Buzzwords such as “global warming” and “climate change” have ruled the airwaves during discussions of environmental issues over the last ten to fifteen years. A rather unfamiliar and unknown cousin to the science of climate change is the concept of sustainability. Sustainability is, according to an organization called SustainVU out of Vanderbilt University, best defined as meeting the needs of the current generations while doing everything possible to keep the same ability to fulfill needs available to future generations.

Sustainability has recently become a popular topic at Hamline, and due to a recent grant awarded to Hamline, students will begin to get a better understanding of sustainability over the next few years. The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation awarded Hamline a grant of $450,000 lasting from 2014 to 2017 to integrate sustainability into the Hamline curriculum. This integration will have wide-ranging effects on the Hamline curriculum, as sustainability education will be seen in economics classes, most if not all of science classes, and even history classes. Sustainability focuses on reducing environmental footprints and supporting systems that are socially just, environmentally sound, and economically prosperous.

Mike Farris, the interim director of the grant committee, had more to say on the aims of this grant.

“Part of this grant is set aside for Hamline to hire a Director of Environmental Studies and Sustainability,” he said. “Our search for this director is currently underway and we plan on hiring someone before the end of the year. This grant isn’t being focused on operations or facilities, this is a grant designed to promote awareness of sustainability.”

According to Farris, this grant is helpful to undergraduate students as well.

“Of that $450,000, 91% of it is going directly to faculty and undergraduate students,” he said.

“Though graduate students are not eligible to apply for this grant, all undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the grant, and will be able to use this grant to fund research projects if they are chosen. With the money from the grant, the grant committee is hoping to fund fifteen research projects that have a component of sustainability by the end of the grant in 2017. There will also be an increase in the number of student trips around the region that have a focus of sustainability.”

That nine percent of the grant that’s not going to students or faculty isn’t going to waste, though. Farris explains:

“Some of that nine percent is paying for training of Hamline professors and other staff who are interested in learning more about sustainability and interested in learning how to integrate sustainability into their curriculum and co-curriculum,” he said.

“Our committee is planning on yearly workshops using outside expertise and local mentors; we are currently working on bringing in sustainability experts to speak on issues in their research in 2016 and 2017.”

One of the most crucial questions being asked in the study of sustainability is “How does the issue of being studied affect the long-term sustainability of the environmental, economic or social system(s) in question, as measured by benchmarks?” All three are important because a system is not truly sustainable unless all three components are fully sustainable. The interactions of each system with each other are crucially important.

Each component of sustainability has a number of benchmarks that a healthy system includes. A socially just system includes human well-being, universal rights and equality and democratic government. Benchmarks of economically prosperous systems include efficient use of natural, human, physical, and intangible capital, which includes corporate intellectual property, goodwill, and brand recognition. These systems also contain efficient markets of commerce, and an ability to create well-being amongst its participants. Finally, an environmentally sound system includes the wise use of biological and physical resources, effective waste management, and a minimal use of non-renewable sources.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, have any questions about how this grant will affect Hamline, or are interested in applying for a research project under this grant, talk to Mike Farris or send an email to sustainability@hamline.edu.