We help communities assess the trade-offs of distributed digital technologies to improve efficiencies and decisions, while ensuring those improvements are sustainable and socially just. We work with Columbus, Ohio, and places around the world to improve community resilience through better urban planning, data analytics, predictive modeling and participatory processes.
SI Research Leads
Steven Quiring (quiring.10@osu.edu), Department of Geography
Abdollah Shafieezadeh (shafieezadeh.1@osu.edu), Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering
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SMART URBAN SYSTEMS
Our researchers are designing new operating models for public transportation, shared mobility systems and freight systems that make use of connected vehicle and automation technologies.
URBAN PLANNING
By engaging with diverse communities vulnerable to natural hazards in the United States, Mexico, Haiti and Indonesia, Ohio State researchers work to improve the design and implementation of housing and post-disaster projects.
CLIMATE CHANGE ASSESSMENT
Using data analytics and integrated models, we assess the impact of hurricanes, winter storms and other weather events on power infrastructure under conditions of a changing climate.
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June 26, 2025Sustainability Institute announces 2025 student grant award winners
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June 18, 2025Sustainability Institute announces 2025 research grant award winners
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April 29, 2025SI awards undergraduate students for sustainability research at Denman Forum
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February 24, 2025SUSTAINS leverages career engagement opportunities for students
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January 28, 2025Student advances soil science and carbon sequestration research with SI student grant
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January 28, 2025Ohio State students advocate for climate action at United Nations Climate Change Conference
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January 27, 2025Buckeye Current team captures world records
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January 27, 2025A Healthier Society With Sustainable Farming
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January 27, 2025Advancing Sustainability at Ohio State
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January 10, 2025Student Research Experience Program and Student Subject Pool Available to SI Affiliated Faculty
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December 12, 2024As wildfires intensify, prolonged exposure to pollution linked to premature death
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December 4, 2024Advanced Drainage Systems Collaboration Supports Ohio State Research, Students and Operations
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October 21, 2024Podcast: Game day at Ohio State
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September 30, 2024Dirt, data and determination: one student’s drive to help farmers plant smarter
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September 30, 2024Student utilizes sustainability grant to give voice to regenerative farmers
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September 30, 2024USDA supports Ohio State-led team to accelerate climate-smart agriculture
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May 25, 2024Sustainability Institute Announces 2024 Research Grant Award Winners
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May 23, 2024Ohio State Students Reflect on 2024 Midwest Climate Summit
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May 22, 2024Sustainability Institute Announces 2024 Student Grant Award Winners
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May 2, 2024Green is the New Growth: Columbus Metropolitan Club features SI Faculty Director
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April 9, 2024Student utilizes sustainability grant to explore, publish heat island research
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January 4, 2024Ohio State students travel to Dubai for climate conference
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January 3, 2024In coastal communities, sea level rise may leave some isolated
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January 3, 2024How technology and economics can help save endangered species
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December 19, 2023A bigger bang approach to economic development: an application to rural Appalachian Ohio energy boomtowns
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December 14, 2023Partnerships, collaboration nourish Ohio’s food system
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December 7, 2023Ohio State study abroad program attends COP28
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October 30, 2023Bringing new resilient infrastructure to all communities
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October 30, 2023Sustainability Institute selects the second cohort of Exploratory Research Groups
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September 27, 2023
Enhancing Power Grid Resilience for Navajo Nation
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August 14, 2023SI fosters interdisciplinary research through FY23 grant awards
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December 13, 2022Ohio State students establish online environmental professional stakeholder network
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November 16, 2022Campus Sustainability Goal Update
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October 26, 2022Smith Lab student gardens continue to flourish
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October 19, 2022Volunteers Help Beautify Jennings Hall Rain Garden
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July 6, 2022Food Scraps
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June 23, 2022Climate changes lead to water imbalance, conflict in Tibetan Plateau
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June 15, 2022Ohio State Energy Partners makes annual philanthropic awards
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June 6, 2022Ohio State researchers, industry leaders seek sustainable aviation solutions
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June 1, 2022Automotive engineering students excel in EcoCAR Mobility Challenge
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May 11, 20222020 campus sustainability report now available
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May 10, 2022Economic Resilience Actions Avert Losses When Disaster Strikes
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March 25, 2022WestFest, Ohio State faculty shine in Office of Outreach & Engagement’s awards
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March 17, 2022Wild about sustainability
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March 4, 2022Power Lines: Comics and the Environment’ exhibit captures human-environment interaction
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February 15, 2022Ohio State, Rumpke Promote Circular Economy Research, Teaching and Practices
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January 25, 2022Advanced Drainage Systems, Ohio State Collaborate on Sustainable Water Management, Recycling
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November 1, 2021Cancer hospital diverts 13.96 tons of plastic from landfills
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October 22, 2021Growing new roots: student garden planted outside Smith Lab
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October 18, 2021Bee-yond Campus: The Honeybee Research Collaboration
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September 7, 2021Officials leading hurricane response need ‘risk literacy’
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August 31, 2021Sustainability projects receive Ohio State President's Research Excellence Accelerator funding
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August 27, 2021Wexner Medical Center recognized nationally for environmental excellence
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July 6, 2021Sustainability, STEAM Factory researcher takes faculty position in Israel
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June 24, 2021Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities
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June 10, 2021New service learning course features multi-cultural collaboration
