Institute for Sustainability Engagement - EFC Region 2

10/12/2026

After a highly competitive application period, we are pleased to announce the 2026 SU Water Impact cohort! These undergraduate students demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and extracurricular performance. We are honored to have them on board this year. Please join us in celebrating our interns!

🎙️ Rose Costello, Junior, Communication and Rhetorical Studies
🏗️ Biran Darboe, Senior, Civil Engineering
🧩 Maia Keohane, Senior, Environmental Engineering
🗺️ Abby Taylor, Senior, Geography & Advertising (Environment, Sustainability & Policy)
🌎 Gabrielle Whyte-Ainsley, Senior, Environmental Geoscience

With the largest cohort yet, the SU Water Impact Internship (f.k.a. the SU Water Climate Challenge Fellowship) provides opportunities for SU students to lead 6-month science communication projects that tackle real-world challenges in Central New York watersheds!

A huge thank you to this year’s community partner, Otisco Lake Preservation Association, who will be mentoring this year’s cohort. Our five interns will support the Association’s public education and engagement efforts through data interpretation, video production, and outreach material development. Earlier this month, the cohort went out onto the water to learn the history of the lake and see the impacts of nutrient loading firsthand.

Stay tuned for more news from the SUWII to learn how our students are engaging the public on nutrient loading & eutrophication, septic system maintenance and other topics and initiatives!

💡 This initiative is collaboration with our university partners, Southwest Environmental Finance Center, Morgan State University, Arizona State University, and Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center, as well as the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN), connecting students with a national network of experts and peers across the country.

10/06/2026

Building the next generation of professionals starts with giving young people a chance to see the work firsthand. Through the Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) Future Water Leaders (FWL) program, our Environmental Finance Center (EFC) has been working alongside university and industry partners to connect high school students with paid, hands-on internship opportunities at water and wastewater utilities in NYS and across the country.



Our latest video takes a closer look at a FWL student internship at the Village of Minoa Wastewater Treatment Plant here in Central New York. Hear directly from the utility and a former student intern about what the experience looks like day-to-day and how internships like these can benefit both students and utilities. Watch the full video below to learn more!



▶️ Watch “Future Water Leaders: Water Utility Internships in Action” Here: https://efcnetwork.org/future-water-leaders-water-utility-internships-in-action/



💻 Learn more about Future Water Leaders and access career exploration resources for the water sector: https://efcnetwork.org/future-water-leaders/



👥 FWL is led by the Wichita State University Environmental Finance Center (EFC) in collaboration with the Syracuse University EFC based out of the Institute for Sustainability Engagement and the Southwest Environmental Finance Center at the University of New Mexico. This video was filmed and produced by Daylight Blue Media Group in partnership with the New York Water Environment Association - NYWEA. Thank you to everyone involved in the filming of this video!

Future Water Leaders (FWL) is a national workforce development prog...

10/02/2026

In September, our GREEN-PR stewards joined hundreds of students, educators, families, community organizations, and volunteers for International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) activities at 5 locations along the shoreline of Ponce, Puerto Rico: Playa Chencha, Punta Cucharas Natural Reserve, Costa 220–Solace Beach, La Guancha, and Playa Hilton.

At Playa Chencha, 311 volunteers collected over 80 bags of waste and marine debris. The following day, 115 volunteers also removed dozens of bags of solid waste including discarded household items and other bulky debris from the coastal and mangrove areas of Punta Cucharas Natural Reserve located in rural sector, El Tuque.

Combined with the related cleanups held throughout Ponce, the weekend’s efforts diverted nearly 10,000 pounds of solid waste and debris from coastal ecosystems.

We want to thank our GREEN-PR 2026 stewards for their participation: Christian Torres-Rivera, Alisha Torres-Fernández, and Luisiam Negrón-Rodríguez. Their involvement demonstrates how environmental-leadership training can translate into hands-on service for sustainable materials management through community engagement and ecosystem protection.

