UMD’s investment in technology and innovation supports the application and scaling of cutting-edge research in quantum computing, material science, pollution prevention, trustworthy AI design, pollinator conservation, and more. Many faculty and student researchers care about the university’s commitment to sustainability and want to participate, however, they often aren’t sure how to align their decisions about equipment, travel, and digital technologies with those goals. This initiative aims to provide more guidance, resources, and connection to ensure that sustainability extends to how research is conducted.
Supporting a culture of sustainability in research operations helps UMD achieve its strategic goal to become a more connected, coordinated, and effective community of care that supports the success and well-being of students, faculty, and staff. Researchers at our fast-paced, R1 institution have busy schedules and high productivity expectations, leaving limited time and capacity for changing their operational procedures. By finding synergies between sustainability, safety improvements, and cost savings, this goal aims to make it easier to adopt UMD programs that conserve energy and water, reduce waste, and minimize environmental impact. This includes providing centralized support and expanding opportunities for knowledge sharing and storytelling across departments.
Measuring our Progress
A new dashboard is being built to track our progress toward this goal and will be available in fall 2027. In the meantime, explore our past metrics below to see how our current work builds on previous progress.
Books for Further Exploring
Not sure where to start? These recommended books aim to supplement on-campus learning by broadening perspectives about this goal area, sparking creative thinking, and inspiring conversations about how we can work together to apply these lessons to our campus.
