Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities

Excited to be a founding member of Nature at Work and to be a part of this important at work!

We're excited to continue our Founding Member Spotlight series by recognizing the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University.

The Shi Institute exemplifies the kind of leadership Nature at Work seeks to elevate. Through its work in sustainability, education, research, and community engagement, the Institute demonstrates how healthy people, healthy places, and strong communities are deeply connected.

Under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Predmore, the Shi Institute has been an important partner from the beginning. From hosting our Upstate launch event to participating in our Advisory Council and supporting the South Carolina Healthy Business Coalition, the Institute has helped create opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and innovation.

Thank you to the Shi Institute and Dr. Predmore for helping advance this movement and for demonstrating how higher education can serve as a catalyst for healthier communities and a more sustainable future.

We're proud of Furman for the effort that went into earning this #1 Top Performer ranking in AASHE's Sustainable Campus Index, and grateful for the relationships that it fostered. The Sustainable Campus Index highlights how Furman excels at teaching sustainability science and engaging our campus in sustainability initiatives. It also helped us identify opportunities where we can improve-- let's keep reaching for platinum, Dins!

Furman earns top sustainability ranking The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education ranked Furman as the top baccalaureate institution overall. Furman is in the #2 spot for campus engagement among all institutions.

🌱✨ Join us for an unforgettable evening at Topsoil Restaurant in Travelers Rest!

The Three Sisters Fundraising Dinner will showcase the bounty of the Furman Farm while raising critical support for programs, equipment, and internships that empower the next generation of sustainability leaders.

🍽️ Wednesday, October 29 | 6:30–9:00 pm
📍 Topsoil Restaurant | 13 S Main St, Travelers Rest, SC
Enjoy a specially curated menu by James Beard semifinalist Chef Adam Cooke, featuring seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and the traditional Three Sisters crops—beans, corn, and squash—grown right on the Furman Farm.

All proceeds will benefit the Furman Farm and its role in hands-on sustainability education.

🎟️ Seats are limited—reserve your spot today!
👉 https://bit.ly/45D2pss

Do you live in Bluffton, SC, or know someone who does?

On behalf of the Town of Bluffton, the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University is conducting this survey to gather feedback from community members about their experiences with extreme heat. Residents input will help the Town understand community needs and guide potential future efforts to improve our communities' overall well-being during periods of extreme heat.

If you live in Bluffton, please take a few minutes to fill out our survey. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete! bit.ly/Blufftonheatsurvey

If you know other Bluffton residents, please share this with them and encourage them to complete the survey.

Thanks for helping make Bluffton more resilient!

🌿 Invest in the Future—One Small Gift at a Time! 🌱

Happy Dins Day! As we celebrate the last day of class this semester at Furman University, we wanted to invite you to show your support for Furman and for our amazing Paladins. Please consider supporting a sustainability fellowship here at Furman University!

With just a small donation, you can be part of launching hands-on learning and innovation here in Greenville. Our student fellowships are more than just campus jobs. They open the door to immersive learning experiences where students can work directly on projects that address climate change and conservation right here in Upstate South Carolina.

Every dollar makes a difference! 🎁 Visit our Dins Day page and type in "Shi Institute" to designate your gift. Give today and grow tomorrow’s changemakers: https://www.givecampus.com/3ij46f

For Earth Day, we wanted to invite you to consider a unique way to show your support for Furman and for our amazing Paladins. Please consider supporting a sustainability fellowship here at Furman University.

Our student fellowships are more than just campus jobs. They open the door to immersive learning experiences where students can work directly on projects that address climate change and conservation right here in Upstate South Carolina.

Our goal for Earth Day is to raise $2,000 for a Shi fellowship to match Furman’s investment in a student as they work for a local non-profit organization this summer. Investing in one student’s journey can spark a ripple effect—fueling innovation, inspiring advocacy and planting the seeds for a more sustainable Greenville.

‘Dins and friends, please consider supporting the Shi Institute and make your Earth Day gift count! https://alumni.furman.edu/donation-form-shi-institute

Sociology Professor Dr. Ken Kolb worked with the Shi Institute Applied Research Team “to develop a GIS-based tool that analyzes market pressures on rural farmland over time, which can help people spot areas most at risk of displacement and development.” Their work was highlighted in an article by Macon Atkinson in this week’s Post and Courier.

Although this tool in its current form gives a good overview of rural gentrification across the state of South Carolina, it could easily be tailored to meet the fine-tuned needs of local conservation districts anywhere in the country. Read the article here: https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/news/furman-university-sc-farm-gentrification-property-values-study/article_ceaefda7-6f58-4d76-8ffb-4853a94469d6.html

Gentrification threatens SC farm land. A Furman University map shows locations most at risk. Growth from places like Greenville, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach is encroaching on SC's rural areas, driving up property values and squeezing farms.

We were proud to celebrate our Shi Institute Sustainability Fellows today during Furman Engaged at the Furman University Library!

Each of our student fellows shared the results of their work to promote a culture of sustainability on our campus and in the Greenville community. From energy conservation to waste reduction and climate engagement, their work reflects a deep commitment to environmental stewardship and systems thinking.

A big thank you to Vanessa Amasi, Stella Frisbie, Ellie Howard, Summer Marsden, Kaia McMullen, Aru Sakhariyanova, Virginia St. Clair, Aubin Vertueux Dzossa Bontse and Nabila Wilson for their amazing work! 🌱