Academic Programs and Research
The University provost has signaled her support of an academic focus on sustainability by creating a Provost’s Fellowship in Sustainability, to be funded through her office. The Fellow will work with her to connect UF’s rich and diverse current course and research offerings to create a dedicated course of study in sustainability.
A review of the current programs at the University reveals a large number of centers and institutes that address one or more of the dimensions of sustainability directly, often as the core of their mission. Examples of some of the centers that address issues of environmental, economic and social sustainability include the Water Institute, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity, and the Florida Institute for Sustainable Energy.
Beyond research efforts, talented and committed undergraduate students are the great strength and pride of the University of Florida. Over the past decade, committed faculty members have introduced students to sustainability in a variety of ways, including semester-long lecture series. The first several series, entitled “Conversations in Sustainability” fostered interest in and knowledge about sustainability. In 2005 the series was formalized as an interdisciplinary undergraduate class entitled “Facets of Sustainability.” UF currently offers more than 100 courses, 10 academic programs, and 23 Centers that emphasize a thread of sustainability.
