Institute for Sustainability Engagement - EFC Region 2

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

07/27/2026

We're excited to share that the Institute for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University has been awarded a $40,000 Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program grant for “Sewer-Ready Sodus Bay: Centering Community Voices to Advance Clean Water Solutions in Huron, NY” by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and New York Sea Grant.

Through our Environmental Finance Center, we're partnering with the Town of Huron and neighboring shoreline communities to engage residents in identifying practical, long-term solutions to address failing septic systems and reduce nutrient and pathogen loading in Lake Ontario's Great Sodus Bay while advancing the goals of the Great Lakes Action Agenda.

We're grateful for this opportunity and look forward to working alongside our local partners and community members over the next 18 months!

Learn more and browse the full list of projects here:

NYSDEC and New York Sea Grant (NYSG) announced $191,960 in grants for five Great Lakes basin projects.

07/15/2026

🚰 Have you heard of drinking water backflow prevention? According to the Watts Water Technologies 2025 Backflow Awareness Survey, most people haven’t. Read this Environmental Finance Center Network blog by Zoë Eisel, Project Assistant at our Environmental Finance Center to learn what backflow is, why community engagement is critical to prevention efforts, and how municipalities and utilities can help close the awareness gap.

📖 Read “The Case for Community Engagement in Backflow Prevention: Insights From the Watts 2025 Survey” Here: https://efcnetwork.org/the-case-for-community-engagement-in-backflow-prevention-insights-from-the-watts-2025-survey/



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

07/13/2026

In the late 1980s, the era of open dumping gave way to a generation of leaders investing in new landfills, transfer stations, waste-to-energy, recycling, and composting facilities. Forty years later, a new generation faces the same questions of investment and technology as aging infrastructure gives way to the future.

How do we move forward?

As part of this next generation, our team is exploring sustainability through a holistic approach, recognizing all the pieces — from citizen to community to larger institutions — working together to achieve mutual benefit and shared goals.

At the 6th Annual Larry Swanson's 2026 Solid Waste Symposium held at Suffolk County Community College, our Director Melissa Young shared how students, faculty, and community partners can collaborate on initiatives related to waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and community sustainability in an interconnected way, bridging the gap between research, education, and implementation and strengthening the role of higher education as a driver of sustainability impact.

This event was co-sponsored by the Evan R. Liblit Memorial Scholarship Committee, the Suffolk County Executive’s Office, and the Waste Reduction and Management Institute at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences.