Sustainability is an applied and engaged interdisciplinary field of study that provides students with the knowledge and skills to envision and create transformative changes while pursuing a variety of career paths. UNESCO reports that 91 percent of students agree that “their place of study should actively incorporate and promote sustainable development.” Increasingly, UMass Amherst students are demanding opportunities to pursue sustainability in every College across campus. Nearly 70% of our undergraduates have taken one or more sustainability courses. According to the most recent campus sustainability survey, 81% of UMass undergraduates believe climate change will negatively impact their generation's quality of life, with 55.9% of students interested in learning more about sustainability or gaining hands-on experience.
The School of Earth & Sustainability (SES) is deeply committed to training the next generation of leaders and to meeting students’ desire for sustainability-connected learning and training. Since its inception in 2016, SES has stood at the forefront of transdisciplinary education, research, creative work, and engagement aimed at understanding and solving the critical sustainability challenges facing natural and built environments in Massachusetts and around the world. SES currently links five academic departments across two colleges with the goal of elevating to pan campus. Together, we are a vibrant learning community dedicated to fostering the next wave of scholars, innovators, and leaders in sustainability.
The complex socio-environmental challenges of the 21st century require transformative approaches and a new workforce equipped with integrated skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience. Your generosity enables SES to offer impactful training opportunities through living lab learning experiences. In these experiences, students engage directly with the scientists, scholars, and practitioners on campus and in surrounding communities to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. It also provides the much-needed capacity for transferring new knowledge and skills into our broader community and region. Our student-centered approach enriches education and career outcomes but also drives innovation, our growing green workforce, and the development of practical, resilient, and just solutions for a changing planet.
