Sustainability relies on the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems for future generations. Our researchers are improving the environment and economy through the development of new materials, technologies and processes that reduce environmental pollution and enable abundant or renewable resources to be substituted for nonrenewable resources. We are researching governance, institutions and cultural norms to learn how communities can better manage shared resources and ensure that human activities do not deplete renewable resources or degrade critical ecosystem functions.
REMEDIATION OF CONTAMINATED SOILS
We are examining the in-situ remediation of contaminated soils and the development and application of cost effective soil treatments to reduce exposure to lead hazards. In another project, we investigate the beneficial use of agricultural, industrial and municipal by-products through land application and soil and environmental chemistries of by-products in agronomic/environmental systems with emphasis on their risk and environmental impact.
BIODERIVED RUBBER
Ohio State is reducing fossil fuels as industrial feedstocks through the creation of renewable materials such as biorubber. The university's Rubber Pilot Plant produces high quality rubber for the tire industry and for medical quality latex hypoallergenic gloves. Watch Katrina Cornish, horticulture and crop science and a member of the Sustainability Institute's Faculty Advisory Board, give her TEDxColumbus talk, "Avoiding a rubber apocalypse - let's grow our own."
IMPACT OF CORPORATIONS
Our researchers assess how large-scale industrial processes use not just natural resources, but also public investments in infrastructure, to reduce costs, transfer liabilities and maximize profits in ways that create major ecological and health consequences for consumers and communities on global and local scales.
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January 28, 2025
Student advances soil science and carbon sequestration research with SI student grant
Learn more about Student advances soil science and carbon sequestration research with SI student grant -
January 28, 2025
Ohio State students advocate for climate action at United Nations Climate Change Conference
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January 27, 2025
A simpler, more efficient device for harvesting water from the air
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January 27, 2025
America Makes funds research on sustainable materials for additive manufacturing
Learn more about America Makes funds research on sustainable materials for additive manufacturing -
January 27, 2025
Hemp shows high promise as potential natural insecticide
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January 27, 2025
Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products
Learn more about Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products -
January 27, 2025
Advancing Sustainability at Ohio State
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January 10, 2025
Student Research Experience Program and Student Subject Pool Available to SI Affiliated Faculty
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December 17, 2024
Ohio State researchers seek to put coal combustion products to use
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December 4, 2024
Advanced Drainage Systems Collaboration Supports Ohio State Research, Students and Operations
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September 30, 2024
Paving the way for efficient asphalt road repairs
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May 25, 2024
Sustainability Institute Announces 2024 Research Grant Award Winners
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May 22, 2024
Sustainability Institute Announces 2024 Student Grant Award Winners
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May 20, 2024
Students Awarded for Sustainability Research at Denman Undergraduate Research Forum
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August 14, 2023
SI fosters interdisciplinary research through FY23 grant awards
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April 3, 2023
Commerce in the Cosmos
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January 30, 2023
Rooted in sustainability
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November 23, 2022
Ohio State to develop new bus technology testing center with $26.5 million federal investment
Learn more about Ohio State to develop new bus technology testing center with $26.5 million federal investment -
October 26, 2022
Smith Lab student gardens continue to flourish
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October 24, 2022
Sustainability faculty share expertise at Global Food System Challenges at Ohio State Summit
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May 12, 2022
Large-scale ocean sanctuaries could protect coral reefs from climate change
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March 17, 2022
Wild about sustainability
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March 4, 2022
Power Lines: Comics and the Environment’ exhibit captures human-environment interaction
Learn more about Power Lines: Comics and the Environment’ exhibit captures human-environment interaction -
February 7, 2022
Ohio State selected to help develop low-Earth orbit space station research pipeline
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August 31, 2021
Sustainability projects receive Ohio State President's Research Excellence Accelerator funding
Learn more about Sustainability projects receive Ohio State President's Research Excellence Accelerator funding -
July 6, 2021
Sustainability, STEAM Factory researcher takes faculty position in Israel
Learn more about Sustainability, STEAM Factory researcher takes faculty position in Israel -
June 24, 2021
Throwing shade: Measuring how much trees, buildings cool cities
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June 3, 2021
Ohio State hosts United Kingdom diplomats for climate discussion
