less than 50 reported examples of - [I Wish I Didn't Like Plastic](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4397) - I wish I disliked plastic. Every time I take a walk, whether it be in a city or the countryside, I see plastic littering the land. This isn’t new; as a child, I saw trash of all kinds piled up in the creeks or along roadsides more often than I would like to remember. The - [UK Recycling encourages campus to join a 'wave' of change](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4474) - Each year, the University of Kentucky celebrates America Recycles Day on Nov. 15 by encouraging faculty, staff and students to recycle and learn more about recycling on campus. Following last year’s eye-opening cardboard demonstration, UK Recycling has created another recycling display. Made from Styrofoam coolers used by UK HealthCare, the “wave” will be on display through Nov. 19 at the Gatton Student Center. UK - [Our commitment to climate action, part 2](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4262) - In late 2016, President Capilouto’s announcement of the University’s first emissions reduction target concluded one chapter and opened another in the story of climate action on our campus. Students who had provided the energy and the urgency for adopting the target were invited to join a task force of faculty and administrators focused on reducing - [GameDay Recycling Challenge](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4236) - Football. Not sure if you have heard, but we are a football school! We love cheering on the Cats each Saturday as they continue to do amazing things to move our football program further! On November 6th, we want to move our sustainability efforts forward too at Kroger Field! We are planning on not only - [Why UK Staff Member Joanna Ashford Has the 'Heart to Step Up'](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4264) - This month, UKNow talked to Joanna Ashford, who works as the recycling coordinator in UK Facilities Management. UKNow: What is your role here at UK? Ashford: I am the recycling coordinator for the university. I oversee recycling and waste minimization efforts (like composting, new recycling efforts and campus engagement opportunities). UKNow: What’s the best part - [Solar Energy, Students, and Sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4222) - A HUGE SHOUT OUT to the scores of student advocates who have been encouraging the University to take a leadership position on climate and transition to renewables for most of the past two decades. Last week’s announcement that UK plans to meet approximately one third of campus electricity needs with solar power by 2025 represents - [Energy Club partners to bring EV chargers to campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4059) - UK's Energy Club is a group of students who are passionate about making a difference in the world, starting right here with the University's community. With sustainability in our back pocket, our main goal is to save energy. The motto “Keep fueling innovation for a brighter tomorrow and spreading positive energy” exemplifies our passion as - [You'll Never Believe What We Recycle at UK!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4197) - ‘What do you do when the students aren’t on campus?’ is a common question I receive as the Recycling Coordinator for the University. With that job title, it is easy to think that my job (and the recycling program here at UK) only applies to recycling only bottles and cans. However, what we recycle on - [Meet the 2021-2022 EcoReps](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4167) - This year’s EcoReps program has officially begun! This program, led by UK Recycling, gives on-campus students an opportunity to become leaders in sustainability, and get their foot in the door for future leadership positions. Read on to meet the 2021-2022 EcoReps and learn more about them! Emery Etzel Dorm: JewellYear: Freshman Major: Education (with focus on - [Water Harvesting: Maximizing Partnership](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4103) - The design process is complete on an effort projected to save the University more than 25 million gallons of water annually. UK’s annual water usage averages 600 million gallons a year so the savings from this project represent more than a 4% reduction in purchased water. The project will divert stormwater for use in one - [Upcycling plastic in the Pearl of Africa](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3996) - Engineers for Sustainable Energy Solutions (ESES) is a non-profit organization based in Kentucky founded by Jeffrey Seay, Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Kentucky College of Engineering Paducah Extended Campus. The mission of ESES is to provide an innovative, sustainable, and community-based solution for addressing the global plastic waste crisis. The - [No Sustainability Without People - Justice, Equity, and Diversity as Foundational for the Future](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3981) - Part 2 (read Part 1 here) of our conversation with UK HealthCare’s Chief Diversity Officer Tukea Talbert about how and why Sustainability at UK must be built from a foundation of Justice and Equity focuses on the most important part of this foundation for the future: PEOPLE. Her perspective on the responsibility that we each have to create - [Reinventing and reimagining a new normal with UK HealthCare's Tukea Talbert](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3978) - We are working hard to firmly ground Sustainability at the University of Kentucky on a foundation of Justice and Equity. Our work to reimagine sustainability in this way requires engaging with people and perspectives from every area of our campus and community. In this short and powerful video, UK HealthCare’s Chief Diversity Officer Tukea Talbert - [Introducing the 2021-2022 Sustainability Internship Program cohort](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4029) - Since 2016, undergraduate students have had the opportunity to work directly with sustainability initiatives on campus–and get paid for it! The Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) is an exciting partnership between the Student Sustainability Council, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and various operational units across campus. This year, we have doubled our - [Staff senate, shared governance, and sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3884) - At first glance, the phrase “Staff Senate, Shared Governance, and Sustainability” might seem out of place. Taking them at face value, “Staff Senate” is a governing body on campus representing staff, “Shared Governance” is a concept that contributes to the practice of shared decision-making rather than centralized power, and “Sustainability” calls to thought the phrase - [UK continues to pass on plastics](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3946) - It all started with a turtle. I'm sure you remember the video of a crew of volunteers who pulled a sea turtle out of the ocean and discovered a plastic disposable straw stuck in its nose. The video went viral and sparked global outrage - quickly businesses, communities, and cities began using paper straws and - [Turning plastic waste into fuel](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3879) - Jeffrey Seay, Professor of Chemical Engineering at UK Paducah, has been collaborating with partners in numerous countries, including Ethiopia, Senegal, Uganda and India, to find new ways to convert harmful waste into fuel! The Trash-to-Tank (3T) Processor is an open-source creation produced by Seay’s nonprofit organization, Engineers for Sustainable Energy Solutions (ESES). The mission of - [Applications now open for 2021 EcoReps program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3863) - UK Recycling is excited to announce the fifth year of its EcoReps program! This program, which is an opportunity for on-campus students to promote sustainability to students in their residence halls, has been completely redesigned from its format in previous years in order to give EcoReps more chances to serve as student leaders at UK. - [Sustainability on the Ground: Waste and Recycling](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3756) - UK Grounds and UK Recycling work closely together to create sustainable options regarding waste diversion (everything recycled, donated, and composted.) The University is trying to reach a 50% diversion rate by 2022, and the Grounds operation is helping achieve this goal by encouraging recycling, reducing landfill waste, and composting green materials. In this video, Grounds - [UK Collects 7.3 Tons of Reusable Material in Spring Move-Out](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3741) - This past May, during Spring Move-Out, the University of Kentucky’s Recycling Program was happy to re-offer the Give and Go Donation Station Program to all resident students on campus. Donation stations were placed in the lobby of every residence hall on campus for students to donate items as they prepared to leave campus for the semester - [Cheers to Two Years! A Look at UK's Food Waste Composting.](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3664) - Time flies when you are composting food waste! It’s hard to believe that 2 years ago today we picked up the first cart full of food waste from UK Dining. Since that first pick up, the University has composted over 100 TONS (which is 200,000 POUNDS) of material. This project was the culmination of years - [UK Launches LGBTQ Scholarship for Ag, Environmental Sciences](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3735) - Food access, sustainability and conservation have become mainstream conversations worldwide. And while these issues are broad, too often, representation within these discussions is not. As a minority in the state of Kentucky, I have experienced different encounters based upon my gender, race and sexuality. As an openly Black lesbian woman, I have participated in protest, held - [UK Reflects on Meaning of Juneteenth Ahead of 1st Academic Holiday](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3712) - In January 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, declaring more than three million slaves living in the Confederate states to be free, unbeknownst to many of those enslaved. It was not until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, more than two years later, on June 19, 1865, that the last enslaved U.S. populations were informed of the proclamation. Today, we celebrate - [Five new student-led sustainability projects from the 2020-2021 Sustainability Internship Program cohort](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3457) - Every year, student sustainability interns develop and implement their own independent projects to help further sustainability efforts on campus. Despite this year’s challenges, the students in the 2020-2021 Sustainability Internship Program cohort were able to create incredible projects that create lasting change on campus. Check out all their projects, engage with them on campus, and - [W. T. Young races to zero waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3453) - How much waste does one building create? Is it possible that a couple of changes can create real change? Those were all questions I set out to figure out when I enrolled W.T. Young into the Zero Waste Building Challenge as apart of Campus Race 2 Zero Waste competition (formerly Recyclemania). Let’s be clear, it - [Zero-Waste Lifestyle Tips, From a College Student Doing Her Best. Part 3: Kitchen and Cleaning Supplies](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3383) - Hi all! This is the third and final article of the Zero-Waste Swap series, and it’s all about kitchen and cleaning supplies that I have tried, and my honest thoughts on them. I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about how to live a less wasteful lifestyle, and that it is in fact possible for college students - [Nursing Students, Black Soil Partner to Address Food Insecurity, Maternal Health in Communities of Color](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3281) - As a land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky’s role is to improve the lives of people throughout the Commonwealth through service, education and health care. Through a collaboration with local agritourism company Black Soil, a group of students from the UK College of Nursing have taken up the mantle to deliver health education to Lexington’s communities of color. Black Soil is an organization founded to - [Zero-Waste Lifestyle Tips, From a College Student Doing Her Best! Part 2: Shopping and Personal Care](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3340) - It’s Olivia, back with my recommendations on how to reduce your waste as a college student! Here, I’ll share with you the shopping and personal care zero-waste items that I have tried, and what I do (or do not) like about them. Shopping There is a bit of a learning curve to using this kind - [Waste Reduction Week empowers students to make a difference](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3312) - Just a few weeks ago, from April 12-16th, UK Recycling put on their first annual Waste Reduction Week. This week of events, created by UK Sustainability Interns Bethany Schagene (class of ‘21) and Olivia Tussey (class of ‘22), featured documentary screenings, a faculty presentation, zero-waste kit giveaways, a free student thrift store, and more-- all - [Zero-Waste Lifestyle Tips, From a College Student Doing Her Best -Part 1](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2761) - Americans generate an extraordinary amount of waste— around 4.5 pounds of trash per person, per day. Almost all of the items we dispose of are single-use; literally made to go straight into a landfill after only a few hours (at most) of use. This design tactic by large corporations has stripped us everyday people of - [Turning food waste into useable material](https://wholesumky.org/?p=192) - The University of Kentucky took another important step toward its sustainability goals with the launch of a food waste composting program earlier this week. The effort will reduce the amount of material going into the landfill and produce an organic, nutrient-rich soil amendment for use on campus farms and landscaping. The program, which launched Monday, will be piloted at - [Social Justice as the Foundation for our Sustainability Efforts](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2825) - Sustainability has long been described using the metaphor of a three legged stool - or a triple bottom line - where environmental stewardship and social equity/justice are balanced equals to economic considerations. Despite the popularity of this metaphor, the environmental implications of sustainability initiatives have garnered the larger share of media attention and, frankly, our - [How One UK Student Started Food Waste Collection in a Residence Hall](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3001) - Sometimes environmental issues seem too big for one person to make a difference. Food waste can be one of those topics. Thankfully, Caleb Gooden, a Sophomore at UK, decided to try and do something about food waste generated by UK Students living on campus. Food should be viewed as a resource, not a wasted material, - [Evaluating twenty years of urban reforestation in Lexington](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2835) - Established in 1999, Reforest the Bluegrass is a highly successful urban reforestation initiative that has, over its twenty-year history, planted over 140,000 trees with the help of more than 16,500 volunteers on over 190 acres in Lexington! It’s one of the largest and longest running programs of its kind, and has sparked urban restoration efforts - [Preparing our urban forests for our changing climate](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2970) - There’s no doubt that the climate is changing rapidly, at a pace that is both undeniable and faster than previously projected. Our changing climate will impact ecosystems, including urban forests, in ways that will vary, but the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) seeks to develop climate adaptation plans for the trees on UK campus and the - [UK Project Tackles Student Mental Health and Sustainable Landscapes](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2979) - The mental health of college students is a growing concern, and for good reason: college can be a stressful time for most students. Around 40 percent of college students that utilize campus counseling centers present with anxiety, and around 36 percent with depression. “As we moved into this year, the need for students to have - [Summer Sustainability Research Fellowship](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2904) - As attendees of a research institution, UK students have the valuable opportunity to engage with world-class research related to a wide array of topics. For students looking to get involved with sustainability research in Kentucky and throughout the United States, the Summer Sustainability Research Fellowship program is a valuable place to begin their journey ofcuriosity. Since - [Sustainability Internship Program at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2807) - Since 2016, undergraduate students have had the opportunity to work directly with sustainability initiatives on campus--and get paid for it! The Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) is an exciting partnership between the Student Sustainability Council, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and various operational units across campus. Undergraduate student interns are paid $11/hour - [What is the UK Student Sustainability Council?