Sustainability News

Hamilton students put their creativity and technical skills to the test during a 24-hour Hackathon held April 11-12, where they formed teams to design projects focusing on environmental sustainability. Top prize went to “MoveOn,” a digital platform aimed at reducing campus waste by making it easier for students to give away unwanted items.

The buzz of a GroupMe notification may become a Pavlovian response following the introduction of the Hungry Hamilton initiative, the Environmental Protection, Safety, and Sustainability Office’s (EPS&S) newest endeavor to reduce food waste on campus.

For Katie Veasey ’17, golf is all about the greens — and we’re not talking about the putting area. As a golf sustainability consultant at WM, formerly Waste Management, she works with some of professional golf’s biggest tournaments to make their events eco-friendlier by reducing waste and carbon emissions.

Winning a NESCAC championship requires a bit of travel, and climate action requires a bit of cooperation. Carson Hall ’26 and Ben Zimmerman ’26 understand this, and are doing something about it. On a Saturday in early September, the men’s hockey team planted over 50 trees in Utica. The initiative seeks to offset the emissions of athletics travel.

In an essay published in The Washington Post titled “Beyond disgust: How to get eaters to try insects or cultured meats,” Associate Professor of Philosophy Alexandra Plakias replied, “The answer depends in part on what foods Westerners can be persuaded to eat.”

Under the leadership of Director of Environmental Protection Safety and Sustainability Brian Hansen, a group of students helps Hamilton strive for a more sustainable campus, culture, and curriculum.

The Village of Clinton recently was certified as a Climate Smart Community through the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation (DEC) Climate Smart Communities Program, and Hamilton students and faculty played an integral role in helping Clinton achieve this distinction.

Two summers ago, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist Sara Soika and Director of Environmental Protection, Safety & Sustainability Brian Hansen had the pleasure of mentoring a handful of students — the summer sustainability interns — who quite literally changed the landscape on College Hill.

Ellie Sangree ’24 and Jesse Wexler ’24 have teamed up and combined their respective science and business acumen to revolutionize the future of clean water.

Midway through the second semester, Hamilton students continue to excel in the classroom, in academic competitions, and as student-athletes.