The SSC aims to create and regularly update both public-facing and internal resources that support the MIT community in navigating and engaging with the campus sustainability space. Check out some of our resources in the dropdowns below, as well as our governing document at the bottom. The co-leads are always happy to chat with anyone—whether you’re a new student or are already involved, feel free to reach out to us with feedback, questions, or requests at ssc-leads@mit.edu. You can subscribe or unsubscribe to our general interest and announcements mailing list here.
Introductions to MIT’s Sustainability Space
The SSC Co-Leads are more than happy to chat one-on-one or in larger group/event settings with anyone who wants to learn more about how to engage with MIT’s sustainability space or to better understand student voices and perspectives on sustainability issues.
We often schedule coffee chats with new or returning undergraduate/graduate students about their sustainability interests and skillsets and how to get involved or expand their engagement in MIT’s sustainability space. We can make connections with student groups, academic programs, research, and professional opportunities that might be a good fit. Reach out to us at ssc-leads@mit.edu if you’re interested!
We have also been invited to speak or participate in larger group/event settings with students, staff, faculty, and alumni. Some of our engagements are highlighted below.
- MIT Advancement: All-Staff Meeting, April 2024
- MIT Alumni Association: A Conversation on Climate Action with Sally Kornbluth, March 2023
- Climate System Science and Engineering Symposium, September 2023
- MISTI Climate and Sustainability Pre-Departure Sessions, May 2023 and 2024
- PKG Social Impact Fair, Orientation and CPW events, and more
For an example of a recent presentation, see the slides from a MISTI Climate and Sustainability discussion below.
SustainBot (Beta)
We have created a beta pilot of an MIT sustainability chatbot, “SustainBot,” which can help answer questions about getting involved in the sustainability space on campus. Note that it is still in beta, and its responses are character-limited, so you may need to prompt multiple times for the chatbot to complete its response to your question. The tool is in beta and currently not in active development, so there may be errors. Please reach out to ssc-leads@mit.edu with feedback or if you’re interested in continuing development of the tool!
MIT Sustainability Contacts Database
There are many sustainability and sustainability-adjacent organizations on campus, including student-run groups for undergraduate and/or graduate students, Departments, Labs and Centers (DLCs), academic programs, and much more! We maintain a regularly updated database of contacts for many sustainability and sustainability-adjacent organizations on campus, which you can find in the spreadsheet below. If the preview doesn’t display, click on the button to access the spreadsheet in a new tab. Feel free to reach out to any of the organizations or contacts here, or to us to make an intro!
The database is typically updated twice per academic year—once near the beginning of the spring semester, once at the beginning of the fall semester.
Internal Mailing Lists
We maintain a set of internal, moderated @mit.edu mailing lists that reach all student sustainability groups, sustainability-related programs and centers, sustainability newsletters, contacts at undergraduate/graduate residences, and a general interest list of MIT community members. We regularly send updates about upcoming events and opportunities to this list. To add an event or opportunity or learn more about how to utilize these lists, see “Publicize” (this is generally restricted to MIT community members and affiliates only).
SSC Governing Documents
Our governing document is linked. We are supported by the MIT Climate Nucleus and recognized by the MIT Undergraduate Association and Graduate Student Council as student representatives on the Climate Nucleus or any future climate advisory or decisionmaking entity.