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June 8, 2021Wexner Medical Center faculty, staff make an environmental impact
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May 3, 2021Improving the Lives of Community Members
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April 28, 2021COVID-19 in our dust may help predict outbreaks, study finds
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April 19, 2021Protecting people as well as the environment
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March 24, 2021Wexner Medical Center Sustainability Successes
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March 23, 2021Unequal exposure and access: the crisis of environmental injustice
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March 16, 2021Medical Center Earns Tree Campus Healthcare Recognition
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March 10, 2021UV radiation kills virus that causes COVID-19 in lab, study finds
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March 8, 2021Health care and weather distressing farmers
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February 24, 2021Wexner Medical Center: Telehealth Utilization Results in Significant Emission Reductions
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February 11, 2021Downscaling the Measurement of Sustainability
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January 26, 2021Coffee ground, literally
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January 21, 2021Elena Irwin honored as Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow
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January 5, 2021Energized: Student Entrepreneurs Share Portable Battery Invention
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November 24, 2020Smart and Resilient Communities Research Leaders Detail Research Initiatives
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November 20, 2020Pandemic has surprising impacts on public transit demand
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November 13, 2020Ohio State Recognized in Campus Race to Zero Waste Competition
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November 13, 2020Ohio State, SWACO to Test Improved Waste Management Strategies
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November 5, 2020A Dose of Sustainability
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October 30, 2020COVID Lessons for U.S. Food Supply Chain Resilience
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October 16, 2020Online Dashboard Helps Track Region’s Sustainability Efforts
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October 15, 202012 Things You Can Do to Help Save Coral Reefs
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October 9, 2020Dare to be a Force of Nature: Connecting Sports and Climate Change
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September 23, 2020Rebuild, Renew, Reshape to Study COVID-19 Recovery
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September 8, 2020Curbing Sediment through Construction Design
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August 12, 2020Why walking to work may be better for you than a casual stroll
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August 10, 2020It’s Hot in the City: Understanding the Urban Heat Island Effect on Ohio State’s Campus
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August 6, 2020Growing Community through the Mansfield Microfarm
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July 30, 2020For urban conservation, local resident involvement is key
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July 28, 2020A rising weapon against the coronavirus? Sewage.
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July 27, 2020Study identifies top reasons for sewer line failure
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July 10, 2020Mobility Research Published in SAGE Journals
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June 18, 2020Ohio State researching, testing polymer face masks to protect against COVID-19
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June 18, 2020Environmentalism Drives Electric Vehicle Adoption, Study Shows
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June 5, 2020Ohio State researchers testing breathalyzer to detect COVID-19
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May 28, 2020Curtis named faculty fellow in the Office of Outreach and Engagement
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May 26, 2020Chinese, American scientists leading efforts on COVID-19
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May 22, 2020Declines in public transit demand show essential workers’ reliance on COTA and similar services
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May 6, 2020Final round of COVID-19 seed funding supports 11 new projects
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May 5, 2020'Boots on the ground'
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April 30, 2020Acoustic Technology Saves Water
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April 30, 2020Office of Research awards second round of COVID-19 seed funding
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April 23, 2020Office of Research backs new scientific study into COVID-19 pandemic
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March 16, 20203 things to avoid if you want to keep your carpets mold-free
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March 5, 2020Medical Center Earns Tree Campus Healthcare Recognition
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February 11, 2020Adapting to climate change: We’re doing it wrong
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December 16, 2019Heat or eat? How one energy conservation strategy may hurt vulnerable populations
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November 26, 2019Quenching water needs in Gambia
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November 19, 2019First look at thermostat wars suggests women may be losing these battles
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October 21, 2019The Ohio State University Recognized Nationally as Bicycle-Friendly Campus
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October 21, 2019Smartphone app-device combo detects harmful chemical in the home
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October 21, 2019Global Water Institute taps College of Engineering to expand impact
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October 16, 2019Climate change lessons from Bangladesh's disappearing farms
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October 15, 2019New projects focus on improving aluminum recycling
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August 30, 2019Creating batteries that could help power air travel
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August 29, 2019Much fridge food ‘goes there to die’
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August 21, 2019Interns share experiences from ENGIE opportunities
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August 6, 2019New Mobility and Cities Workshop
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July 29, 2019Howlett Green Roof
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July 5, 2019Climate change converges with humanities at Louisiana field school
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June 27, 2019To increase bike commuters, look to neighborhoods
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June 21, 20199,000 years ago, a community with modern urban problems
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May 22, 2019The Ohio State University Earns Gold Status in Sustainability Rating System
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May 10, 2019Ohio State Gives Seed Funding to Spur Transportation Innovations
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April 9, 2019Ohio Water Resources Center funds Perena Gouma
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March 28, 2019STEAM Factory Post-Doc Research Program
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March 13, 2019Farmers need to gear up for more rain
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March 8, 2019The Women Leaders of Ohio State’s Sustainability Institute
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January 28, 2019Conference presents challenges, solutions for sustainable communities
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December 18, 2018Researchers Unveil Climate Change Action Plan for Columbus
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July 8, 2016Economic Diversity and Community Resilience
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