Join us!
About Us
The GSC Sustainability Subcommittee (GSCSS) is a gathering point for climate-conscious, action-driven students to collaborate on implementing sustainable practices on the MIT campus. We collaborate with other student groups and Institute partners across campus to educate, inspire, and engage students in sustainability and advance MIT’s greater Climate Action goals.
The 2019-2020 Sustainability Chairs are Marlis Denk-Lobnig and Junli Hao. If you have any questions, they can be reached at gsc-sustainability@mit.edu.
How to Join
Sign up and get involved by adding your email here. You will receive notifications about our monthly meetings and volunteer opportunities. At our group meetings, which are held in 50-220 (GSC Office above Muddy Charles Pub), we discuss our ongoing projects and plan new projects and events. New members are always welcome, and graduate dorm sustainability chairs are especially encouraged to attend. A free meal is provided, and we encourage you to bring your own plates & utensils.
Share Your Ideas
Have ideas to share with GSC Sustainability? The best way to do so is to join us at one of our monthly meetings. You can also submit suggestions to us at any time with this GSC Sustainability Suggestion Form.
Apply for the GSC Sustainability Fund
The GSC Sustainability Fund offers financial support for sustainability-related projects directed at MIT graduate students. The application and more detailed guidelines can be found here.
Applicants must be current MIT graduate students, who may apply individually or on behalf of a student group. Sustainability Fund applications are accepted all year long on a rolling cycle, though it is generally advisable to apply at least three weeks prior to your proposed event/project start date. Funding is typically in the amount of $0-$1000, though exceptions may be made for projects that impact a large portion of the graduate student body. Previously-funded projects include sustainability speaker events, recycling facility tours, composting programs at graduate dorms, community garden spaces, and more.
Please direct any questions to gsc-sustainability-fund@mit.edu.
Become a Sustainability Leader
Interested in becoming a GSC Sustainability chair? You can Apply to be a Sustainability Chair here. Two co-chairs are elected each May for the following academic year. Co-chairs are responsible for leading meetings, overseeing projects, and managing the Sustainability Fund.
Current Projects
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Development of Online Sustainability Training Courses:
We have been developing a series of online sustainability training courses focused around key topics like recycling/waste disposal and actions for reducing energy consumption and waste production in the laboratories. Two courses in the series, Responsible Waste Disposal Practices and How to be a Green Lab at MIT, are now available on the Atlas Learning Center.
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Reusable Revolution:
We are spearheading the Reusable Revolution, a series of initiatives aimed at creating a culture of reuse at and beyond MIT. Recent projects have included instituting a Green Line at GSC free-food events for students bringing their own utensils/food containers, a proposal with MIT’s dining vendor to offer reusable bamboo utensils at an affordable price, and negotiations with La Verde’s market in the Student Center for the offering of collapsible food containers and bamboo utensils.
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Expansion of Trash2Treasure to Graduate Residence Halls:
We have teamed up with UA Sustainability to expand their Trash2Treasure program to Tang Hall, a mixed undergrad and grad residence hall. We are looking to expand the program further to Sidney-Pacific and Westgate.
Other Initiatives:
- Increasing availability to high-quality reusables on-campus
- Designing activities and a social media campaign for MIT One Sustainable World dance party
- Leading games and activities for families at annual Earth Day Celebration
- Reducing waste at orientation and MIT events
- Green Events Guide
- Advancing compost collection, recycling
- Reducing waste in graduate dorms and on campus
- Student Center sustainability
- Lectures and film screening
Resources
- Responsible Waste Disposal Practices
- What can be recycled at MIT?
- Reuse mailing list at MIT
- Choose to Reuse – every third Thursday
- MIT Furniture Exchange
GSC Sustainability Partners:
- MIT Office of Sustainability (MITOS)
- MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI)
- MIT Climate Action Advisory Committee (CAAC)
- MIT Department of Facilities
- UA Sustainability
- Sloan Sustainability
- Fossil Free MIT
- MIT Water Club
- MIT Waste Alliance
- Working Green at MIT
- MIT Food & Agriculture Club
Non-MIT Resources
Past GSC Sustainability Chairs:
2018-19: Clint Ko & Julien Barber
2017-18: Collin Perkinson & Julien Barber
2016-17: Abigail Regitsky & Nicole Moody
2015-16: Alex Tinguely & Josh Hester
2014-15: Cherry Gao & Becky Romatoski
Contact Us
Questions? Email us at gsc-sustainability@mit.edu to find out more information or share your ideas!
You can also stay up to date by joining the mailing list.