The activities were made possible through the collaboration of: Scuba Dogs Society Puerto Rico; local cleanup captains Prof. Nelva Pons and Prof. Alexandra Atiles-Castro; local community organizations Un Nuevo Amanecer, Inc. (UNA) and Reverdece y Educa tu Comunidad (OREC); the Municipality of Ponce; the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources; and local schools, universities, and community neighbors.

Beyond removing waste, these efforts are helping pass the baton of environmental stewardship to a new generation of leaders. Great work!

Learn more about the GREEN-PR Program here: https://www.prrecycles.org/green-pr-network.html

09/01/2026

💻 🛡️ Cyberattacks on water and wastewater systems are on the rise, and the weakest link isn't always the technology. Read this Environmental Finance Center Network (EFCN) blog by Jenelle Booker, Water Research & Engagement Associate, at our Environmental Finance Center to learn why building a culture of cyber awareness across your entire workforce is one of the most effective defenses your utility can have and discover three practical steps your system can take to get started.



📖 Read “Why Cyber Awareness Is One of Your Utility’s Strongest Defenses” Here: https://efcnetwork.org/why-cyber-awareness-is-one-of-your-utilitys-strongest-defenses/



🔗 For more multimedia, including podcasts, videos, blogs and more, visit: https://efcnetwork.org/multimedia/

08/25/2026

Could your community use a tool lending library, repair cafe, or other reuse project? Check out the new Community Reuse Grant through our partners at NYSAR3 and the Center for Sustainable Materials Management!

Awardees—including community groups, municipalities, businesses, and non-profits—can receive up to $5,000 to implement reuse initiatives in NYS communities.

To see full eligibility requirements and submit an application, click the link https://www.nysar3.org/page/community-reuse-grant-231.html. The deadline to submit is September 14th, 2026 11:59pm. Please help spread the word!

The Community Reuse Grant application is officially open!

Offered by NYSAR3 in partnership with CSMM, these grants are offered to community-based groups, municipalities, businesses, and non-profit organizations in New York State to support implementation of reuse initiatives in their communities.

This year, a total of $15,000 will be awarded, with each awardee receiving between $1,000 to $5,000.

The deadline to submit an application is September 14th, 2026. We hope to see your submissions!

For more information: https://www.nysar3.org/page/community-reuse-grant-231.html

08/24/2026

The Institute for Sustainability Engagement is excited to share that our Caribbean team proudly participated in “Washington Contigo,” an event organized by the Office of Puerto Rico’s Resident Commissioner, Pablo José Hernández Rivera, in the Municipality of Barceloneta, Puerto Rico.

The event brought together nonprofit organizations, municipal governments, federal agencies, and community partners to strengthen connections and bring federal resources and services closer to Puerto Rico’s communities.

Our team hosted an educational table alongside federal agencies including the U.S. Small Business Administration, United States Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Rural Development.

Francisco Alvarado Guzman and Eduardo Llegus-Santiago represented ISE at the event, providing guidance and information about our services, including SMM, water programming, and financing resources. Stephanie Anderson-Morales supervised.

With 100 people registered and peak attendance of approximately 50 participants at a time, our team was able to connect directly with 25 citizens, who received information and orientation on ISE’s programs and services.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success, and especially to Francisco and Eduardo for representing ISE and connecting with our communities!

08/20/2026

Our Environmental Finance Center looks forward to continuing to support small water systems nationwide through this important initiative! Read the full announcement below.

08/06/2026

Join the Institute for Sustainability Engagement (ISE) and the New York Center for Organics Recycling and Education (NYCORE) at Salt City Harvest Farm on September 16th from 1-4pm for a FREE, in-person workshop on how high-quality compost and biochar can improve soil health, nutrient management, and crop productivity.