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May 26, 2021
A new ‘gold standard’ compound for generating electricity from heat
Learn more about A new ‘gold standard’ compound for generating electricity from heat -
May 3, 2021
Seeing climate change through an artistic lens
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April 20, 2021
Sustainability Institute announces 2021 research seed grants
Learn more about Sustainability Institute announces 2021 research seed grants -
March 24, 2021
Wexner Medical Center Sustainability Successes
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March 16, 2021
Reprocessing, collecting devices saves money, resources at Wexner Medical Center
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February 25, 2021
Global Water Institute leads effort to improve water and food security with the Navajo Nation
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February 8, 2021
Ohio State Announces New Sustainable Design and Construction Policy
Learn more about Ohio State Announces New Sustainable Design and Construction Policy -
February 5, 2021
Healthy Air, Land and Water Seminars
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January 27, 2021
New Interdisciplinary Major in Sustainable Agriculture to Launch Fall '21
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January 22, 2021
Ohio State University Physicians clinics reduce paper waste, unnecessary travel
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January 21, 2021
Elena Irwin honored as Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow
Learn more about Elena Irwin honored as Food Systems Leadership Institute Fellow -
November 13, 2020
Saving Resources and Eliminating Pharmaceutical Waste
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October 22, 2020
Forest Sustainability: How Maya Social Norms Affect Ecology
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October 8, 2020
Research from The Ohio State University at Mansfield Will Help Make Water Safer for Ohioans
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September 24, 2020
Bakshi earns two NSF 2026 Idea Machine competition awards
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September 23, 2020
Federal Grants Support Sustainability Research in Chemical Manufacturing, Plastics
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August 28, 2020
A new method for making a key component of plastics
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August 6, 2020
Growing Community through the Mansfield Microfarm
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July 30, 2020
Wexner Medical Center Develops Sustainable Supply Chain
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July 23, 2020
Center for Emergent Materials awarded $18 Million NSF Grant to Support High-Impact, Cutting-Edge Science
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June 5, 2020
A nature-inspired coating to keep drugs from breaking down too early
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May 12, 2020
Renee Zhao receives 2 NSF awards in Spring 2020 to study magnetic soft materials
Learn more about Renee Zhao receives 2 NSF awards in Spring 2020 to study magnetic soft materials -
March 26, 2020
Scientists electrify aluminum to speed up important process
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January 28, 2020
Current model for storing nuclear waste is incomplete
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January 2, 2020
Thought Leadership: Ohio State Experts Share Opinions on EPA Power Plant Pollutants Rule
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December 11, 2019
Shrinking of Greenland’s glaciers began accelerating in 2000, research finds
Learn more about Shrinking of Greenland’s glaciers began accelerating in 2000, research finds -
November 14, 2019
University Grows Roots to Achieve Sustainable Food Goal
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September 25, 2019
New satellite may make flood prediction easier
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September 20, 2019
Water may be scarce for new power plants in Asia
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July 24, 2019
UC3 University Climate Coalition Announces Policy Platform to Combat Climate Change
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June 27, 2019
Biosolids used as agricultural resource in campus research collaboration
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May 29, 2019
Sustainability Fund Supports Project to Upcycle Organic Waste
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May 22, 2019
Making it More Viable to Turn Agricultural Waste Into Renewable Fuel
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May 16, 2019
Ohio State Tops GameDay Basketball diversion rate in annual RecycleMania Competition
Learn more about Ohio State Tops GameDay Basketball diversion rate in annual RecycleMania Competition -
April 26, 2019
Closing in on Zero-Waste Goals with Sustainable Food Prep
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April 19, 2019
Earth Day Feature: Spring Grads March in Sustainable Caps and Gowns toward Sustainability
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April 9, 2019
Study Shows Potential for Earth-friendly Plastic Replacement
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April 2, 2019
College of Pharmacy Implements New Water Conservation Measures
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February 7, 2019
Ohio State Again Receives National Recognition for Tree Program
Learn more about Ohio State Again Receives National Recognition for Tree Program -
January 21, 2019
Greenland ice melting rapidly, study finds
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December 10, 2018
Real vs. Artificial: Which Tree is More Sustainable?
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December 5, 2018
Dirty Air Now could Harm Hearts of Offspring Later
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January 4, 2018
Special Issue Applying a New Theory of Sustainability
Learn more about Special Issue Applying a New Theory of Sustainability