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2731) - If you are looking for ways to get involved with sustainability at UK, consider applying for a seat on the Council. - [Project CARAT meets critical needs for Kentuckians with disabilities](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2723) - According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 34.6% of Kentuckians have a disability, and many of these individuals are unable to afford the durable medical equipment that they need. Even for patients on Medicare or Medicaid, the system can sometimes take months to get people the assistance they need. Recognizing an opportunity to - [10 Things You Should Recycle Today!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2714) - As the Recycling Coordinator here at UK, I always hear “recycling is confusing”. Unfortunately, that sentiment is true, so I always encourage students, faculty and staff to ask questions. There are no stupid questions when it comes to recycling! To help you navigate the recycling works at UK, here are 10 items you should start - [Turning used electronics into a Kentucky industry](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2579) - Where would we be without our electronics? Mobile phones. Laptops. Tablets. Gaming systems. It is impossible to walk around campus without seeing how our devices connect us and the shared University of Kentucky experience. But when Jack Groppo sees those devices, he sees something else. He sees a unique Kentucky opportunity. Groppo, a University of - [What can YOU do?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2558) - Improving the environment is a daunting task, but by each of us making small changes, we can make a big difference. The UK Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment interviewed several faculty, staff, students, and community members to help advise us all. - [Sustainable Development Kentucky: Responsible Consumption and Production](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2535) - Waste reduction is more than just recycling! UK Recycling is leading the way to create new initiatives and programs to not only increase recycling but focus on reducing and reuse. Joanna Ashford, Recycling Coordinator, explains some of the innovative waste reduction programs at UK. To learn more about waste reduction efforts at UK, check out their website. - [Sustainable Development Kentucky: Affordable and Clean Energy](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2538) - The Energy Team is to thank for keeping the lights on at UK Healthcare and continues to make strides towards sustainability. "The Energy Team is doing a tremendous work in our lockdown. With the campus vacant of most people except essential employees, we’ve been able to implement our “Holiday” setbacks on building systems like Air - [Sustainable Development Kentucky: Partnerships for the Goals](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2521) - The Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) working group “exists to provide a dynamic framework for opportunities to partner across organizational and community boundaries that will serve to enhance urban forests in our region.” Groups and individuals involved in urban forestry throughout the Bluegrass area are included in this group to support each other and strengthen the - [Sustainable Development Kentucky: Sustainable Cities and Communities](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2516) - Each year, Landscape Architecture students led by professor Carolina Segura-Bell conduct a week long project to redesign a space in Lexington. In 2019, students partnered with civil engineering students to propose new designs for the Andover Forest golf course. - [Student innovators participate in carbon-neutral energy research](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2510) - In October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) found that the global temperature will increase by 1.5 degrees Celsius by the years 2030-2052. The dominant cause? Human activities- with carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions responsible for around a third of this projected warming. Research Innovators in Sustainable Energy (RISE) aims to help address the - [Graduate student Zoë York researches the benefits of flowering shrubs on our campus trees](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8697) - Urban trees do so much more than make our campus look beautiful. They filter the air, cool the ground, and improve our mental well-being. But many of the trees at the University of Kentucky are under attack from an invasive pest. Graduate student Zoë York, a senior technician in the Wilson Urban Landscape Entomology Laboratory, - [Pollinator garden is restored on south campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8910) - The University of Kentucky’s Natural Resources and Environmental Science Club (NRES) and Horticulture Club removed invasive plants from a pollinator garden to provide a vital habitat for pollinators. The workday included removing Johnson grass, Goldenrod and Chinese elm, then cutting back native plants next to the Barnhart Building on Friday, Nov. 14. Alexandra Taylor, a - [Inside the Reuse Room initiative at Grey Design Building](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8862) - It started with a shelf. “We put up a temporary area, just a shelf that said ‘Unused Material’ with my email address,” said Jackie Skeeters, a third-year Interior Design student at the University of Kentucky. “There was no signage, no email sent out—I just wanted to see what people did. I came back a week - [The science inside a seed: how tiny proteins can shape crop resilience](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8811) - I transferred to UK in 2023 and joined the Downie Lab to explore one big question: can seed proteins help plants survive environmental stress? My name is Ashley Morrison, and I am a senior in the Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology program at the University of Kentucky. I was selected to receive a Summer Sustainability Research - [Dyeing to make a difference: Sustainable textiles in Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8781) - What began as a small dye garden at the University of Kentucky Arboretum has grown into a hands-on summer internship and cross-listed course that immerses students in the sustainable production and use of natural dyes. The project was sparked several years ago when horticulturist Shari Dutton received the book “A Dyer’s Garden” as a Christmas - [UK's Sustainable Office Certification Program now accepting fall office cohort applications](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8654) - The University of Kentucky Sustainable Office Certification (SOC) Program will be certifying its third cohort of offices this fall. Developed in collaboration with local environmental nonprofit, Bluegrass Greensource (BGGS), the program aims to improve everyday office practices and encourage contribution to greater university-wide sustainability goals. By the time of certification, the entire office will understand the importance of improving their - [Blueprint Kentucky student program helps reimagine local community](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8687) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 25, 2025) — This summer, five University of Kentucky students brought fresh energy and creative vision to Trimble County, working to revitalize the town of Bedford, Kentucky, as the community’s vibrant center. The effort was part of the Blueprint Kentucky (formerly CEDIK) Summer Fellows program, a multidisciplinary initiative that places students in rural Kentucky communities to - [Applications for UK Sustainability Challenge Grant Program now being accepted](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8613) - The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage transdisciplinary teams from the university community to foster scholarly, creative and research projects that promote sustainability and advance fields of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to convey the need to seek a balance between environmental, social and economic impacts. Applications for the University of - [How to celebrate sustainably this holiday season!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4449) - Since it’s officially that time of year where everyone is giving gifts to everyone else in their lives (which can be incredibly wasteful when done on an international scale), here are some useful tips and tricks that can help you become more sustainable in your wintertime celebrations! 1. Give Reusable Gifts! Today, there are more - [UK CAER creates sustainable cements and concrete](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3578) - Concrete is everywhere. Concrete is the most widely used man-made material on earth, second only to water as the most-consumed resource on the planet. Cement manufacturing is also the source of 8% of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. Our team at the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research is leading the charge to develop longer-lasting and - [Claim your free attendance to global conference on sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3805) - For the second year in a row, the University of Kentucky is proud to announce that it will serve as a host institution for the Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education. The virtual conference will take place October 12-14, 2021 and will be available to all University faculty, staff, and students for FREE. With - [Guest Blog: Blue collar families are Kentucky’s green energy future!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7780) - This article was submitted by Julia Finch, Director of the Sierra Club, Kentucky chapter. Recently, my Sierra Club Kentucky Chapter colleagues and I realized that our families had all been shaped by energy and industry. Tom’s family mined coal for generations in southeastern Kentucky, where his granddad led the UMWA in Jenkins. Sarah’s grandfather worked - [Unique public-private research consortium established CAER as CO2 capture pioneers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4527) - In the mid-2000s, it had become abundantly clear that capturing carbon dioxide was the engineering challenge of our time. No matter the audience — industry leaders, government officials and researchers — there was global consensus around the importance for CO2 capture. Here in Kentucky, that same message emanated from energy utilities. Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center - [6 ways YOU can hold fashion to sustainable standards](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3596) - Dr. RayeCarol Cavender is a Fashion Marketing professor whose research and classes focus on sustainable fashion. Dr. Cavender is a member of the International Textile and Apparel Association, the American Collegiate Retailing Association, and the National Retail Federation. What can we do to hold big businesses accountable? READ! You have to find the information on - [Meet UK Sustainability's new program coordinator: Carlie Laughlin](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7696) - Carlie Laughlin is UK's new Sustainability Program Coordinator. Carlie pursued her Bachelor's and Master's degrees here at UK in Environmental and Sustainability Studies and worked as a sustainability professional for two years in Miami, FL before accepting her new role here. During her academic career as a Master's student, she worked as a graduate assistant - [UK research project seeks to capture carbon dioxide and produce hydrogen](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5106) - The University of Kentucky has received $2.4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to develop a cost-effective system that will capture carbon dioxide (CO2) and produce hydrogen at natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants. Partnering with the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) on the project is the UK College of - [Farm-to-Fork: UK students share nutritious food with peers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2822) - University of Kentucky students are spreading the message of good nutrition by preparing healthy meals for their peers and the greater Lexington community. Since 2014, student members of the Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky (CKUK) have recovered food that would otherwise go to waste from campus dining halls and community partners around Lexington - [Nature Rx installed at Markey Cancer Center](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6571) - Members of the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment’s Built Environment Faculty Working Group and UK HealthCare Sustainability Steering Committee’s Healthcare Greenspaces Taskforce have worked together for the past year to develop a vision for the landscapes of the UK Medical Center campus. The University of Kentucky strives to provide a nurturing, healthy - [How to celebrate sustainability this Thanksgiving](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4426) - If you’ve been wondering how to celebrate the holidays more sustainably this year, look no further! Here are all of my favorite sustainable living tips you can incorporate into your life this Thanksgiving (plus, a lot of these can be used for Christmas and other holidays as well!) 1. Avoid Disposable Tableware: This is one - [How to have a sustainable graduation party](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4498) - With December upon us already, some of our current UK students will be gearing up for the big day they have been patiently waiting for - graduation. Whether you're celebrating your big day or hosting a soon-to-be graduate, you may want to consider celebrating in a way that reduces waste and harmful environmental and societal - [UK to host sustainability showcase and student poster competition](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4098) - The President’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, UK’s Office of Sustainability, and the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment are excited to announce the return of the Annual Sustainability Showcase and Awards Presentation on October 5, from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Cornerstone Exchange. Students, Faculty and Staff from every area of our campus are leading - [Everybody Eats: A survey about food waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7042) - Interested in expanding educational materials related to food waste reduction, Elizabeth Hellmann, a junior Environmental Studies and Sustainability major and UK Recycling intern, created a project survey called Everybody Eats. Food waste is a massive global issue. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, about 30-40% of all United States food ends up getting trashed. - [10 tips for new cyclists](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3439) - We are lucky at the University of Kentucky because we have such a rich and well-supported cycling community on campus and in Lexington! It can be challenging, however, for someone new to cycling to get started on their own. Here are my top 10 tips and advice for anyone looking to begin cycling at UK - [Meet the team turning plastic waste into fuel oil](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4155) - UK Recycling hosted their first Waste Reduction Week in April 2021 as an initiative meant to provide students with opportunities to learn more about how they can reduce their waste sent to landfill. As part of Waste Reduction Week, I attended a lecture held by Dr. Beymer-Farris and Dr. Seay, Engineering Sustainable Solutions to the - [Meet the 2022-2023 Sustainability Internship cohort](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5472) - Since it’s conception in 2016, the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) has given undergraduate students a unique way to partner with a variety of on-campus units to advance sustainability initiatives at the University of Kentucky all while getting paid for it! These partnerships include the Student Sustainability Council and Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment. This year, we’ve expanded - [6 successful UK Sustainability projects to present at AASHE](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4156) - Six successful sustainability projects (WholeSum included!) led by University faculty and staff were selected to present at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s (AASHE’s) virtual Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education! With a theme of “The future is …”, this year’s Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education reflects the - [Tourism induced impacts on Balinese economy, people, and aquaculture](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7254) - The following findings are sourced from; Tourism Induced Impacts on Balinese Economy, People, and Aquaculture, a report prepared by a University of Kentucky undergraduate researcher, Abbey McNely. Abbey's work in Bali was part of a cohort experience in the summer of 2023, led by a UK Geography professor, Dr. Betsy Beymer-Farris. “The massive amounts of - [UK’s Student Government Association’s commitment to sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5686) - Nowadays, sustainability is said to be one of the fastest-growing careers. As a matter of fact, I am sure many of you reading this article are passionate about saving our planet. I am also sure that this generation of college students have a myriad of innovative ideas and thoughts but do not know how to - [College of Arts and Sciences hosts "March Towards Inclusion" event series](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6042) - In partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences' Office of Inclusive Excellence and Office of Institutional Diversity, the UK College of A&S is hosting a month-long series of events celebrating language diversity, religious diversity, family and community diversity, and gender diversity. "Each week in March 2023, we will focus on a different area of - [The hidden carbon in our buildings](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5256) - When people discuss the best ways to make our buildings more sustainable, folks in the know will usually talk about energy and water efficiency, indoor air quality and maybe something a little more esoteric, like biophilic design. These are all valuable pursuits on their own terms, but what if I told you that there was - [UK celebrates America Recycles Day](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5665) - Each year, the University of Kentucky celebrates America Recycles Day not just on Nov. 15, but all week by encouraging faculty, staff and students to recycle and learn more about recycling on campus. In past years, UK Recycling has created a variety of displays as a way to engage the UK community in recycling. This year, they plan to do - [Do you want a sustainability certification?