Date: September 16th, 2026

Time: 1-4pm

Location: Salt City Harvest Farm, 449 Fyler Rd, Kirkville, NY 13082

Register here: tinyurl.com/CompostDemo26

Participants will learn about compost quality, practical insights for biochar use on farms, and watch a live compost/biochar application demonstration on the Salt City Harvest Farm. This demonstration is designed for NYS farmers and agricultural professionals.

Attendance is free, but registration is required. Scan the QR code or follow the link to register. We hope to see you there!

Questions? Email NYCORE Extension Associate, Jesse Kerns, at [email protected].

08/04/2026

Applications Now Open! SU Water Impact Internship 💧🌍 (Formerly known as SU Water Climate Challenge)

Are you an undergraduate SU student looking for a creative outlet to explore critical water issues in Central New York? Apply now for the SU Water Impact Internship—a paid internship and professional development program that blends science communication, skill development, and technical learning. This program invites students from diverse academic backgrounds to think critically about local water resources and craft compelling stories from scientific data.

Why Apply?
✔️ Lead impactful communication pieces that address local water issues and encourage community participation
✔️ Visit water treatment facilities, explore green infrastructure, and engage diverse community perspectives on water issues
✔️ Engage with experts in engineering, policy, and sustainability, building your professional skills and network
✔️ Be compensated for your contributions and build your resume
✔️ Estimated time commitment: 5-10 hours per week

This program is presented by the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University. In collaboration with the The University of New Mexico - UNM, the Environmental Finance Center Network, and other university partners, this initiative connects students with a national network of experts and peers across the country to tackle real-world challenges, exchange ideas, and learn from expert-led training sessions.

📅 Learn More and Apply by August 28 via Handshake: syr.joinhandshake.com/jobs/11266757

Questions? Contact Averi Davis, Program Manager, [email protected]

Syracuse University College of Engineering and Computer Science Syracuse University

07/29/2026

The Institute for Sustainability Engagement is proud to celebrate the 2026 graduation of our GREEN-PR Environmental Leadership Stewardship Program! 🌱🎓

GREEN-PR offers university students a unique semester-long opportunity to support the implementation of Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) projects across Puerto Rico while gaining meaningful, hands-on professional experience.

At this year's graduation, our stewards presented the impactful work they developed throughout the semester, showcasing innovative solutions and the lasting partnerships they helped build. Collectively, this year's cohort helped divert more than 3,000 pounds of recyclable materials through community recycling initiatives, removed well over 1,300 pounds of litter from Puerto Rico's coastlines, planted 497 mangrove trees to support coastal restoration, expanded composting and recycling programs, and engaged thousands of community members through environmental workshops, trainings, and outreach events. Their work demonstrates the meaningful impact that passionate young environmental leaders can have across the island.

One of the program's greatest strengths is its commitment to workforce development. Many participants continue their professional journeys with the organizations they collaborated with, turning their stewardship experience into career opportunities that strengthen Puerto Rico's sustainability sector. Following a media training workshop provided through the program, several stewards also had the opportunity to share their experiences through local radio programs and podcasts, helping amplify sustainability initiatives and inspire broader community engagement.

This year's cohort also reflected the incredible diversity of talent within GREEN-PR. From undergraduate and master's students to participants who began the program as doctoral students and completed it as officially graduated doctors, each steward brought unique perspectives, expertise, and passion to advancing sustainability in Puerto Rico. Their creativity was equally inspiring—from designing educational campaigns and strengthening student-led environmental initiatives to developing community sustainability projects. One steward even engineered a fully functional portable air compressor using discarded parts and reclaimed materials, demonstrating firsthand how innovation and circular economy principles can transform waste into valuable resources.

Congratulations to our 2026 GREEN-PR graduates! Your dedication, leadership, creativity, and commitment to creating a more sustainable future continue to inspire us. 💚

To learn more about the incredible projects our GREEN-PR Stewards completed this semester and the impact they made across Puerto Rico, click here: http://www.prrecycles.org/green-pr-network.html