“What does sustainability look like to you?” Participants in the 2024 sustainability photography contest showed what sustainability looks like to them through diverse images of sustainable practices and inspiring locations. The Sustainability Institute (SI) and RESTORExchange hosted this contest, encouraging participants to capture sustainability through different social, cultural, economic, and political lenses that they experienced in their own lives.
RESTORExchange is a project hosted within Ohio State’s School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) that focuses on the intersection between faith and sustainability. Its mission is to connect communities, families, and faith-based organizations with environmental and sustainability efforts locally, regionally, and globally. RESTORExchange offers a database of publications, tools, and art that showcase the relationship between faith and the environment for deeper engagement and research.
“We wanted to provide an opportunity for people to see sustainability efforts and outcomes in their daily lives,” said Greg Hitzhusen, associate professor of professional practice in SENR and RESTORExchange Director. “It was incredible to see the variety of topics depicted from across the world. These images show how the wide-ranging field of sustainability shows up in everyday lives.”
“Bristlecone Pines,” an image captured by Ohio State geography undergraduate student Harrison Frenken, was awarded third place in the contest. Frenken, a member of the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center's Glacier Environmental Change Group, noted that this species of pine can live thousands of years in rough terrain, suggesting a metaphor for climate and ecological resilience. Frenken accepted the award at the Environmental Professionals Network’s annual Earth Day celebration in April.
Other contest winners included:
- "Center for Sustainable Landscapes,” a photograph of the Center’s building and exterior landscape at PHIPPS Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, captured by Kelsey Frantz, was awarded first place. “It is a wonderful example of what success in sustainable development looks like,” said Frantz. “This photo perfectly exemplifies how sustainability can be represented in the urban landscape through its green building certifications, net-zero emissions, use of renewable energy, and rainwater collection.”
- “Sustainability is Beautiful” won second place, photographed by Chaitnyakumar Makwana. Makwana took a photo of a rainbow and Common gull at Niagara Falls to highlight the beauty of nature. “Sustainability is balance of life and nature,” says Makwana. “I aimed to highlight how nature, wildlife, and humans can coexist and appreciate each other.”
- "Prescott Community Compost Project” received an honorable mention, photographed by Annie Baker. Every week, volunteers in Prescott, Arizona, compost food waste from community members. “By doing this, they divert tons of food waste from the landfill, build healthy soil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” says Baker. “Volunteers connect with community members and educate them about circular food and waste systems.” The photo features volunteers working to compost 2,500 pounds of food scraps.
View all the submissions for the 2024 sustainability photography contest and learn more about RESTORExchange and its database of materials.
Story by Christine Andreeva, Student Communications Assistant
Photo credit: Harrison Frenken