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5813) - Are you passionate about sustainability? Do you want to work in a field that reflects your values and supports your vision for a more sustainable future? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone! Working in the sustainability industry is a fitting pathway for those who desire a career that allows them to influence their community - [Sustainable enterprise training fund established](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4380) - Do you want a career that makes you feel good about going to work in the morning? How about a career that makes a difference in your community? If you answered yes, you aren’t alone! Working in the sustainability industry is an attractive pathway for people who want a career that reflects their values and - [From mud to minnows](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3368) - How do you go from trying to prevent mowing equipment from making a mess of a perpetually muddy section of turf to watching a world-renowned hydrogeologist hammer piezometers into a stream full of minnows? Answer: partnerships, vision, and a commitment to students. These two scenarios (the mud and the minnows) played out in the same - [Eli Capilouto Speaks About WholeSum](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4202) - As the University for Kentucky, we have a responsibility to advance our Commonwealth. In doing so, our influence extends beyond Kentucky’s borders. That is why sustainability remains a priority in our daily operations, in our research and innovation, and in the way we educate Kentucky’s future. Hear why President Eli Capilouto believes in these missions and - [Away Is Not a Place](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3726) - “Just throw it away.” I’m sure that's a common thing you've heard or even said, and it's usually in reference to what we think of as being 'trash'. It's an interesting sentence since a quick Google search shows that Away isn't actually a place. So where is your trash going? When I think about 'away', - [What is intersectional environmentalism and why is it important?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4672) - Although I've followed the Intersectional Environmentalism movement for several years on social media, I did not begin extensively researching the topic until last semester, when I was given the opportunity to write a final essay on any interest of choice. I chose Intersectional Environmentalism. I didn't choose the topic because I was an expert on - [UK students help people of Ecuador obtain clean water](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5219) - In Ecuador, the Tsáchila people have long endured myriad health problems linked to contaminated water. University of Kentucky Professor Wayne Sanderson and a group of students from the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment may have found a likely solution to the dilemma. Health care providers from UK's Shoulder-to-Shoulder Global program, a medical-aid organization under the university's - [Coach Cal on the McClendon Foundation, Coming Together](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3421) - John Calipari, Men's Basketball Coach at the University of Kentucky, comments on the McLendon Minority Leadership Initiative, a program designed to provide minorities a jump-start to their careers through practical experiences, opportunities to build their network, and instilling the values of John McLendon: Integrity, Education, Leadership, and Mentorship. Calipari also comments on the state of our nation, the importance - [2021 bike voucher program applications now being accepted](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3294) - One great way to reduce your automobile travel is to invest in alternative transportation, like biking! This is especially important for cities when it comes to reducing tailpipe emissions and improving air quality. If you've been thinking about replacing some of your automobile trips with biking, consider applying for the University of Kentucky Transportation Service's - [Graduate students present work at Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5618) - Four graduate students in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering traveled to Berlin, Germany to present their work at the Global Conference on Sustainable Manufacturing in October, 2022. (The following has been excerpted and adapted from content originally posted on the UK College of Engineering's webpage ) Avery Hartley, Dan Caudill, Gisele Guedes and - [Ask the Expert: Fast fashion and labor rights](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3516) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on fast fashion - True Cost. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help us - [Kentucky Geological Survey, Energy and Environment Cabinet announce project to measure methane emissions](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4777) - The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) and the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kentucky (UK) have announced a collaborative project focused on mine methane (CH4) emissions in the state. Developed in response to Kentucky’s new energy strategy, KYE3: Designs for a Resilient Economy​​, the project will measure methane emissions from underground mine ventilation and - [Our commitment to climate action](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3870) - As the commonwealth’s flagship university, the University of Kentucky is rising to the challenge of climate change by significantly reducing our emissions that worsen the effects of climate change. Our changing climate is creating challenges, not only worldwide, but also right here in Kentucky, where annual precipitation patterns and other facets of our climate are - [8 students selected as Sustainability Summer Research Fellows](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5198) - Eight University of Kentucky students have been selected for the Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship program, a high-impact learning experience that contributes to the students’ academic growth as well as sustainability-focused research initiatives at UK and within the community at large. The Sustainability Research Fellowship is a collaborative program coordinated by the Office of Undergraduate Research - [Meet 1st place Sustainability Showcase poster contest winner Christina Thompson](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6728) - Christina Thompson, a PhD student studying chemistry, was just recently awarded 1st Place award for her poster in UK’s Sustainability Showcase. As a part of pursuing her PhD, Christina works at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research in the Carbon Materials Laboratory. Here’s a little more about her: What year are you - [Natural state of mind: best outdoor spaces in Lex](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3715) - Did you know that spending time outdoors provides benefits beyond physical exercise, inducing meeting psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs? Take some time this summer to reconnect with nature! Not sure where to go? Here's a list of some of the best parks in Lexington for walking, reading, eating, or just relaxing! The Arboretum, State Botanical - [A sustainable bucket list for fall break](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5572) - The leaves are changing, midterms are behind us, and fall break is right around the corner! Whether you stay on campus or travel back home for UK's fall break, chances are you'll be using this time to enjoy some much-needed downtime and participate in fall fun with friends and family! There are so many ways - [Plant trees around the world from your phone](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5659) - In our back pocket lies a marvel of human invention. The smartphone has allowed for endless connectivity within our society, providing us with a wealth of knowledge and opportunity. If you’ve ever wondered how you can increase your impact and aid in climate resiliency efforts across the globe, I’m here to show you an easy - [10 sustainable New Year's resolutions for 2023](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5752) - While it's possible to implement new habits and healthy lifestyle changes year-round, January provides the perfect opportunity for a fresh start. Many of us create New Year's resolutions to prioritize our mental and physical health, save money, or learn a new skill. This year, living more sustainably is at the top of my list. In - [Application tips and advice from Sustainability Internship Program alumni](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5931) - The 2023-2024 SIP Applications are now open! Click HERE to review position descriptions and submit your application HERE. The deadline to apply is March 24th, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. At the last cohort meeting, SIP interns had the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with UK SIP alumni and hear their advice for applying to - [Celebrate Commencement sustainably](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6242) - University of Kentucky seniors are gearing up an exciting time, May 2023 Commencement. UK Recycling offers easy ideas to celebrate sustainably. Senior photos: When taking photos, try confetti alternatives such as bubbles, flowers or even digitally added confetti. Recycle the champagne/sparkling grape juice bottle after using it for your photo (don’t forget to pick up - [UK Department of Theatre and Dance moves towards sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6565) - Historically, the theater industry has been wasteful, and we need to do better. Many resources are used and often wasted to produce a theatrical play or dance concert. Productions rely on wooden sets, costumes, scripts, furniture, lights, lighting gels, cables, paper programs batteries, and sound equipment, to name a few. As audience members, we sit - [How to practice an eco-friendly winter](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6876) - As winter temperature drops approach, it is the perfect time to make changes in energy consumption and reducing environmental impact. Winter may seem like a sustainability challenge, but using the right strategies to limit the carbon footprint can be incredibly helpful to the environment. Website and Blog, Better Meets Reality, shares a detailed list of - ['Creating a Fertile and Sustainable Future': Lewis Honors College Speaker Series welcomes Jonathan Webb](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5645) - The University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College Speaker Series will welcome entrepreneur and AppHarvest Founder Jonathan Webb to campus. The event will take place in-person 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8, in the Lewis Honors College Scholars Lounge. It is open to the entire UK community. According to the website, the purpose of the Lewis Honors College Speaker Series is - [Meet SGA's new Director of Sustainability, Caitlyn Weaver](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7538) - Hello all! I’m Caitlyn Weaver, UK Student Government Association’s Director of Sustainability for the 2024-2025 academic year. I am a dual degree Environmental and Sustainability Studies and Business Management junior who is devoted to creating change. My goal this year is to make the student body aware of UKSGA’s existence, both within sustainability and beyond. - [Sustainability in Focus: Leadership perspectives from Nancy Cox](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8017) - Sustainability in Focus: Leadership Perspectives is a new mini-series that spotlights the remarkable faculty and staff leaders driving sustainability across our campus and showcases their innovative perspectives. These dedicated individuals are committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within our university community. This is the second post in the series, and we are excited - [UK announces FoodChain as 2022-23 Cornerstone Community Innovation Partner](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5279) - The University of Kentucky is pleased to announce the next Cornerstone Community Innovation Partner (CIP) for the 2022-23 academic year. This year’s partner is FoodChain, which will have an ongoing presence at The Cornerstone to increase community engagement with students and faculty. This 12-month long partnership is intended to help foster The Cornerstone’s vision of innovation - [$200,000 available for 2021 UK Sustainability Challenge Grants](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3298) - The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the University community to foster scholarly, creative, and research projects that promote sustainability and advance the field(s) of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to convey the need to pursue activities that are ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable. Applications for - [Sustainability grant winners to focus on climate crisis, recovery, and DEI efforts](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3766) - Six teams of University of Kentucky students, faculty and staff are beginning work on sustainability projects after being selected to receive Sustainability Challenge Grants totaling more than $200,000. The Sustainability Challenge Grant program is designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the university community in the creation and implementation of ideas that will promote sustainability on campus and in the - [Innovation and sustainability in Kentucky's forests](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3613) - Despite the ecological and economic advantages of using cross laminated timber (CLT) products, the North American building industry has been slow to adopt this emerging architectural component. As cross-laminated timber is emerging across portions of the US, this region is far behind despite the abundance of forest resources and the economic benefits that would be - [Applications for 2024 UK Sustainability Challenge Grant Program now being accepted](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7576) - The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage transdisciplinary teams from the university community to foster scholarly, creative and research projects that promote sustainability and advance fields of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to convey the need to seek to balance between environmental, social and economic impacts. Applications for the University of Kentucky - [$200,000 available for 2022 UK Sustainability Challenge Grants, applications now open](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4915) - The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the university community to foster scholarly, creative and research projects that promote sustainability and advance field(s) of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to convey the need to pursue activities that are ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable. Applications for the - [$200,000 available for 2023 UK Sustainability Challenge Grants, applications now open](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6172) - The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage transdisciplinary teams from the university community to foster scholarly, creative and research projects that promote sustainability and advance field(s) of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to convey the need to pursue activities that are ecologically sound, socially just and economically viable. Applications for the - [Deadline extended for UK Sustainability Challenge Grants](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5047) - Applications for the University of Kentucky Sustainability Challenge Grant Program are being accepted now through May 18, 2022. The Sustainability Challenge Grant Program is designed to engage multidisciplinary teams from the university community to foster scholarly, creative and research projects that promote sustainability and advance field(s) of study. Sustainability, in this context, is intended to - [Learn about 'The Elements of Life' at Everything is Science](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4717) - Aspects of science and research touch our lives every day, but all too often as adults we forget the sense of wonder and interest that we may have had in science when we were children. Everything is Science, Lexington’s free community science festival aims to bring some of that back into our lives. Called EiS for - [Updating our sustainability goals](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4521) - Our commitment to sustainability requires leadership, creativity, and the ability to be nimble as challenges and opportunities evolve. Our vision for sustainability at UK includes valuing environmental stewardship and social justice alongside economic considerations in all of our operations; and making these operations available to our students and faculty to enrich the learning, teaching, and - [Announcing the 2023 Sustainability Showcase at HKRB](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6434) - The UK Office Sustainability, and partners