Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy at UMass Lowell

This summer, we brought together experts and community voices for the Massachusetts Advanced Nuclear & Fusion Energy Roadmap Discussion Series. ⚛️

The third panel brought thoughtful discussion around safety, spent fuel, public trust and community engagement as Massachusetts considers the future of advanced nuclear and fusion energy.

With additional panels held throughout the summer, the series created space for thoughtful conversations about the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of energy in Massachusetts.

Move-in prep is underway! 🛋️📚

Through the GradBag program, gently used items collected during move-out get a second life instead of going to waste. Our team is busy sorting and collecting items to put to use for this year’s move-in, but we can’t show you everything just yet. 😉

And this is just the beginning! Keep an eye out for our upcoming Sustainable Move-In this month, where you’ll have the chance to find more secondhand essentials for your space.

How’s your summer going? 🌞🌿

Our sustainability team spent the day at TreeTop Adventures in Canton, taking some time to recharge and enjoy the outdoors. A good reminder that making time for nature, connection, and a little leisure is part of a sustainable summer, too.

Ph.D. student Alana Griggs and Sustainability Director Dai Kim recently donated 15 compost bins to the Cambodian Mutual Assistance Association (CMAA) to help jumpstart composting efforts within the community.

Made possible through support from the Massachusetts Healthy Soils Grant, this effort expands access to composting resources while advancing the shared goal of building healthier soils across Massachusetts.

The compost bins are made from 100% recycled plastic and designed to make composting simple and accessible. Each 128-gallon bin can hold approximately six to eight 30-gallon bags of yard material and features a heat-absorbing black design, a secure ventilated lid to support decomposition while keeping pests out, and a bottom access door for easy removal of finished compost.

We’re excited to see these bins support more sustainable waste practices across our community.

Congratulations to Dr. Juliette Rooney-Varga on receiving the Jay Wright Forrester Award, recognizing the best contribution to the field of system dynamics over the past five years. 👏

Presented by the System Dynamics Society at the 2026 International System Dynamics Conference in Delft, Netherlands, the award recognizes the 2024 Nature Sustainability paper, "Community-Based Propagation to Scale Up Educational Innovations in Sustainability."

The research demonstrates how community-based "ambassadors" can help scale sustainability education, using system dynamics modeling to show how committed adopters who mentor and recruit others can accelerate the spread of impactful innovations. 🌍

As director of UMass Lowell's Climate Change Initiative and co-director of the Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy, Dr. Rooney-Varga continues to advance research that connects systems thinking, climate science and community engagement to support evidence-based climate action.

Congratulations on this well-deserved international recognition!

🔗 Link to read more: https://www.uml.edu/news/stories/2026/rooney-varga-forrester-award.aspx

🌎 Happy World Youth Skills Day! 💚

Today, we're celebrating the next generation of sustainability leaders. At UMass Lowell, students are building the skills to drive real-world solutions through research, innovation and community engagement. Their ideas, passion and action are helping create a more sustainable future.

Congratulations to Dai Kim on completing Lowell Plan Public Matters®! 🎉 We’re proud to celebrate our Sustainability Director and this accomplishment.

Lowell Plan Public Matters®: A Program in Civic Engagement is a leadership initiative of The Lowell Plan, conducted in partnership with Lowell National Historical Park. The program brings together professionals from across Lowell to learn more about the city, connect with local leaders, and explore opportunities to make a positive impact.

We’re proud to see Dai among this year’s participants in the program, continuing a connection that has included past Rist Institute team members who have also taken part in this program.

📸 Photo Credits: Megpix Photography

A year in red, white, and blue.

A colorful collection of sustainability moments from across campus throughout the year—from gardens and green spaces to events, programs, and the people behind them.

Happy Independence Day! ❤️🤍💙

Yesterday, the Rist Institute hosted “AI for Startups: What Actually Helps Founders,” a conversation featuring panelists from diverse backgrounds in AI, entrepreneurship, and industry. 🤖

Panelists: Richard Juknavorian, Elissa Magnant, Lori Weeden, Hicham Naciri, Susu Wong, and Ming Shao shared insights on practical AI tools for early-stage startups, where these technologies create real value, and how founders can approach responsible and effective adoption.

As AI continues to shape the future of innovation, thoughtful implementation will be critical to ensuring these technologies support both business success and a more sustainable future.

Thank you to our panelists and everyone who joined us for an engaging discussion!