UNL's Office of Sustainability presents:

The Sustainability Scoop

Throughout January and February, the Office of Sustainability focused on the Research and Innovation theme of UNL’s Environment, Sustainability, and Resilience Master Plan. This theme aims to establish UNL as a leader in the creation of new knowledge and solving real-world problems related to sustainability and resilient systems. 

As an R1 institution, UNL is recognized for the very high level of research conducted by its faculty and students, much of which is focused on best practices for resilience in agriculture and sustainability. UNL reported in its last Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) submission that 34% of the departments that conduct research at UNL are engaged in research to promote sustainability. This commitment was integral to helping UNL achieve its recent Gold STARS rating. Prioritizing research and innovation in sustainability helps create solutions to mitigate climate change where possible, and adapt as needed. 

One of the ways UNL prioritizes sustainability-focused research is through stewardship of the Nine-Mile Prairie, which is located along the Northwest edge of the City of Lincoln. Research on this site began in the 1920s with the work of UNL Professor John E. Weaver 

Nine-Mile Prairie: 

• Spans 230 acres 
• Is owned by the University of Nebraska Foundation and managed by UNL 
• Serves as the home for over 390 plant species and 80 bird species 
• Remains one of the largest intact tracts of tallgrass prairie in the Midwest 

Nine-Mile Prairie was recently the subject of a short film directed by UNL alumnus Ethan Freese, which includes interviews that share perspectives from researchers, students, and Indigenous Americans. 

View Upcoming Events on the Office of Sustainability Calendar