We were pleased to hear that the University has finally hired a permanent Director of Sustainability after a year of searching for someone to fill the position. Having someone who can oversee sustainability projects, propose and implement ideas and coordinate initiatives is a necessity at this University.

The search for a new director of sustainability is continuing after a committee charged with the task of replacing Matt Malten did not find a qualified applicant. Malten resigned from his position last summer.

Five committees established by the administration have set benchmarks to help Washington University become a more sustainable institution through the coming decades. The committees, which started meeting at the beginning of the semester, are Energy & Climate, Buildings & Grounds, Dining Services, Transportation and Purchasing & Materials Management. Matt Malten, assistant vice chancellor for sustainability, [...]

Chancellor Mark Wrighton announced Tuesday that Washington University will be establishing a Consortium for Clean Coal Utilization, bringing University researchers together with industry leaders and government officials to make St. Louis a hub for clean coal research. The $12 million initiative is part of the University’s $60 million effort to “advance education and research related [...]

This summer, tornadoes ravaged the Midwest while hurricanes pounded the coasts. These storms are becoming more severe and frequent than they were in the past because of warmer temperatures.

Why is it that the University cannot become carbon neutral? Why is it that only some of the new buildings are LEED certified to the gold standard? And why is it that Vice Chancellor of Sustainability Matt Malten has been virtually invisible to students while he spent a year collecting data?