are excited to present the annual Sustainability Showcase. Once again partnering with UK Office of Undergraduate Research, UK Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, UK President's Sustainability Advisory Committee, and the UK Student Sustainability Council, the showcase will be held on Wednesday, September 27th from 5:30-7:30pm at - [Announcing the 2023 UK Food, Energy, and Water Symposium](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6688) - The University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) is excited to partner with UK’s National Science Foundation Research Traineeship (NRT) to announce the upcoming UK Food, Energy, and Water Symposium. The symposium will be held on December 7th, 2023 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm in the Jacobs Science Building (435 Huguelet Drive). - [UK's LEED-certified buildings](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7429) - What is LEED? As many of you may have seen, a majority of our buildings on campus feature a small LEED circle in the doorways of the main entrances. But what is LEED? LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most widely used building rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building - [CSA voucher program includes 11 farms and opportunity to win free shares](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4537) - For the seventh consecutive year, employees with University of Kentucky health insurance are eligible to claim free Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vouchers. These vouchers can be used to receive significant discounts toward the purchase of fresh produce from one of our partner farms. Vouchers will be available Jan. 19. We are excited to add additional farms to our - [New funding program supports research on impacts of eastern KY flooding, climate and health](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5321) - In response to the recent flooding in Eastern Kentucky and increasing climate-related health challenges in general, the University of Kentucky Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES) in collaboration with other UK centers has launched a new pilot funding and mini-grant program. The UK for KY Rapid Response Pilot Program aims to support faculty in any UK - [The Campus Kitchen at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3353) - A student-powered hunger relief effort in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at the University of Kentucky (UK), the Campus Kitchen at UK (CKUK) is more than just an organization - it’s a family. Our volunteers become close friends, our leaders become young professionals, and our community continues to grow and improve with every - [UK to help landowners replace Bradford Pear trees](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4825) - Bradford pear trees are popular landscape trees, commonly planted in yards throughout Kentucky. A distant cousin of culinary pears, Bradford is a flowering pear, one cultivar of the Callery pear species. While beautiful when they flower, they are also a curse with the smell of blooms likened to “dead fish,” and its offspring, invasive Callery pear, a growing epidemic in old - [Celebrate UK Bike Week 2022](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5001) - University of Kentucky Bike Week is back, set for Monday, April 18, through Friday, April 22. Cyclists can take part in five days of bike-related activities on and off campus, with a chance to win prizes. Students who attend at least three Bike Week events and get their Bike Week passport stamped at each will - [Meet Jada Walker Griggs, the new sustainability program manager for LFUCG](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4984) - In this article, I conduct an interview with LFUCG's new Sustainability Program Manager, Jada Walker Griggs. I spoke with Jada about her background in city government, her future goals, and her involvement with the University of Kentucky. She also shared a few words of advice for students interested in pursuing a career in sustainability. Here's - [Shuttle option available for Clark County residents](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5210) - UK Transportation Services is pleased to share information about a valuable shuttle service available through Foothills Express for members of the University of Kentucky community who commute from or through Clark County. The Foothills Express shuttle provides convenient, comfortable and reasonably priced shuttle service which can ease the burden of commuting while saving money on gasoline - [City of Lexington announces commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6782) - In a monumental decision underscoring Lexington's dedication to environmental stewardship and a sustainable future, the Urban County Council members voted unanimously to commit to community-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2050. This landmark resolution, which took place on June 15th, 2023 as a part of Lexington's Comprehensive Plan, solidifies the city's pledge to - [Celebrate Earth Day at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7347) - Today marks the 55th annual celebration of Earth Day, the worldwide event that raises awareness of the need to protect Earth’s natural resources for future generations. University of Kentucky’s Campus Sustainability Officer Shane Tedder says that although sustainability is a year-round effort for UK, during April the university hosts various environmentally focused events that bring the - [UK’s Food as Health Alliance celebrates official launch](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6255) - As part of the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Food as Health Alliance celebrated their official launch last week. On April 26, board members, donors and partners commemorated the event at the Food Connection, where they began laying the groundwork for how to reduce food insecurity and improve diet-sensitive health outcomes across the Commonwealth. The - [University of Kentucky Wind Symphony Presents "Earth Weekend" Concert on Sunday, April 23rd](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6196) - UK students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend a special “Earth Weekend” concert, presented by the University of Kentucky Wind Symphony, on Sunday, April 23, 2023, 3:00 pm, in the Singletary Center for the Arts. The highlight of the concert will be American composer Julie Giroux’s Symphony No. 6 “The Blue Marble”, which includes a remarkable film for an - [Stay safe while hiking this summer](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6212) - We are almost at that time of the year where everyone decides that they want to go outside and experience the warmer weather. Hiking is a very popular activity that many people enjoy, especially when springtime rolls around. It can also be a dangerous activity if the necessary precautions are not taken. You want to keep - [Connecting with nature in the winter](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4383) - The winter can be hard - days are shorter and colder, and for some of us, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) begins to kick in. Making time to go outside can keep our mood up and our bodies healthy. Yes, even in the winter. Why should you make time to go outside in the winter? Going - [5th Annual Winter Bike to Campus Day is Wednesday, Feb. 9](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4656) - Cold weather is no excuse to give up on cycling to campus, whether you dig winter vibes or shiver all season. Each year, The University of Kentucky Transportation Services recognizes cyclists who brave the winter weather to cycle year-round during Winter Bike to Campus Day. This year’s event will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 - [Moving out and making a difference](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4413) - On every university campus throughout US, when students leave campus for holiday or summer breaks, a lot of waste is produced. While packing and getting ready to leave, waste comes from many places: cleaning out fridges, getting rid of clothes that don’t fit anymore or are out of style, realizing that there are too many - [Ask the Expert: Fast Fashion and Accountability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3525) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on fast fashion - True Cost. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help us - [5 Practices for a More Sustainable Garden](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3500) - Sustainable gardening is often described as taking organic gardening just a step further - simply put, it's gardening in eco-friendly way by using less chemicals, more green alternatives, and giving back to the earth. Ultimately, the goal is to provide nourishment to the soil and plants as they, in turn, provide nourishment for you and - [5 Ways YOU Can Join the Slow Fashion Movement](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3721) - Dr. RayeCarol Cavender is a Fashion Marketing professor whose research and classes focus on sustainable fashion. Dr. Cavender is a member of the International Textile and Apparel Association, the American Collegiate Retailing Association, and the National Retail Federation. The Slow Fashion Movement is defined as slow production at the company level and slow consumption at - [Robin Wall Kimmerer's Campus Keynote - April 6, 2023 @ 12pm](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5728) - The University of Kentucky's Lewis Honors College and Student Sustainability Council are excited to present a campus keynote with 2022 MacArthur Fellow Dr. Robin Wall Kimmerer on Thursday, April 6th at 12pm in the UK Singletary Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public (no tickets or reservations necessary). The - [Wildcat Market returns to South Lawn](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6537) - The UK Student Activities Board and the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program partnered to bring the Wildcat Market back to campus! Sponsored by Student Government and UK Sustainability, this popular event brought FREE, local produce to students on campus! Held on the South Lawn on Wednesday September 20th from - [Prescribed fire planned for The Arboretum to support native plant life ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7201) - During the month of March, staff at The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky will administer a prescribed fire to help remove thatch that builds up from the grasses and wildflowers over time. The prescribed fire will allow native seeds to contact the soil surface and help prevent the sun-loving plants from getting shaded by the thatch. - [Submitting requests for new recycling bins is easy - here's how](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7378) - Is your office missing a recycling bin? Do you need to clean out your office? Then you need to contact UK Recycling. UK Recycling provides recycling services and containers at no charge to any UK Department in an effort to facilitate the university’s zero-waste goals. UK Recycling utilizes two forms for submitting recycling requests: one - [New staff sustainability opportunity: UK's Sustainable Office Certification Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7462) - The UK Sustainable Office Certification (SOC) Program is the newest addition to sustainability programming at the University of Kentucky. The program recently launched on August 1st, 2024 and will be certifying its first cohort of offices this fall. Developed in collaboration with local environmental nonprofit, Bluegrass Greensource (BGGS), the program aims to improve everyday office - [First cohort of offices recognized for UK’s Sustainable Office Certification Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8102) - UK Sustainability and Bluegrass Greensource are excited to recognize the first official cohort of the Sustainable Office Certification (SOC) Program. As a new initiative, the SOC Program's mission is to advance the creation of more sustainable workplaces through education, encouragement, and reflection. If you are not familiar with the program, here is a quick overview - [Less is more in UK Theatre and Dance ‘Season of Sustainability’](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7608) - When audience members settle into their seats for a theatrical performance, they are focused on the action on the stage, whether it’s unfolding drama, the fluidity of dance or the whimsy of musical theater. They rarely think about the materials that went into bringing the production to life: the wood used for set pieces, material - [Meet the newest member of the WholeSum team: Chelsea Colley](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4579) - My name is Chelsea Colley, and I am a Junior at the University of Kentucky. I am a Writing, Rhetoric, and Digital Studies major with a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies. When I started at UK, I knew I wanted to work towards a career path that would involve both my major and minor. - [Student Guide to Sustainability at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3878) - Sustainability is evolving at the University of Kentucky. Over the last decade, faculty, staff, and students have led the way in creating positive change around campus by lowering emissions, reducing waste, seeking sustainability-related degrees, and making sustainability more accessible and inclusive for all students. Sustainability is integrated into the University of Kentucky's academics, research, and - [Apply Today to Attend the 2023 AASHE Conference and Expo in Boston, MA](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6423) - APPLY NOW! The University of Kentucky is proud to announce that it will send 8 students to the 2023 Conference and Expo hosted by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). For the first time since 2019, the conference will be held in person, taking place from October 29th-31st in Boston, - [The grit and grind behind novel new algae research](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6489) - For over 10 years, researchers at UK's Center for Applied Energy Research have implemented more efficient ways to capture carbon emissions from point sources using a system based on algae. And while the research itself is phenomenal, the researchers behind it are equally amazing. Utilizing a solvent system, researchers are able to capture carbon emissions - [UK faculty roll out local food systems curriculum to inspire Kentucky youth](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7614) - A collaborative project between the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE), Black Soil KY and Need More Acres Farm has resulted in an agriculture and food systems curriculum for young Kentuckians. The Food, Farming and Community curriculum is an interactive, story-based learning tool that explores local food systems and agriculture career paths - [Intern Insights: Holly Cason with UK Recycling](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8039) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [UK researchers launch app to boost iPad lifespan, transform campus tech](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8279) - The University of Kentucky strives to be a place where technology and innovation intertwine with education. Since 2019, the iPad Initiative, in partnership with Apple, has continued to level the technological playing field for UK students — enhancing in-class and online learning by building skillsets that contribute to future success. Prioritizing accessibility, UK has provided more than 30,000 - [University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) researchers are turning one of the state’s largest and fastest-growing industries into an unlikely renewable energy source.](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8019) - In a study published in the Journal of Environmental Management led by Tyler Barzee, assistant professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) and faculty fellow at the UK James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits (JBBI); Czarena Crofcheck, professor of BAE and faculty fellow at JBBI; and graduate researcher Danielle Hockensmith, the team discovered that stillage — a leftover byproduct from bourbon and whiskey - [Bluegrass and Green Future: University of Kentucky Joins the Rachel Carson Council](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8268) - A cold February rain draped over the University of Kentucky as students bustled between classes. Despite the overcast sky, Lexington’s flagship university radiated warmth—a hub of intellectual curiosity, environmental stewardship, and impassioned advocacy. True to its commitment to blending scholarship with action, the University of Kentucky (UK) has taken bold steps in sustainability, implementing conservation and efficiency efforts that - [Resiliently Rooted Art Showcase and Competition](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8231) - Throughout your life, how many times have you relaxed, walked, or laid under a tree? Probably, and hopefully, a great number of times! Trees are instrumental to the health of planet Earth and the health of human beings. They purify the air by absorbing carbon dioxide, help with stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, and give - [Forrest Dills, CAER Undergrad, Forging His Path in Materials Science](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8223) - Dills’ work, like much at UK CAER, is built off sustainability and using recyclable materials to positively impact energy emissions. “We create synthetic graphite electrodes for our batteries out of materials like waste coal,” said Dills. “To put it into simpler terms, we are trying to find a way to take coal and oil that - [Applications Open for 2025-2026 Sustainability Internship Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8216) - Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Sustainability Internship Program (SIP). The SIP pairs students with sustainability-related offices and units from across the campus to advance sustainability initiatives in exciting and meaningful ways. Interns are paid $15.55/hour for 8-10 hours of work per week. The internships start in mid-August and follow the academic calendar through - [Advancing Kentucky Together: UK horticulturist Alexis Sheffield](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8207) - The production of synthetic dyes comes at a great environmental cost, accountable for nearly 20% of global industrial water pollution. The Sustainable Color for Kentucky’s Future project aims to replace synthetic coloring for clothing and textiles with natural dyes by increasing the availability of resources needed to produce natural coloring. This project is funded by the - [UK’s CAER empowers student researcher through experiential learning](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8202) - There is no substitute for hands-on experience. The best way to learn is by doing, and experiential learning opportunities allow just that. This is something that Lexington native Kara Bracken, a North Carolina State University chemical engineering major, found at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) over the summer of 2024. Bracken’s - [Call for proposals: Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8196) - LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 22, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Research is accepting proposals for the 2025 Sustainability Summer Research Fellowship. This fellowship offers UK undergraduate students the opportunity to engage in transformative research on sustainability during the summer. Funded by the Environmental Stewardship Fee and sponsored by the Student Sustainability Council and UK Sustainability, the fellowship - [Sustainability Interns: Where is Quincy Ipsaro Now?