About the Competition
The goal of this competition is to encourage interdisciplinary solutions to address sustainability concerns within the Syracuse University community, both short and long-term. Available to undergraduates from all fields of study at Syracuse University, this competition offers students the chance to present their creative and innovative solutions, with the possibility of seeing their initiatives put into action on campus.
Examples could include a peer-to-peer mentorship educational program, a recommendation to adjust administrative policy, or sustainable initiative to implement on campus, etc.
Project groups can consist of 1-4 members. Groups must register their group with a brief outline of their idea (examples include but are not limited to policy recommendations, data-driven initiatives, community outreach proposals architecture designs and tech innovations) by March 8th. Their final submissions are due, along with a poster, by April 1st. Groups will present their poster at a university-wide poster symposium on April 8th, 2024 from 6-8 pm on Schine floor 3.
Projects will be judged by SU and ESF professors and/or faculty. The first-place winner of the competition will get to see their proposal put into action, with 15 thousand dollars allocated to the relevant University department to implement their idea.
We hope the Green Innovation Competition will become an annual event, allowing students to showcase ideas and commitments to improving campus sustainability initiatives.
Learn why you should participate here!
Sustainability at Syracuse University
In December 2022, Syracuse University's Student Association published a comprehensive review of the University's sustainable practices, benchmarked against peer institutions, and conducted a legislative analysis of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to identify federal funding avenues for the University in the Student Association Sustainability Report. The Green Innovation Competition is just one initiative that was produced as a result of this report.
The Student Association Sustainability Report
The Student Association released our Sustainability Report on December 15, 2022, after a semester-long effort including student government leaders, faculty, staff, community leaders, and sustainability experts. The Sustainability Report led to historic climate action from the University due to the Student Association's advocacy.
Highlights of the new goals include the following:
Advance the University’s current net-zero goal from 2040 to 2032. To support this goal, the University will create a Sustainability Oversight Council to oversee and audit the Sustainability Management office to ensure emission goals are met.
Commit to dramatically reducing single-use plastics by the 2027-28 academic year through a phased approach.
In a collaboration between the Student Association and the University, create an annual sustainability research competition, as proposed in the Student Association’s sustainability report.
In Spring 2022, Chancellor Kent Syverud directed the Student Association to draft a report of sustainability policy recommendations. The Sustainability Report was developed by the following Student Association leaders:
David Bruen, President
Harrison Vogt, Sustainability Director
Ben Cavarra, Vice President of Community & Government Affairs
Olivia Curreri, Student Advocate
Who We Are
The Sustainability Forum
The Student Association Sustainability Forum is a student-run organization operated under the SU-ESF Student Association. Led by the Co-Directors of Sustainability and the Vice President of University Affairs, the Sustainability Forum works closely alongside the Student Association and administration. We establish projects to implement new sustainable initiatives on campus involving social events and administrative-level changes. Come to meetings every Monday at 6:30 in Schine 128!
Syracuse University Student Association
As the official student governing and advocacy body for Syracuse University and SUNY-ESF undergraduates, the Student Association works with the University's administrators to improve all facets of undergraduate life and ensure that student concerns are heard. The Student Association exists as a right and for the benefit of the student body. It is the highest duty of the Association to consider the interests and needs of the students above all else. To that end, the Student Association shall strive to create a university community where the needs of students are met, the rights of students are represented, and the voice of the students is heard.