Five Ways USC Students are Making the World a Better Place
In a time of great upheaval and need, USC students lead efforts to strengthen and support their communities.
President Folt outlines ambitious yet achievable plans for sustainability
In two high-profile public appearances, the president also detailed USC’s efforts to combat the local — and global — effects of climate change and COVID-19.
Most Angelenos say climate change is a threat — but few act accordingly
USC Dornsife’s LABarometer survey shows that a majority of L.A. County residents remain unaware of the sustainable lifestyle changes available to them.
USC’s first fully online sustainable hackathon tackles pollution and recycling
USC Viterbi’s fourth annual Sustain-A-Thon — featuring an appearance by President Carol L. Folt — saw a record-setting number of students propose solutions to improve our planet.
Can sunlight convert carbon emissions into useful materials?
USC chemical engineers are developing an environmentally friendly way to upcycle carbon dioxide emissions into polymers, pharmaceuticals and other materials.
We love our blue jeans, but they have a massive water footprint
Producing a pair of denim trousers is a water-intensive process that’s often conducted in dry, hot regions. USC’s Robert Vos investigates how jeans can become more eco-friendly.
Undergrad turns to both science and policy to take on climate change
Before she even became a Trojan, Isabella O’Brien turned discarded oyster, clam and mussel shells into a means to deacidify ocean and lake waters.
USC launches new sustainability research initiative
The initiative’s first three projects will focus on major environmental concerns in Southern California: water management, air pollution and testing for nutrients in soil.
To be more sustainable, this USC student starts with the shirt on her back
Jasmine Sears plans to use her degree in environmental studies to help the fashion industry do more to protect the planet.
President Folt’s first year brings renewed energy to USC sustainability
Since her zero-waste inauguration, the president — herself an environmental scientist — has positioned USC to become a leader in sustainable strategies like solar energy.
New flow battery could help unleash renewable energy
USC scientists may have solved the storage problem that has long slowed the spread of renewables.
Urban heat waves imperil L.A.’s most vulnerable communities
New USC research highlights the outsized risk for low-income communities as global warming raises temperatures and our cities become even more crowded.
Galen Center wins big in Pac-12 sustainability competition
USC’s sustainability staff members executed their first “green game” and successfully turned the Galen Center into a zero-waste facility.
A system for reusing recyclable plastic trash takes home 2020 sustainability prize
Three teams of entrepreneurial USC students competed for $15,000 in awards during the fourth annual Wrigley Sustainability Prize contest.
USC goes virtual for Earth Day with lineup of online sustainability activities
What is the planet telling us with climate change? How is USC striving for a greener future? Get answers during the university’s online Earth Day celebration.
Environmental science major sows seeds of advocacy among Trojans
Soon-to-be-graduating USC senior Claire Mauss has transformed the Environmental Student Assembly into an organization that advocates for sustainable change on campus.
USC’s largest solar project continues to transform the Galen Center’s roof
All workers are abiding by COVID-19 distancing regulations as university officials expect the center’s solar setup to be fully operational by summer.
USC Alum Matt Petersen Believes in a Greener L.A.
The enthusiastic optimist sees opportunities for sustainability around every corner.
USC researchers are creating the cheaper, cleaner fuels of the future
Trojan scientists are raiding deep fryers, developing alternative crops and turning to kelp in their quest to create renewable biofuels.
Composting is the next sustainability step for USC residential living
Collection bins are being installed at numerous residential colleges, with the goal of making composting easy for students.
Through solar power and zero waste, Galen Center shoots for sustainability
The USC athletics arena looks to leap forward with 1,500 solar modules on the roof, more than 3,000 LED light bulbs and a commitment to waste diversion starting with a “green game” on Saturday.
How a USC student from Chicago ended up protecting sea life through science
Senior Connie Machuca studies corals and anemones to understand how they respond to rising temperatures, acidification and other ocean-related issues linked to climate change.
By asking players to revitalize a dying Earth, this video game aims to raise environmental awareness
A USC Dornsife environmental studies professor and two USC student game designers believe that their game Plasticity could inspire people to take sustainable action.
USC Hotel sets a sustainable example by earning Green Seal certification
The hotel is the first university-owned lodging property in California to achieve high-level sustainability certification from an independent, national environmental organization.