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7790) - Quincy Ipsaro - Built Environment Intern 2020-2022 I graduated from the University of Kentucky in May 2022 with Bachelor degrees in Biology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. During my time at the University of Kentucky, I was involved in many student organizations and positions focused on sustainability. I was on the Student Sustainability Council, was - [Intern Insights: Keren Keener with UK User Led Environmental Lab Excellence](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8071) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [UK Beam Institute to demonstrate hydrogen-fueled spirit production](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8126) - The University of Kentucky James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits (JBBI) and UK Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) have partnered with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (EEC) and the State Energy Program to make the future of bourbon production more sustainable. The project, titled “Kentucky Distilled Spirits Industrial Decarbonization and Sustainability” and funded by EEC, will allow - [Sustainability in Focus: Leadership Perspectives from the Office for Student Success](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7972) - Sustainability in Focus: Leadership Perspectives is a new mini-series that spotlights the remarkable faculty and staff leaders driving sustainability across our campus and showcases their innovative perspectives. These dedicated individuals are committed to fostering a culture of environmental responsibility within our university community. This is the first post in the series, and we are excited - [Fluidity Within Rigidity](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7932) - My name is MaKayla Koon and I am a recent graduate of the University of Kentucky where I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Architecture with a minor in Spanish. After graduating Summa Cum Laude from UK in December of 2023, I began working full time at Omni Architects here in Lexington, Kentucky where I - [Zero Waste, Infinite Creativity at Inaugural Kentucky Climate Symposium](https://wholesumky.org/?p=8027) - On September 26, 2024, the Kentucky Climate Consortium made history by welcoming nearly 300 academic professionals, organizers, and community members to the Harris Ballroom in the Gatton Student Center at the University of Kentucky to discuss a myriad of topics centered around climate in Kentucky. Not only was the inaugural Kentucky Climate Symposium successful in - [Intern Insights: Henry Walke with UK Recycling](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7796) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Intern Insights: Georgia McNamara with UK HealthCare](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7794) - Intern Insights is a mini-series that spotlights the interns participating in the Sustainability Internship Program (SIP) and their day-to-day activities and accomplishments. The Office of Sustainability partners with the Student Sustainability Council and sustainability-related units from across the University to provide exciting and meaningful undergraduate internship opportunities for UK students. Interns work with a mentor to support a - [Sustainability Interns: Where is Amber Dotson Now?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7756) - Amber Dotson - UK Office of Sustainability Intern 2021-2022 Amber Dotson is a graduate of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment where she studied Agricultural and Medical Biotechnology and Agriculture Economics. During her time at UK, Amber poured herself into exploring all aspects of agriculture through internships and work experiences - [Sustainability Interns: Where is Shaun Lavin Now?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7715) - Shaun Lavin - UK Recycling Intern 2022-2023 Sustainability has been a passion of mine for as long as I can remember, and it continued to grow after I attended a sustainability event my first week on campus at UK. There, I learned about an opportunity to get involved with recycling promotions at UK home football - [Sustainability Interns: Where is Olivia Tussey Now?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7667) - Olivia Tussey - UK Recycling Intern 2020-2021 My journey in the world of sustainability has been a winding one - when I first accepted my spot as an incoming freshman at UK for the fall 2019 semester, I originally planned to major in Biology. However, I had always been passionate about environmental and social issues, - [Intern Insights: Rachel Henry with the Kentucky Climate Consortium](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5935) - Behind the Scenes of the SIP is a new series on WholeSum featuring the 2022-2023 Sustainability Internship Program interns and highlighting the work they have accomplished over the past year. Continue reading to learn more about Rachel Henry's work with the KYCC. The KYCC was created in 2018 by Drs. Lauren Cagle and Carmen Agouridis - [Participate in Lexington's Week Without Driving](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7620) - The Week Without Driving (as much) is a national initiative that citizens in Lexington are organizing around to inform the Lexington community about the importance of recognizing barriers in our transportation systems, in particular for members of our community who can not drive a car. The University's partnership with this effort places emphasis on thinking - [2024-2025 Student Sustainability Council](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7617) - The Student Sustainability Council (SSC) was formed to supervise the distribution of the Environmental Stewardship Fee in order to responsibly advance the theory, practice and reality of Sustainability at the University of Kentucky. The University of Kentucky's Student Sustainability Council is headed by a group of students, representatives, and elected student directors. Shaun Lavin Director - [Sustainable Features: Gatton Student Center](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7535) - The UK Gatton Student center was reimagined with sustainability as a focus. This renovation and expansion has been awarded LEED Silver by the U.S. Green Building Council. It embodies many of the sustainability priorities of the University of Kentucky. What is LEED? LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, provided a framework to create - [‘From the field to the finished product’ — hemp plants made into flooring at North Farm](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7442) - Hemp fibers are among the strongest materials grown in Kentucky. Developments have allowed farmers to experiment with making hemp into rope, even clothing. At the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment’s North Farm, UK Cooperative Extension Professor Bob Pearce led a project to turn their hemp crop into flooring. Pearce had - [Summer Research Spotlight: The identification and characterization of antibiotic producing bacteria from maize leaves](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7384) - The Summer Undergraduate Research Creativity Fellowships provide undergraduates with an opportunity to study a wide variety of disciplines through self-directed work under a faculty mentor. The Student Sustainability Council collaborates with the Office of Undergraduate Research in order to promote projects that will make a significant contribution to the student’s academic growth while simultaneously contributing - [Rebekah Radtke: 2024-25 University Research Professor Q&A](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7433) - Rebekah Radtke, a Chellgren Endowed Professor and associate professor in the School of Interiors in the University of Kentucky College of Design, has been honored as a 2024-25 University Research Professor. Radtke’s research is focused on collaborating with communities using design as a method to create more sustainable, climate-responsive areas. She shares the impact of this - [Summer Research Spotlight: Transit for All: Design Strategies for Improving Public Transportation in Lexington, Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7396) - The Summer Undergraduate Research Creativity Fellowships provide undergraduates with an opportunity to study a wide variety of disciplines through self-directed work under a faculty mentor. The Student Sustainability Council collaborates with the Office of Undergraduate Research in order to promote projects that will make a significant contribution to the student’s academic growth while simultaneously contributing - [Summer Research Spotlight: Exploring the Impacts of Vaping Pollutants on Neuronal Health](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7390) - The Summer Undergraduate Research Creativity Fellowships provide undergraduates with an opportunity to study a wide variety of disciplines through self-directed work under a faculty mentor. The Student Sustainability Council collaborates with the Office of Undergraduate Research in order to promote projects that will make a significant contribution to the student’s academic growth while simultaneously contributing - [UK Recycling & Waste Management Survey](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7274) - We're reaching out for your valuable insights into the values, attitudes, and knowledge surrounding recycling and waste management within the University of Kentucky community. By participating in a brief 15-minute survey, you'll be contributing to our understanding of these crucial aspects. Additionally, as a token of appreciation for your time, completing the survey grants you - [Earth Month Events 2024](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7156) - Every year, the city of Lexington and the University of Kentucky come together to acknowledge April as Earth Month, a time devoted to advocating sustainability and engaging in eco-friendly endeavors throughout the community. With an array of captivating events taking place on or near campus, joining in the activities of Earth Month 2024 is easily - [Expanding the canopy: UK invites communities to celebrate Tree Week 2024](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7744) - Tree Week, hosted by the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI), returns this year with an expanded reach across the state. This year’s events will occur throughout October, engaging communities across Kentucky to celebrate trees and the environment for kids and adults alike. Tree Week 2024 edition covers every area of the state, from large urban centers like Lexington, Louisville, - [Updating Our Sustainability Strategic Plan: New Vision and Guiding Principles](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5023) - In January, we kicked off our efforts to update the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan. Since then, we have conducted focus groups with student leaders, faculty, and staff to understand their opinions on what a shared vision of sustainability should look like at UK, the most important sustainability issues we will face, and potential goals we - [Neighbors helping neighbors: UK Urban Forest Initiative unveils revitalization project in Eastern Kentucky community](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7580) - The University of Kentucky Urban Forest Initiative (UFI), in partnership with the Appalachia Service Project and Team Kentucky, celebrated a significant milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Gov. Andy Beshear and other state dignitaries. The event marked the completion of 11 new homes for families displaced by recent floods in Eastern Kentucky and highlighted UFI’s commitment to - [Catch a ride: UK’s campus buses are free and convenient](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7571) - University of Kentucky Transportation Services knows that the first few days of a new semester can be challenging. Transportation Services’ campus bus service can help make commutes much easier. UK, in partnership with the Lexington Transit Authority (Lextran), operates several on-campus bus routes designed to make it easy for students, staff, faculty and visitors to quickly access - [Art and horticulture merge to create natural dye garden at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7478) - The intersection of art and science isn’t always obvious, but for a University of Kentucky art professor and a university horticulturalist, it was natural, and in more ways than one. Crystal Gregory, an associate professor in the College of Fine Arts School of Art and Visual Studies, and Shari Dutton, a staff horticulturalist in the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food - [UK researcher receives NSF CAREER award to develop data-driven, smart technologies for sustainable living](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7375) - Using groundbreaking artificial intelligence (AI) technology, a University of Kentucky researcher is developing a machine learning pipeline with the goal of improving our quality of life. Hana Khamfroush, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Computer Science in the UK Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, recently received the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. - [UK leading $20 million, 5-year NSF collaborative project to build climate resilience in Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7361) - Kentucky has certainly learned over the past four years that our weather is challenging to predict and can have devastating consequences for our citizens. From the violent tornadoes that ravaged Western Kentucky in 2021 to the historic floods that devastated Eastern Kentucky in 2022, weather-related catastrophes have all too often severely impacted communities and hampered - [UK researchers lead a national team, transforming solid waste into aviation fuel](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7357) - In a move towards sustainable energy and waste management, the University of Kentucky has launched a pioneering research initiative that seeks to turn everyday trash into high-quality sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). Titled "Surface Enhanced Smart Preprocessing of Municipal Solid Wastes for Year-Round Supply of Conversion-Ready Feedstocks," the study aims to address excessive landfill waste. Led - [CAER researchers utilizing fly ash to increase Kentucky oil, natural gas production](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7351) - Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) are investigating a new technology that they hope will give new life to Kentucky’s oil and natural gas wells. Funded by the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy, CAER’s Cementitious Materials Research Group, along with industrial partner Enhanced Solutions Services, have developed a method to utilize coal combustion products - [From field to flavor: UK helps celebrate local grains](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7331) - University of Kentucky, Ohio Valley Grain Exchange (OVGE) and non-profit organization Dendrifund announce the 2024 Southeastern Grain Gathering (SEGG24) May 8-9 at Fasig-Tipton. The event — led in part by a collection of faculty and staff from the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment — marks a step forward to promote connections among all participants in the local small - [Smart and Sustainable Challenge: Pick It Up!