Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy at UMass Lowell

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, it's the perfect time to get outside, explore, and enjoy everything the season has to offer.

Remember to recycle and help keep our communities and natural spaces beautiful. ☀️♻️🌎

This spring, eight students from UMass Lowell traveled to Sosúa, Dominican Republic 🇩🇴 to design and install solar power systems for a local school and three homes, bringing reliable electricity to communities facing frequent outages ☀️🔋

Sponsored by the Center for Energy Innovation and the Energy Access Foundation, the project gave students hands-on engineering experience while making a meaningful impact in the community.

“We were able to help people in need and, at the same time, help educate students and give them a valuable experiential learning experience,” says Christopher Niezrecki. “The students got a better understanding of what life is like without the resources that we take for granted.”

🔗 Link to the article: https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2026/dominican-republic-solar-power.aspx

Our first-ever Sustainable Innovation Showcase and Challenge was a success ✨

Students, faculty, researchers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders came together to share innovative ideas and solutions focused on sustainability, climate technology, and emerging research. Finalists presented pitches and posters to a panel of judges, showcasing projects that addressed real-world environmental and sustainability challenges.

Congratulations to this year’s award winners:

🏆 Sustainability Innovation Award: Amir Ameli
🏆 Student Sustainability Award: Joanita Amoah
🏆 Outstanding Sustainability Poster Award: Crosby Newbill

Congratulations to Frank Ricciardi, CEO of Weston & Sampson, on receiving the Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding University Support at UMass Lowell’s 2026 Commencement. 🎓

Through its partnership with the Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy at UMass Lowell and the Lowell innovation Network Corridor, Weston & Sampson continues to support sustainability, climate resiliency, and hands-on opportunities for students.

A well-deserved recognition for a lasting partnership and commitment to the UMass Lowell community. 👏

It was a pleasure welcoming ’s Agroforestry Team to campus and sharing sustainability initiatives across and the Lowell community. From rooftop gardens to the South Campus Food Forest and Pawtucket Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, the visit highlighted how urban agriculture and community partnerships come together across the city.

Thanks for visiting Lowell, we loved sharing our community with you!

The Sustainability Team had a blast visiting ’s MRF (Materials Recovery Facility) in Charlestown, MA ♻️ As the 4th largest recycling facility in the country, it was incredible seeing how 600–700 tons of recyclables from Boston and the surrounding area are sorted and processed every day.

Stay tuned for a facility walkthrough coming soon 👀🎥

Sustainable dyes 🎨 offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional textile dyes by reducing harmful chemicals, lowering pollution, and supporting responsible production practices. 🧶♻️ From plant-based pigments to low-impact dyeing processes, these methods help protect ecosystems while encouraging a more sustainable future for fashion and design.

Shoutout to for hosting this hands on workshop and helping students learn more about sustainable practices!

As one season comes to a close, another begins 🎓 The greenhouse is growing strong this summer, and cherry tomatoes are officially in season 🍅

So proud of this year's River Hawk Experience Distinction (RHED) Sustainability graduates: Ethan Barr, Mars Orfanos, Melany Pichardo, Lydia Sturge, Colin Ormond, and Anna Kifor!

RHED is a transformative program at UMass Lowell that empowers students to integrate their personal interests with their academic pursuits, resulting in credentialed recognition. By combining coursework with experiential learning, RHED participants gain practical experience and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

These students have excelled academically while also showing a strong commitment to sustainability through hands-on learning and community engagement. Their accomplishments were honored in a special cording ceremony recognizing their dedication to environmental stewardship.

Science majors Sam Morgan and Branae Craveiro have been named 2026 Goldwater Scholars, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors for undergraduates pursuing careers in STEM research.

Both students exemplify UMass Lowell’s commitment to hands-on scientific discovery and innovation. Working closely with faculty mentors, Sam and Branae investigate complex biological and environmental questions while gaining valuable experience that prepares them for future graduate study and scientific leadership.

A well-deserved recognition of their exceptional academic achievement and research potential.