Students are a driving force behind improving campus sustainability—here are some ways that you can be a part of the movement.
[ + ] Expand all
[ – ] Hide all
get in on the action
get in on the action
Help make sustainability happen on campus or in the world through one of many student groups. Organize events, get dirty at the Community Farm, work on a solar car, pursue engineering and environmental law interests and much more.
Champion sustainability as a Green Living Coordinator for your dorm or house. Encourage your fellow residents to reduce their water and energy usage through creative and fun ways and help your dorm win the Annual Conservation Cup. Learn more at the Green Living Council website.
Make sustainability a habit. Small daily decisions can add up to create big change! There are plenty of on-campus resources to discover easy ways to reduce your environmental impact. Just a few are listed below:
- A Students’ Guide to Sustainable Living at Stanford has been created by students and the Office of Sustainability, incorporating input from sustainability professionals in student groups, faculty departments, and staff departments. Endorsed by the Freshman Dean’s Office (Undergraduate Advisory & Research), this guide will be presented at the new student orientation events in Fall 2009.
- Planning an Event? Check out the Green Event Planning Guideline prepared by student Housing in 2008. A revised and more comprehensive version with Greening Event tips will be available in Fall 2009.
- Visit the Parking and Transportation Services (PT&S) website to learn more about alternative transportation around campus, including information on the Marguerite, Stanford's free public bus system, as well as Zimride, Stanford's carpooling network. PT&S also publishes a useful pamphlet on ways to get around Stanford without a car. Click here to learn more about Stanford's alternative transportation options.
- For presentations and group discussions, you can also download the"Living Green on The Farm" (2008) info sheet for tips on simple steps you can take to make your lifestyle more sustainable. Also, check out the the Sustainable Choices card. Created in 2007 by a group of Earth Systems students, this pocket card provides simple tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Visit the Sustainable Choices website to learn more about small changes that can impact our environment.
take a class (or three)
take a class (or three)
Stanford offers a host of courses and programs at both undergraduate (click here for an in-depth list of undergraduate courses) and graduate levels focusing on the environment and sustainability. Here is a sampling of the opportunities; for more information on environmental programs, visit Stanford’s Environmental Portal.
I-Earth (Introduction to the Earth)
is a collection of undergraduate classes designed to provide an introduction to the natural world. I-Earth classes are a great way to explore the intersection of human and environmental systems for undergrads of all majors. Learn more.
E-IPER, the Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources,
is a PhD program aimed at bringing together different disciplines to solve environmental problems and training a new generation of environmental leaders.Learn more.
Earth Systems
provides undergraduates with the knowledge and skills to address environmental issues of many different forms. The program awards both B.S. and M.S. degrees and has been a model for other schools. Learn more.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
focuses on developing solutions for real-world sustainability challenges through training in building design, water and air quality. The CEE umbrella also includes an Atmosphere/Energy major, which focuses on renewable energy technologies. Learn more.
The School of Earth Sciences
has majors in geological and environmental sciences, geophysics, and energy resources engineering, among others. Learn more.
Hopkins Marine Station,
located in Monterey Bay, offers marine biology classes during winter and spring quarters for both undergraduate and graduate students. HMS also hosts Stanford at Sea and Holistic Biology, 16-unit field classes for undergraduates that each entail approximately 5 weeks at sea and are taught on alternate years. Learn more.
The Bing Overseas Studies Program
provides opportunities for students to spend a quarter abroad at Stanford programs in different countries around the globe. A number of the different programs have environmental classes and opportunities for environmental research or service-learning projects. Learn more.
Overseas Seminars
are three-week classes taught at the end of summer each year at different locations around the globe. Topics change annually, and previous environmental seminars include, "Turkey at the Crossroads of Energy, Sustainability, and Geography," "The Evolution of Darwin," and "Energy and Development in the Brazilian Amazon." Learn more.
Alternative Spring Break
trips expose students to new ideas through hands-on learning experiences. Past environmental topics include “Energy and Development in Appalachia,” and “Food, Water and Energy.” In addition to participating in an ASB trip, you can create and lead your own. Learn more.
The Jasper Ridge Docent Program
teaches students about local ecology and field techniques at Stanford’s own Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, while providing training for students to act as tour guides and educators for community members who visit the preserve. Learn more.
Stanford’s Outdoor Education Program
teaches wilderness and backpacking skills through a one-unit class each quarter. They also train leaders for SPOT, also known as Stanford Pre-Orientation Trips, which lead incoming freshmen on week-long backpacking trips. Learn more.
Sustainability and Related Internships
Sustainability and Related Internships
Take your interest in the environment to the next level with a summer or school-year internship. Stanford has a plethora of resources for both on and off-campus opportunities.
Internships with the Office of Sustainability
The Office of Sustainability employs 2 to 3 part-time interns every quarter. The positions are currently full. For new internship announcements, you can check here periodically or check in with a representative from Students for A Sustainable Stanford.
The Stanford Green Campus Program
engages three to four undergraduate students annually in leading energy efficiency projects at Stanford University. Students work with peers, faculty, and facilities managers to promote low cost education and technology solutions that improve energy efficiency and reduce electricity usage. Projects include installing real-time energy monitoring systems in dorms, installing “smart strips” across campus, and educational campaigns on saving energy in residences, office, and lab buildings Learn more.
The Goldman Honors Program
enables select seniors to pursue interdisciplinary research and analyze problems in small-group seminars. Many students have won awards and published their theses in peer-reviewed publications. Learn more.
The Stanford Office of Science Outreach
provides information on a number of on-campus research internships, including research at SLAC and in biomedical fields. Learn more.
Undergraduate Academic Life
offers a number of small and large grants for pursuing research or independent study topics. Learn more.
Multidisciplinary Centers and Institutes at Stanford
are a great place to look for environmental internships. Learn more.
Stanford's Career Development Center
has listings of jobs and internships, as well as a network of alumni in different fields who are available for contact. Learn more.
Many Department and Majors
have their own grant programs for internships and research. Most have suggested projects as well as opportunities for students to propose their own research. Check the Stanford academic departments webpage for your major for more information.