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6929) - The Smart and Sustainable Challenge is presented by UK Smart Campus, UK Sustainability and UK Student Government Association (SGA), with support from UK Grounds, UK Recycling, and UK Facilities Information Services. The presenting partners are excited to combine the University's Smart Campus initiatives with our sustainability targets in an engaging way for students. "We hope - [KYCC Student Art Contest](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7087) - SIP Interns: What are they up to? Sophomore Landscape Architecture major, Gail Wallace, Kentucky Climate Consortium Intern, has worked with the KYCC to develop an addition to their annual symposium, highlighting student art related to climate change. As far as creating the project, I think the whole idea of it is very on-brand for a Landscape - [Join the Sustainability Internship Program at UK 2024-2025](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7073) - If you're keen on playing an active role in the UK's sustainability initiatives, look no further than the Sustainability Internship Program! This program provides students with invaluable tools, experiences, and connections, equipping them for successful careers in sustainability post-graduation. What should I know before applying to the Sustainability Internship Program? There are 10 internship opportunities - [Sustainable Furniture Procurement](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7031) - SIP Interns: What are they up to? Junior Enivronmental Science major, Jennifer Sloan, UK Purchasing Policies Intern, has created a project campaign to advocate for sustainable furniture purchases at UK. Furniture is one of the many commodities that is purchased through procurement at UK and plays a vital role in sustainability on campus. Jennifer's main goal with UK - [University of Kentucky scientists develop eco-friendly magnet to battle microplastics](https://wholesumky.org/?p=7049) - Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, and University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment researchers are leading the charge with an innovative solution. The college’s Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering (BAE) is partnering with the UK Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering to tackle the tiny, often unseen, particles of plastic now found in the world’s - [CAER, chemistry researchers awarded US Department of Energy grant to develop biofuel technology](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6869) - Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) and the Department of Chemistry have received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to advance their innovative biofuels research. The project is titled “Robust Engineered Catalysts for the Conversion of Waste Oleaginous Biomass Feedstocks to Fuel-like Hydrocarbons via Decarboxylation/Decarbonylation” and is funded by DOE’s Office - [Fulbright awardee leads reforestation efforts in Australia](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6915) - For more than two decades, Chris Barton, Ph.D., professor of forest hydrology and watershed management in the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, has been conducting research related to environmental pollution and the restoration of degraded lands. Primarily focused on coal mines in Appalachia, Barton's research recently expanded to a more - [Pharmaceutical Coolers Recycling Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6936) - SIP Interns: What are they up to? Sophomore Political Science and Public Policy major, Anamei Walli, UK Healthcare intern, has created a project reducing and recycling UK HealthCare Styrofoam waste. The project implements a recycling bin and collection system to reduce waste across the hospitals, research buildings, and healthcare locations on UK's campus. Styrofoam coolers - [As demand for graphite grows, UK CAER positioned to lead material sourcing](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6872) - Materials play a pivotal role in the future of both Kentucky and the nation's economy. They drive the development of new products and processes in vital industries like healthcare, electronics, energy and manufacturing. Innovation hinges on the right materials to enhance performance, durability and efficiency. Critical minerals and rare earth elements are the building blocks - [Flying home for break?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6749) - Stay sustainable this holiday season and consider taking advantage of our UK Transportaion Regional Airport Shuttles. By taking a UK shuttle to regional airport you will not only save yourself from having to pay for extended parking, but you will also be helping the environment by cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions. UK Transportation Services - [Stryker Sustainable Solutions](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6618) - UK HealthCare has been in partnership with Stryker Sustainability since 2002 to drive sustainable practices via the collection and utilization of remanufactured single-patient-use medical devices. Stryker Sustainability Solutions (SSS) is committed to sustainable healthcare. SSS has been changing the way healthcare thinks about “single-use” devices. A successful reprocessing program needs regular, disciplined collection pick-ups, fast - [John Francis the "Planet Walker"](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6639) - The Office of Sustainability is excited to partner with Humanity in Deep Space, to host Dr. John Francis on UK's campus for this upcoming community conversation. Download the flyer In 1971, John witnessed an oil spill in San Francisco Bay, California. That experience affected him greatly and led to his decision to stop using motorized - [Sustainability Showcase Awards](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6636) - The annual Sustainability Showcase was presented by the Office of Sustainability, The President's Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. These initiatives featured fall into four general categories: The Student Sustainability Poster Competition sponsored by the Office of Undergraduate Research Sustainability Challenge Grant projects - [A celebration of our environment, in film](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6561) - The Solar Energy Solutions Wild and Scenic Film Festival is returning to Lexington, KY’s Lyric Theater on Friday, October 20th! The Kentucky Conservation Committee is excited to be bringing our 9th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival to you. We want to offer your the opportunity to see the nation's largest environmental film festival. The KYCC - [Celebrate Tree Week 2023](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6601) - Join us October 6-15, 2023 for our 6th annual Tree Week, a week-long celebration of the trees and greenspaces around us! Through a series of nature and tree-themed events, Tree Week strives to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding for the important roles nature and trees have in improving our quality of life. In 2014, - [UK User Led Environmental Lab Excellence; UKULELE](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6470) - UK User Led Environmental Lab Excellence (UKULELE) is a newly proposed initiative that will focus on ensuring the safety of lab environments while also minimizing their environmental impacts. UKULELE is a collaborative project that will include partners such as UK Facilities Management, UK Sustainability, UK Utilities and Energy Management, and UK Occupational Health and Safety. - [Recycle your cooking oil for biofuel research at the Gobble Grease Toss](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6792) - This holiday season, University of Kentucky researchers want to recycle your used cooking oil and study it. It’s part of the 14th annual Gobble Grease Toss held on Black Friday. If you’re frying a turkey this Thanksgiving you can drop off your used cooking oil for free at Redwood Cooperative School, located at 166 Crestwood Drive in - [Celebrate sustainably this holiday season](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6840) - Looking for easy ways to reduce your waste this holiday season? University of Kentucky Recycling offers easy ideas to celebrate while being zero-waste this holiday season. Reconsider cards. Greeting cards are popular because they’re so easy to throw into a gift, but since most people don’t keep the cards they receive, a ton of waste is created during - [UK alum, activist receives James Beard Foundation Leadership Award](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6778) - University of Kentucky alumnus Jim Embry, best known as a preeminent civil rights activist, eco-activist farmer, social justice advocate and public speaker, among other distinctions, was awarded the James Beard Foundation Leadership Award earlier this year in Chicago. Often referred to as the "Oscars of the food industry," the James Beard Foundation Awards recognizes leaders - [Paterson paper advances organic electronics field](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6764) - Merit analysis is a vital element of the scientific process, ensuring that research is based on rigorous evidence and sound methodology. It enables scientific advancement, boosts credibility, quality and reliability for future research. It allows a research community to build a common language, common practices and common logic. Sometimes a discovery that contradicts merit analysis, - [Stay sustainable this spooky season](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6653) - Don't let spooky season scare you away from celebrating sustainability. With the help of University of Kentucky Recycling, here are easy ideas for you to reduce your waste this Halloween. Compost your pumpkins. pumpkins and gourds that are campus can be composted. If you have some decorations or events you'd like to compost, contact UK - [UK researchers develop novel method to turn coal waste into carbon fiber](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6461) - Researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) have developed a method to turn Kentucky waste coal into valuable carbon products. Kentucky is the seventh-largest coal-producing state in the nation, mining millions of tons each year. After mining, coal is sent to a preparation plant where it is sized and separated for shipment. As - [How you can stay sustainable on game days](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6482) - University of Kentucky Recycling and Athletics need your help to make Kroger Field a zero-waste facility by 2030 — meaning 90% of all waste will no longer be sent to the landfill. Here are ways you can contribute: The Big Blue Recycling Crew makes reducing your waste easy and fun for your whole tailgate crew. When you are - [Wrapping up award-filled year, Kentucky Kernel ends weekly printing, focuses on digital](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6338) - May 2023 brought a plethora of awards for student media, however, it also marked the end of an era for the Kentucky Kernel, the student-run, award-winning newspaper for the University of Kentucky, as it published its last weekly print edition. The Kernel will move to printing only special sections with a focus on primarily online - [Great Teachers 2023: Kenton Sena helps Lewis Honors students cultivate a curiosity for learning](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6281) - Kenton Sena, Ph.D., a lecturer in the University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College, is one of this year’s Great Teacher Award recipients. He joined the UK faculty in 2018 and teaches courses on forest restoration ecology, environmental science and literature of the environment. “I am invested in my community and invested in relationships, and I think - [Historic $100 million gift will catapult UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6270) - Continuing a “legacy like no other,” late University of Kentucky alum and former trustee Carol Martin “Bill” Gatton bestowed a transformational gift of $100 million to the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE) through The Bill Gatton Foundation. The gift, which was announced today by UK and the foundation, is contingent upon UK Board of - [University Press of Kentucky celebrates 2023 Weatherford Award-winning publication](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6228) - Luke Manget, author of “Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia," published by the University Press of Kentucky (UPK) has received the 2023 Weatherford Award for best nonfiction. Presented annually by Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association, the Weatherford Awards honor books in fiction, nonfiction and poetry categories that “best illuminate - [KGS Project Measures Methane Emissions from Orphaned Oil, Gas Wells](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5926) - Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) geologist Marty Parris, in collaboration with the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas, is leading a two-year, $835,145 project to measure methane emissions from orphaned oil and gas wells in Kentucky. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. An orphaned oil or gas well is one that has - [UK for KY Rapid Response Pilot and Mini-grant Funding](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5325) - The rainfall on July 27th, 2022 in a 12-county area of Eastern Kentucky was an unprecedented meteorological event even for an area that experiences semi-frequent flooding. Climate-related changes in weather patterns are making these events both more frequent and more intense, leaving a path of destruction that goes well beyond property damage. The National Institutes - [FoodChain and UK Food Connection host first tilapia harvest](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6259) - FoodChain, a nonprofit organization increasing access to locally sourced, fresh food that is a Cornerstone Community Innovation Partner, and the University of Kentucky Food Connection are partnering to host the first tilapia harvest from the Cornerstone aquaponics system. The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 27, starting at 2 p.m. for the harvest at the Cornerstone, and continuing at 4 p.m. - [Dozens of schools interested in UK CAER's GEN-EV racing program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5958) - Dozens of schools across the Commonwealth want to join a STEM-based program run by the University of Kentucky’s Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER). The GEN-EV program teaches students engineering and team-based skills while they work on an exciting project: designing, building and racing an electric car. “When I make a presentation on this program, one of my first - ['Walk with a Doc' this summer at the UK Arboretum and Fayette Mall](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6273) - Start your summer on the right foot at UK HealthCare’s “Walk with a Doc” series, held both at the UK Arboretum and Fayette Mall. “Walk with a Doc” is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. While you walk at your own pace, you’ll have the opportunity to have - [How Do We Communicate Sustainability?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4267) - Graphic design doesn’t exactly feel like a topic that should be posted about on a sustainability-focused blog. Nonetheless, here I am, an intern for the Office of Sustainability at the University of Kentucky, creating graphics, setting social media goals, and designing with the intent of creating a more sustainable campus. Most of my time at - [MacArthur Fellow Robin Kimmerer to present on 'Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge'](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6097) - The University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College and the Student Sustainability Council will present a campus keynote from Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of “Gathering Moss” and “Braiding Sweetgrass,” and 2022 MacArthur Fellow, to be held at noon Thursday, April 6, at the Singletary Center for the Arts. Kimmerer will present on "Indigenous Wisdom and Scientific Knowledge" from the - [UK EcoReps host events to educate campus community about sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6220) - The University of Kentucky EcoRep program is an intern-led program established in 2017 as part of UK Recycling's goals to increase recycling and waste diversion efforts on campus. This program’s goal is to help educate fellow students on different aspects of sustainability throughout the school year. EcoReps serve as sustainability ambassadors in their residence hall as they - [Considering going car-free on campus? Applications open for incentive programs](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6216) - If you’ve been considering going car-free on campus, check out University of Kentucky Transportation Services’ incentives programs. Applications for Bike Vouchers, Commute Club and the Cash Out program will open on Wednesday, April 19. These programs reward students and employees for going car-free. One of them may be right for you. Bike Voucher ProgramNow in its ninth year, - [Participate in 2023 Earth Month Events Around Lexington](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5995) - Each year, the community of Lexington and the University of Kentucky recognize April as Earth Month, a month dedicated to promoting sustainability and participating in sustainable initiatives around the community. With so many exciting events happening on or around campus, it’s easy to get involved in Earth Month 2023! Mark your calendars, events begin the - [UK Recycling to Host Fifth Annual Thrift Shop Pop-up Event](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6140) - UK Recycling is proud to announce it’s fifth annual Thrift Shop Pop-Up in partnership with UK Student Organizations and Activities, Wildcat Wardrobe, and The Fashion Crew! Come to the Cats Den on Monday, April 10th, from 2 to 4 pm, to “shop” and take home some new-to-you clothes! Volunteers will be present to help you - [Updating Our Sustainability Strategic Plan: Guiding Principle Task Force Operations](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5118) - In January, the Office of Sustainability kicked off efforts to update the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan (SSP), documented here in the first installment of SSP updates. Since then, we have conducted focus groups with student leaders, faculty, and staff to understand their opinions on what a shared vision of sustainability should look like at UK, - [Get Involved in Sustainability at UK in 2023-2024!