Nichole Laggan ’18 studies a fungus that is contributing to the extinction of frogs with Taegan McMahon, assistant professor of biology. She presented her research at the Annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
The Faculty Sustainability Committee works to implement sustainable solutions in the classroom and on campus, producing resources like Classroom Sustainability Strategies and Campus Recycling Resources . The existing committee includes Dan Huber , Biology; Bella Galperin , Management; Sasko Ivanov , Mathematics; Stephen Kucera , Biology; Simon Schuler , Chemistry and Physics; and Jessa Madosky , Biology. Administrative members in an ex-officio capacity include Gina Firth , associate dean of Wellness/Student Affairs. The committee's mission is to develop a culture of sustainability and global stewardship within the campus community through the hosting of sustainability events including a 30-day Sustainability Challenge and an annual film series. The committee also has secured UT's membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), whose mission is to inspire and catalyze higher education to lead the global sustainability transformation.
- Roots and Shoots – Roots and Shoots is an international organization created by Jane Goodall that inspires action in students of all ages to help animals, the community and the environment. One of their main goals is to help fellow students further their education and experiences by offering networking opportunities with professors and community professionals, increasing students' awareness of and participation in undergraduate research; increasing involvement within the Tampa Bay community through service projects; and encouraging students to step beyond their comfort zone to strive for sustainable excellence.
- Environmental Protection Coalition – The Environmental Protection Coalition (EPC) consists of students concerned with the conservation and advocacy of the earth's biomes and its inhabitants, especially those of other species. EPC focuses on fostering sustainable community connections on and off campus through volunteering. Students volunteer with varying organizations such as Zaskee Bird Sanctuary, Big Cat Rescue, Tampa Bay Watch and a bi-weekly Bayshore cleanup.
- Student Environmental Action Coalition – The Student Environmental Action Coalition (S.E.A.C.) focuses on making UT more sustainable through various initiatives as well as educating and enabling students to make environmentally conscious decisions. Initiatives include expanding recycling on campus, waste reduction and food recovery. Through a partnership with Sodexo, S.E.A.C. currently distributes unused food to the afterschool program, Cornerstone Kids, as a chapter of the Food Recovery Network.