Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy

Our campus was honored to host an incredible lineup of leaders, including Lt. Gov. Driscoll, National Grid CEO John Pettigrew, National Grid NE President Lisa Wieland, and UMass President Marty Meehan. They were greeted by PhD student Alana Smith, creator of our on-campus food forest, and undergrad senior Ellen Bancroft, president of SSS, Eco-Rep Supervisor, and a student delegate at COP29 this year. During their visit, they enjoyed a lunch sourced entirely from Horne Family Farms, which was all grown locally and prepared by UML Dining. Their conversations were focused on forging partnerships to drive real change, discussing the unique collaboration between University of Massachusetts Lowell and National Grid to drive innovation and energy transition. The leaders also discussed how our university can play a pivotal role in supporting the Commonwealth’s ambition to be a global climate tech leader, emphasizing student engagement and employment in this crucial field. After lunch, they visited our North Campus energy labs to witness and learn about the innovative technologies we’re developing. The tour showcased the state-of-the-art facilities at UML, engaging with faculty members and students at the forefront of energy research. They saw firsthand how UMass Lowell is advancing in energy innovation and how our research is paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Always love celebrating the accomplishments of our faculty. Congrats Hunter Mack!

Change Chemistry, a coalition dedicated to accelerating the growth of green and sustainable chemistry solutions, is co-hosting a pair of events in Washington this week that you won't want to miss. On Wednesday, Change Chemistry, which is led by Joel Tickner at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, will host a congressional briefing on the three-year-old Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act. The briefing will outline emerging work across the federal government and private industry to build the sustainable chemistry sector. On hand will be a range of companies and reps from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), United States Department of Defense, USDA and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, which is required by the legislation to develop an approach for improved federal coordination of public and private sector activities supporting sustainable chemistry innovation. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eSzJYZcj Then on Thursday, Change Chemistry teams up with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), U.S. Department of Energy for an event titled "Scaling Sustainable Chemistry for Industry Transformation." The forum will feature a panel of thought leaders sizing up the needs and opportunities to accelerate sustainable chemistry innovation, commercialization, and adoption. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eyDZX6uj And more about Change Chemistry here: https://lnkd.in/ebxgxiUi

Congratulations to all the innovative companies who were awarded Massachusetts Technology Collaborative’s #Massachusetts #Manufacturing Innovation Initiative (M2I2) grants – especially MassCEC grantees AM Batteries , CapyBara Energy, Clean Crop Technologies, Inc., Mantel Capture, Multiscale Systems, SolaBlock, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Z-Polymers! These grants, totaling nearly $10.3 million, highlight the Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering #innovation and job creation in Massachusetts. We're proud to support these visionary companies alongside Mass Tech Collaborative, driving forward groundbreaking ideas that solve global challenges. Here's to a future of continued #climatetech innovation and growth in our manufacturing sector! Read more: bit.ly/3SmNNX2 📸 MassCEC CEO Emily Reichert on a recent tour of the labs at the University of Massachusetts Lowell speaking to Professor Juan Trelles.

Aya began college amid COVID-19, never imagining what she’d achieve. During her first year of virtual classes, she switched from civil engineering to Kennedy College of Sciences environmental science after a chat with Prof. Lori Weeden. By sophomore year, she was on campus, connecting with peers and studying abroad in Valencia, Spain, with Prof. Thomas Piñeros Shields. Aya interned for Valencia’s Climate Emergency Service, became a resident advisor her junior year, and later attended COP28 in Dubai. Going into her senior year, she landed a summer internship with the City of Everett, where she helped assess and evaluate tree conditions to mitigate the urban heat island effect. After graduating a semester early, she returned to Everett as an energy advocate intern. Now, Aya plans to pursue a master’s in urban and environmental policy at Tufts. "UMass Lowell was great. I don’t think I would have done so much or even considered this path for myself without the university," she says. To read more about Aya’s University of Massachusetts Lowell journey, visit https://lnkd.in/e6GNGg7w

Aya Oulal ’23 thrived despite starting college during the COVID-19 pandemic. Switching from civil engineering to environmental science, she studied abroad in Spain, interned in Everett, and attended COP28 in Dubai. Now, she's heading to Tufts for a master's in urban and environmental policy. #UMassLowell #StudentSuccess https://lnkd.in/e6GNGg7w

We are excited to invite you to "Convening the Climatetech Community" on Tuesday, July 16th, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub. Join us to network with founders, investors, and experts in climate tech! Learn about the MA Climatetech Studio while connecting with key players in the expanding climate tech ecosystem. The MA Climatetech Studio is a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center sponsored program that matches participants with team members, cutting-edge technologies, mentors, and advisors during an intensive 16-week program cohort. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just curious about climate tech, this event is open to all and is your gateway to innovation. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/gefSTS8V

Manning School of Business, UMass Lowell alum Sean Harrington ’97, a former All-American wrestler who coached at various institutions (and even opened his own gym!), has turned his passion for trees into furniture making. Harrington started Wolf Tree Wood by crafting stunning furniture from historic trees, such as a 201-year-old sugar maple that could have served Union soldiers! He even blends science and craftsmanship by partnering with University of Massachusetts Lowell students and Prof. Joy Winbourne to study old-growth trees’ DNA, uncovering environmental history. “I can’t tell you how enjoyable and rewarding it has been to work with athletic programs, share advice, and learn about different aspects of the university,” says Harrington.

Always a pleasure to welcome our colleagues from Queen's University Belfast. We had insightful discussions with Michael Alcorn and David Rooney on sustainability, urban agriculture, and renewable energy research. Excited for the future of our on-going collaboration!

The Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy at University of Massachusetts Lowell is seeking a Director of Sustainability. Are you passionate about sustainability and ready to make a real impact? We're looking for a dynamic leader to drive our sustainability initiatives, engage with students, secure grant funding through key partnerships, and lead community engagement efforts.