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6052) - Sustainability efforts, initiatives, and goals are expanding daily at the University of Kentucky. Over the last decade, faculty, staff, and students have led the way in creating positive changes around campus by lowering emissions, reducing waste, seeking sustainability-related degrees, and making sustainability more accessible and inclusive for all students. With a new semester just around - [UK hosts environmental lawyer Robert Bilott for water and public health talk](https://wholesumky.org/?p=6090) - On March 24, the University of Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute (KWRRI), in conjunction with the UK Center for Appalachian Research in Environmental Sciences (UK-CARES), UK Superfund Research Center (UKSRC), UK Center for the Environment, and J. David Rosenberg College of Law will welcome the prominent environmental attorney and author Robert Bilott. The keynote presentation with panel - [Q&A: Environmental health scientist Erin Haynes on potential impacts of the East Palestine disaster](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5982) - On Feb. 3, a train carrying hazardous materials near East Palestine, Ohio, derailed. Following the crash, some of the chemicals were intentionally burned in a controlled explosion in an effort to manage the release of potential toxins. The University of Kentucky College of Public Health’s Erin Haynes, Ph.D., is a trained environmental scientist and an expert - [Student Success at Home and Abroad with UK NRT](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5780) - A quick scan of news headlines over the past year and anyone can see how the intersection of our food, energy, and water systems is having major impacts across Kentucky, the nation, and the world. Interestingly, one UK program is taking a unique, multidisciplinary approach to train the next generation of innovators to work in - [A Newbies Experience at a Recycling Center](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5161) - What materials are actually recycled? How exactly does recycling work? There was a time not so long ago when, if I had a piece of plastic that needed to be thrown away, I would toss it in the recycling bin and give myself a pat on the back for a job well done because at - [UK honors Black History Month](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5874) - Universities are where new discoveries are made, new understanding is reached and new ideas thrive. With that understanding, it is no surprise that Black History Month first began on a college campus. While the first monthlong commemoration began in 1969 at Kent State University, the origins of Black History Month date back to 1915 with the - [Bluegrass Greensource to host third annual Sustainability Summit at the University of Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5836) - Join Bluegrass Greensource March 7-8th for their third annual Sustainability Summit, held at the Gatton Student Center. This 2-day event will feature a variety of speakers, focusing on the topic of Climate Resiliency and Environmental Justice throughout Central Kentucky. The full-day conference (March 8th, 8am-5pm) will focus on how climate change is affecting Kentucky. It - [Participate in 'Campus Race to Zero Waste' with UK Recycling](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5827) - The University of Kentucky in 2022, recycled a total of 1,088.61 tons of materials through the mixed recycling stream alone. This year, UK Recycling aims to collect more recyclables than ever, in pursuit of the university’s goal of becoming a zero-waste university. As part of this expanded push, UK Recycling is participating in a national - [Tips for cycling, scooting in cold weather](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5804) - Cold weather doesn’t mean you have to give up on cycling and scooting! But it does mean that you may have to make some modifications that allow you to continue getting around on two wheels. Below are some tips for your cold weather commute: Stay informed about changing weather conditions. Sign up for UK Alert for up-to-date - [Updating our Sustainability Strategic Plan: Integrated Feedback and Draft Finalization](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5497) - In January, we kicked off our efforts to update the University’s Sustainability Strategic Plan, documented here in the first installment of SSP updates on WholeSum. We then conducted focus groups with student leaders, faculty, and staff to understand their opinions on what a shared vision of sustainability should look like at UK, the most important sustainability issues - [Everything is Science citywide festival returns](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5748) - Everything is Science, Lexington’s citywide science festival, returns for its fifth year with an exciting new theme: It’s About Time! What can seem like an intimidating topic is, in reality, quite relatable — from the moment we wake up in the morning, science is happening all around us — at every moment in time. Making - [Off-the-Grid: UK Energy Club Leads Charge for Solar-Powered Umbrellas on Campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5484) - To report an issue with one of the solar umbrellas email Shane Tedder at shane.tedder@uky.edu. Learn more about the University of Kentucky's efforts to decarbonize campus operations with Kentucky-based solar power: uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-enters-agreement-ku-purchase-solar-power Ribbon-cutting for the solar tables: https://www.engr.uky.edu/news/2022/12/grid-uk-energy-club-leads-charge-solar-powered-umbrellas-campus The Energy Club at the University of Kentucky was founded in 2018 and has been growing and - [Distilleries finding "bourbon shrooms" profitable for spent grains](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5704) - Mushrooms and distilleries have quite a bit in common thanks to students at the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. With funding from the UK Office of Sustainability, a group in the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, and the Department of Horticulture, is looking for ways to raise fungi using spent grains from local distilleries. Zachary Byrd, lab manager on the project, graduated in August with a master’s degree in integrated plant and - [Leavening not Icing](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5670) - This is my 19th year of working in Sustainability at the University of Kentucky and I am so excited about the breadth and depth of the initiatives that our faculty staff and students are leading. We have worked hard to have this blog be a clearinghouse for those stories and encourage you to spend some - [Abstract submission, registration open for UK's 2022 Food, Energy, and Water Symposium](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5639) - Leaders from across the University of Kentucky, the Lexington community and the Commonwealth will gather to discuss issues that impact all Kentuckians at the 2022 Food, Energy and Water Symposium (FEWS). Leaders will present and discuss their work on the interconnected research fields at the symposium on Dec. 8. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to - [Esther Horvath: Robert C. May Photography Lecture on November 4th](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5608) - On Friday, November 4th at 4 pm, UK College of Fine Arts and the UK Art Museum will be hosting a photography lecture in the Worsham Cinema at the Gatton Student Center, featuring Esther Horvath, an award-winning photographer who documents the effects of climate change. What is there to love about spending months aboard an - [Prestigious NSF award advances UK researcher's low-cost water treatment work](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5614) - Along the rivers that snake across the Commonwealth, you’ll find a University of Kentucky researcher taking samples to study the health of the water flowing through the state. Tiffany Messer, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biosystems and agricultural engineering, a joint program between the College of Engineering and College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, studies ways to improve water - [UK part of major NSF award to study increased methane in coastal wetlands](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5508) - Kevin M. Yeager, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Kentucky’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (EES), has received a major transdisciplinary award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for research on coastal wetland methane dynamics. Yeager is part of a multi-institutional team, led by Annette Engel, Ph.D., at the University of Tennessee (UT) Knoxville, who - [How You Can Stay Sustainable on Gamedays](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5547) - Wildcats, University of Kentucky Recycling needs your help to bring sustainable practices to game days. Here are some ways you can contribute. The Big Blue Recycling Crew makes practicing sustainability easy and fun for you and your tailgate crew. When you are tailgating, you should receive a tailgating kit from the parking attendant and/or find a crew member - [UK to Host Annual Sustainability Showcase and Student Poster Competition](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5366) - The UK Office of Sustainability, Office of Undergraduate Research, Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, and the Student Sustainability Council are excited to announce the return of the annual Sustainability Showcase on Tuesday, October 18th from 5:30-7:30 pm at UK's Healthy Kentucky Research Building (HKRB) Atrium. Earlier that same day, UK Sustainability and - [Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month at UK](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5329) - Held every October, Campus Sustainability Month is an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Throughout the month, colleges and universities organize events on campus and elsewhere to engage and inspire students and other campus stakeholders to become agents for sustainable change. The goal is to raise the visibility of sustainability in higher education and provide sustainability advocates - [Join us October 18th for AASHE: the Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5431) - For the third year in a row, the University of Kentucky is proud to announce that it will serve as a host institution for the Global Conference on Sustainability in Higher Education. The virtual conference will take place on three days: October 18, October 26, and November 3 and will be available to all University faculty, staff, - [UK to Host 7th International Forum on Sustainable Manufacturing](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5413) - Registration is now open for the 7thInternational Forum on Sustainable Manufacturing (IFSM), organized by the Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing at UK. The event is scheduled for October 27-28, 2022, and will be held on campus at Woodward Hall, Gatton College of Business & Economics. The IFSM brings together national and international experts from academia, industry, and government agencies and - [UK-led project awarded $2.5 million by NSF to study climate change, biodiversity](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5312) - A study led by the University of Kentucky has been selected for funding by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) “Biodiversity on a Changing Planet” program, an international, transdisciplinary effort that addresses major challenges related to climate change. The five-year project has been awarded nearly $2.5 million. Led by Michael McGlue, associate professor in the Department of - [Meet the New Graduate Assistant for the Office of Sustainability: Valerie Verty](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5233) - In today’s post, I spoke with Valerie Verty, the new Graduate Assistant for the Office of Sustainability. Valerie will be assisting the office in a variety of projects this year, as well as overseeing the Student Sustainability Council and the Sustainability Internship Program. Continue reading to learn more about Valerie’s role as a Graduate Assistant, - [Student-run program helps provide medical equipment to Eastern Kentuckians impacted by flooding](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5303) - As Eastern Kentuckians continue cleaning up from the catastrophic flooding that devastated their region in late July, the list of needs continues to grow. Donation efforts in the initial days of cleanup centered around cleaning supplies, water, nonperishable foods, clothes and other immediate needs. Now, many are realizing what exactly was either swept away or can’t be - [UK College of Public Health announces new department in Epidemiology and Environmental Health](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5283) - The University of Kentucky College of Public Health has officially launched a new department in Epidemiology and Environmental Health (EEH), which merges two existing departments at the College and brings the dynamic fields of epidemiology and environmental health together in one place. “The consolidation of these departments provides a tremendous opportunity for the University and the College - [UK Solar Car Team Places Third in Two Races](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5226) - The University of Kentucky Solar Car team won third place in both the Formula Sun Grand Prix (FSGP) on July 7, 2022 and the American Solar Challenge (ASC) on July 16, 2022. For both events, teams started with a charged battery pack, but once the event began, the student-built cars had to rely entirely on - [Food>>Waste>>Compost>>Tea ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5197) - It is well known that all organic waste from UKY Dining facilities is recycled into nutrient-rich compost. This product is brought back to campus, where it is used by UKY’s Grounds team members as a soil amendment to build better soil. We have added another upcycling step to the process, brewing batches of compost tea, - [Researching Ways to Recycle Solar Panels and Lithium-Ion Batteries](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5206) - Knowing that battery storage is significant to the future of renewable energy, the University of Kentucky, Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company (LG&E and KU) have partnered to develop methods for recovering valuable materials from solar panels and lithium-ion batteries, thus reducing future costs and further improving the environment. The joint team, - [UK Hosts Carbon (CO2) Capture Research and Deployment Forum](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5148) - A forum on Carbon (CO2) Capture Research and Deployment was held on the University of Kentucky’s campus on June 8, 2022. The forum served as a platform for collaborators to review the current status of CO2 capture technologies and the gaps to be bridged for widespread application. The forum was organized by a partnership between - [Healing, Housing, and Heritage in the Hollers](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5098) - The AppalachiaCorps provides students with interests and roots in Eastern Kentucky opportunities to learn and serve the region. Summer fun in Appalachia: hiking, climbing, camping, swimming—and holding somebody’s removed femur in a hospital. UK student Logan Turner got to participate in that last activity while working a summer observation internship in Pikeville Medical Center in - [UK Healthcare Receives Environmental Excellence Award for Exceptional Commitment to Healthcare Sustainability](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5055) - UK HealthCare is proud to announce it has received the Environmental Excellence Award from Stryker’s Sustainability Solutions division. This designation is reserved for select hospitals that demonstrate outstanding leadership in healthcare sustainability and overall hospital quality through single-use device (SUD) reprocessing. In 2021, UK HealthCare’s reprocessing program successfully diverted 13,418 pounds of medical waste from - [KGS Seminar Gives Geoscience Perspective on Climate Change in Kentucky](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5092) - he Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kentucky hosted its first-ever seminar focusing on the intersection between geoscience research and climate change on May 12. The 61st Annual KGS Seminar highlighted how interdisciplinary research is vital to shaping Kentucky’s future when it comes to climate change. “Climate change is here, and the impacts reach far beyond geology. - [Living Off-Campus? Here are Some Sustainability Tips to Help Reduce Your Impact](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4951) - College is challenging, especially when living off-campus. Between schoolwork, commuting, and cooking your own meals, it can be hard to dedicate time towards living sustainably. Whether you are looking for new ways to reduce your footprint or don’t know where to start, here are some easy tips to help you incorporate sustainability into your routine! - [KGS to Explore Climate Change in Kentucky at Annual Seminar](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5050) - The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kentucky will host its 61st annual seminar on Thursday, May 12. The event is expected to draw interest from disciplines including geology, geography, environmental sciences, forestry, public health, computer science and statistics. The seminar will be held in-person only at the Jacobs Science Building on the UK campus from 8:30 - [UK Recycling's Give and Go Donation Stations Return to Campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=5032) - From Tuesday, April 19, through finals week, the University of Kentucky’s Recycling Program will place Give & Go Donation Stations in all residence hall lobbies — offering students a convenient opportunity to donate items as they prepare to leave campus for the summer. Students are encouraged to donate items such as clothing, shoes, bedding, unused - [Participate in an Earth Month Event Around Lexington!