Sustainability Scholars

Our Sustainability Scholars have varying interests, majors and class years.

Each is placed with a private, public, or nonprofit community institution to focus on a discrete project during the summer, and we also meet as a group to discuss how individuals and institutions can move the needle at the community-scale on environmental issues, with a particular emphasis on climate change.

Learning Objectives

Through hands-on experience and dynamic group discussion, sustainability scholars gain unique knowledge and insight as well as applicable skills, including the following.

Urgency and agency to make positive change for the environment
Familiarity with systems thinking and several sustainability-related examples
Knowledge of key climate change drivers, impacts, and policies
Knowledge of Charlotte-area sustainability challenges, opportunities, and champions
First-hand experience with alternative transportation modes
Proficiency in specific tool(s) for measuring and/or engaging sustainability
Ability to identify advantages and barriers to community-scale sustainability action from the perspectives of individuals, private-sector, public-sector and nonprofit organizations

Real-World Projects, Hands-On Learning

Sustainability Scholars visiting indoor hydroponic lettuce growing

Group of Sustainability Scholars in front of city building

Sustainability Scholars building during a Lowes event

Sustainability Students Bee Keeping Status message on farm

sustainability scholars planting a garden

Sustainability Scholars with hardhats visiting a reservoir

Rusty Knox with Sustainability Scholars Rise N Ride w Rusty

Sustainability Scholars outside looking at map with an expert

Sustainability Scholars on a hike on a mountain

sustainability scholars at camp north end outside Bleu Barn

Sustainability Scholars at Albemarle Corporation in North Carolina

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My Davidson: A Student Blog

My Summer as a Sustainability Scholar

Jingyan Chi ’26 shares insights from his summer as a Sustainability Scholar working at Trane Technologies where he studied embodied carbon reduction and gained valuable professional experience.

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