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4830) - Each year, the community of Lexington and the University of Kentucky recognize April as Earth Month, a month dedicated to promoting sustainability and participating in sustainable initiatives around the community. With so many exciting events happening on or around campus, it's easy to get involved in Earth Month 2022! Mark your calendars, events begin the - [Novel Funding Model Provides CAER Researchers Support to Produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4887) - Funding early-stage, proof-of-concept research is often a challenge for university researchers. Traditionally, governmental funding agencies have chosen to invest in basic science and in projects that are more advanced in their technological development. Until now. Biofuels researchers at the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) recently received funding from OUR&D, a unique grassroots not-for-profit organization - [Re-Visioning Huntertown: From African American Freetown to Interpretive Public Place ](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4846) - Authored by Jayoung Koo, Daniel Vivian, Ryan Hargrove, Christopher Sass, Chad Eby, Sioux Finney, Lori Garkovich, Faye T. Kuosman, and T. Adam Probst. Landscapes dedicated to significant persons of color and historical events consistently attract interest. However, precedents of landscapes interpreting the history and culture of the everyday lives of people of color are scarce - [Registration Now Open for CCTS Conference on Climate and Health](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4710) - The University of Kentucky Center for Clinical and Translational Science will hold its 17th Annual Spring Conference on April 5, 2022, focusing on “Climate and Health.” Join nearly 1,000 researchers, clinicians, students and community members for this free, day-long, in-person event at the Gatton Student Center exploring the relationship between the environment, our health and how we live. - [UK NRT, UK CAER Host Food, Energy, & Water Symposium Featuring Jonathan Webb of AppHarvest](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4560) - Last December 9th, UK's chapter of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Traineeship (NRT) alongside the Center for Applied Energy Research (UK CAER) hosted the first annual Food, Energy and Water Symposium in the Jacobs Science Building. The day-long hybrid event featured scientific and industrial experts from across the country, sparking collaborative conversations across the - [TreeWeek: Reforest the Bluegrass Program](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4624) - On Thursday, October 14, a team of UK and community volunteers met at Masterson Station Park to remove invasive species from a patch of forest. This forested site is not your typical forest, though—nested within the city limits, this forest was planted by community members over twenty years ago as part of one of the - [Department of Energy Business Plan Competition Offers $250,000 in Cash Prizes](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4544) - Want to win $250,000? Of course you do! The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Transitions is offering cash prizes for its student business plan competition. Called the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP), this competition challenges multidisciplinary student teams to develop and present a business plan that leverages laboratory-developed and other high-potential energy technologies. - [Greenthumb's History of Environmental Activism](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4374) - UK Greenthumb, an environmental activism student club, was founded at the University of Kentucky in 1995. The now 26 year-old organization has made many differences here on campus through its campaigns, student involvement, and community development. Greenthumb began a campaign in 2004 to implement an environmental stewardship fee at the University, and this plan was - [If You Love Trees, We've Got A Program For You!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4364) - University of Kentucky trees are critically important - they provide ecosystem services, human health and wellness benefits, and community cohesiveness. These tree benefits and many more are important all around our increasingly urbanizing world, and together these concepts are at the essence of the Undergraduate Certificate in Urban and Community Forestry (UCF), a new offering - [Are You Ready to Sack Hunger?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4356) - The holidays are right around the corner! Regardless of what food is going to be on your table this year, the fact remains that there are plenty of people in our communities who suffer from food insecurity. That’s why after weeks of collaboration between the offices of Sustainability, Recycling, and Athletics, UK will be hosting - [How to Celebrate Campus Sustainability Month](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4144) - Held every October, Campus Sustainability Month is an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Throughout the month, colleges and universities organize events on campus and elsewhere to engage and inspire incoming students and other campus stakeholders to become sustainability change agents. The goal is to raise the visibility of campus sustainability and provide campus sustainability advocates with - ['A Serendipitous Situation.' UK Dining Hall Offers Local, Sustainable Food Options.](https://wholesumky.org/?p=4122) - The Fresh Food Company at The 90 has been dedicated to local, sustainable operations since its construction in 2015, and it has recently implemented programs to further this goal. The University of Kentucky works with the distribution company Aramark to source food and uniforms for the over 88,000-square-foot dining hall located on south campus. Lee - [Ask the Expert: Food Waste and Behavior Change](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3547) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on food waste - Just Eat It. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help - [Sustainability on the Ground: A Closer Look at UK Grounds](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3747) - The University of Kentucky is not only a top tier public university with cutting edge programs and medical facilities, but it is also now at the forefront of facilities management. The Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS), has invited the University to be one of five stops on the 2021 Coast to Coast Campus Challenge, which - [Sustainability on the Ground: Restoration and Learning Spaces](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3759) - If you walk around UK’s campus, you will notice the abundance of greenspace and gardens surrounding every area. From pollinator gardens and streams to sustainable design projects, the University supports outdoor spaces focused on restoration and student engagement. These areas are not only spaces for students to learn about our natural habitat, but also exemplify - [Sustainability on the Ground: Tree Care](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3753) - The University of Kentucky has over 12,000 trees on campus. With a tree canopy that large, UK requires an in-house arborist team who works around the clock making sure our trees are safe and well maintained. They plant trees, prune young trees for good branch structure, prune for needed clearance, remove trees, grind stumps, complete - [Sustainability on the Ground: Tree Campus](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3750) - The University of Kentucky just received its 10th year recognition as a Tree Campus Higher Education (formerly Tree Campus USA) and its second year recognition as a Tree Campus Healthcare institution through the Arbor Day Foundation. The award has five standards that must be met in order for a college or university to receive a - [What Are You Passionate About?](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3761) - A friend who works in the sustainability field recently told me that there were some areas of sustainability that he didn't really care about. At first, this was shocking. How could you work in sustainability and not care about the emissions that your car gives off? Or where your waste goes? Or where water pollution - [Ask the Expert: Food Waste and the Food Chain](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3601) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on food waste - Just Eat It. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help - [Composting Manure on the Smaller Horse Farm Operation](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3624) - An average sized horse can produce as much as 20,000 lbs. of manure each year! While many farms opt to land-apply manure, smaller horse farms housing less than 6 horses typically have fewer acres, so continuous, environmentally responsible land-application of manure is not an option. While manure removal services are available, these services can be - [Ask the Expert: Food Waste and Fighting Hunger](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3551) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on food waste - Just Eat It. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help - [5 Climate-Related Startups to Support - If You are Serious About Sustainability!](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3401) - If you’re looking to step up your sustainability game beyond your day to day behaviors, I recommend looking into supporting a “climate tech” or “clean tech” start-up company. I have provided a summary description of a few of my personal favorites below. All five of these startups allow anyone to “put their money where - [Ask the Expert: Food Waste](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3411) - During Waste Reduction Week, UK Recycling interns organized a documentary screening on food waste - Just Eat It. It's free on YouTube, so go watch it! Sometimes documentaries can seem overwhelming and leave us feeling hopeless. We decided to provide a little hope for you and ask a panel of experts some questions to help - [Earth Day Champions: UK Introduces World’s Largest American White Oak Repository and Genome Mapping Study With Maker’s Mark](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3290) - This past Earth Day 2021, the University of Kentucky partnered with Maker’s Mark® to establish the world’s largest repository of American white oak! The effort represents the most comprehensive natural range of white oak to date anywhere in the world. The American white oak repository is part of a larger mission to conserve a species critical to many American industries, including Kentucky bourbon, and to prioritize the - [Sustainable Development Kentucky: Gender Equality](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3270) - Gender equality has come a long way, but more work is still needed to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Dr. Betsy Beymer-Farris, director of the Environment and Sustainability Studies program at UK, has worked to help empower women in Tanzania through sustainable seaweed farming. Need inspiration, check out Dr. Beymer-Farris’ amazing work in - [UK CATchment Rain Garden](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2568) - So often we think the best way to manage property is a perfectly manicured lawn. Managing stormwater properly allows our faculty, staff and students an opportunity to think creatively and design new features! By using our campus as a living laboratory, a storm water filtration soft structure was installed to provide storm water clean up - [Confronting COVID with Anti-Viral, Environmentally Sustainable 3D Printed Masks](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2764) - As Kentucky continues to confront the COVID-19 outbreak through social distancing, workplace restrictions, and public health initiatives, the University of Kentucky continues to confront the virus through innovation and collaboration. In light of PPE shortages around the country, two researchers and their teams are doing just that. Dr. Isabel Escobar, of the University of Kentucky, - [Sustainability Development Goals Video Series](https://wholesumky.org/?p=3222) - Sustainability provides opportunities to develop and foster peace, prosperity for people and the planet. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize that sustainability is more complex than just ‘people-plant-profit’. Sustainability must be a call to action for ending poverty, racial inequality, health, education, spur economic growth, and fighting climate change. This six-part video series looks into how the University of Kentucky is - [Seedleaf - Lexington Community Gardening](https://wholesumky.org/?p=2575) - When a seed starts germinating, the first 2 leaves that appear are called seed leafs. They are produced by the seed and help the new plant photosynthesize and grow. They are the beginning of what can become a great and productive plant! For a Lexington non-profit called Seedleaf, which has established and supported community gardening ## Pages - [Homepage](https://wholesumky.org/) - WholeSum Reinventing Sustainability at UK and Beyond - [Guiding Principle 1](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=8923) - [Our Staff](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2772) - WholeSum Team Carlie LaughlinUK Office of Sustainability Carlie has served as the Sustainability Program Coordinator for the University of Kentucky since 2024. She serves as staff advisor for the Student Sustainability Council, coordinates the Sustainability Internship Program, and leads a range of initiatives that engage students, faculty, and staff in creating a more sustainable campus - [Research](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2702) - [Academics](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2613) - [HealthCare](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=4411) - [Activism](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2643) - [MISSION](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2471) - [Start A Conversation](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2035) - Do you have an article or an issue you'd like to share with the community? That's incredibly exciting! Fill out the form below and one of our staff will contact you. You can also email us directly at wholesum@uky.edu - [Splash](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2908) - [Behind the Scenes](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2747) - [Community](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2699) - [Sustainability Tips](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2704) - [Seedleaf - Lexington Community Gardening](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2571) - When a seed starts germinating, the first 2 leaves that appear are called seed leafs. They are produced by the seed and help the new plant photosynthesize and grow. They are the beginning of what can become a great and productive plant! For a Lexington non-profit called Seedleaf, which has established and supported community gardening - [CATEGORIES](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2473) - [Staff](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2234) - This is Authors page template which you can use to automatically display your website users (authors). It can use all of available page layouts. - [Category Modules](https://wholesumky.org/?page_id=2290) ## Soliloquy Sliders - [OPERATIONS Sustainability Showcase Slides](https://wholesumky.org/?post_type=soliloquy&p=4268) - [STUDENT Sustainability Showcase Slides](https://wholesumky.org/?post_type=soliloquy&p=4488) ## Categories - [Sustainability Tips](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=1) - [Community](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=2) - [Behind The Scenes](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=3) - [Academics](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=4) - [Activism](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=5) - [Research](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=43) - [HealthCare](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=234) - [Make the pursuit of sustainability an integral part of the student experience](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=472) - Vision: Equip students with the knowledge, leadership skills and experience to face pressing sustainability challenges both during their time at UK and beyond. - [Reinforce the University's commitments to our people](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=473) - Vision: Foster a thriving campus community by prioritizing accessibility, wellbeing and engagement with UK’s various cultural and physical landscapes. - [Reduce campus emissions](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=474) - Vision: Lead by example in mitigating climate change through innovation, collaboration and actionable steps to reduce carbon emissions across campus operations. - [Become a zero-waste campus](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=475) - Vision: Foster a culture of waste reduction, diversion, and circularity by adopting innovative practices and infrastructure to eliminate waste across all areas of campus life. - [Model environmental excellence](https://wholesumky.org/?cat=476) - Vision: Position UK as a national leader in sustainability by demonstrating innovation, compliance and stewardship across all facets of campus operations. ## Tags - [ecology](https://wholesumky.org/?tag=ecology) - [fashion](https://wholesumky.org/?tag=fashion-2) - [food](https://wholesumky.org/?tag=food-2) - [lifestyle](https://wholesumky.org/?tag=lifestyle-2) - 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