February 2026

Register for the Intermountain Sustainability Summit

The Intermountain Sustainability Summit (ISS) is just around the corner! Hosted by Weber State University’s Sustainability Practices and Research Center (SPARC), this two-day event is a dynamic gathering for sustainability-minded professionals and emerging leaders representing areas of higher education, business, government and non-profit sectors. The ISS is a great opportunity to connect with peers and those implementing climate solutions from across Utah and neighboring states. 

The public is welcome to register for the ISS here, and WSU faculty, staff, and students can register here.

The main day takes place on Thursday, March 19, featuring keynote speakers, and more than 50 presenters hosting sessions on a variety of topics, such as: 

  • Sustaining Your Work, Sustaining Yourself: Tools for Personal and Professional Resilience
  • Building Resilience Through Connection: A Student Sustainability Networking Session, and
  • Load Shifting, Grid Service and Backup Power – The Weber State Microgrid. 

See the full schedule here. 

Throughout the day, attendees can take part in networking opportunities, explore the Eco Expo showcasing sustainability-focused businesses and organizations, and vote on students’ work at the Student Poster Contest. Dedicated student networking sessions, including a student-focused lunch (for those with scholarships or paid registration) networking opportunity, will also be offered. 

The following Friday, March 20, includes a series of in-depth workshops:

  • Cutting Energy Waste: Strategies and Tools for Industrial Systems (1st Session/Instruction)
  • Cutting Energy Waste: Strategies and Tools for Industrial Systems (2nd Session/Tour)
  • The ‘How To’ of Resilience Hubs
  • Building on a Resilient Foundation: Completing LEED v5 Resilience Assessments With What You Already Have 

Submit Your Research for the Student Poster Contest

All students and recent graduates are encouraged to submit their research or project posters related to sustainability for the 17th annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit (ISS). 

Topics may include:  

  • Sustainability Research (Undergraduate or Graduate)
  • Green Design
  • Sustainability in Action
  • Sustainability Education
  • Sustainability in Creative Arts & Humanities

Submissions close on February 17, 2026.
 
All applicants will be notified of acceptance by February 26, 2026. Students whose posters are selected to be a part of the event will receive free registration (for up to two poster authors) and be entered to win prizes. Learn more information here.

Teach Sustainability? Apply for the SUS Attribute 

Faculty, if you teach a class that connects with sustainability or would like to, you are encouraged to apply for the Sustainability (SUS) Course Attribute. All disciplines, perspectives, and skills are needed to address our collective sustainability challenges and improve life for all. Currently, 63% of WSU departments offer one or more SUS classes. Is your department one of them?

Applications for Summer or Fall 2026 courses are due March 1. The application involves two steps: preparing your syllabus to include the required SUS elements and completing the HIEE attribute form (used for all course attributes, e.g., CEL, SUS, CRE). Approved courses may retain the SUS attribute for five years before renewal. Two SUS help sessions are open to faculty interested in learning more about SUS or wanting assistance with their application. Join one or more sessions: 

Wednesday, February 25, 1:00-2:00 pm, via Zoom
Thursday, February 26, 10:30-11:30 am, via Zoom

A SUS course can cover various topics and approaches within sustainability's intersecting environmental, social, and economic aspects. The SUS attribute signals to students that the course includes sustainability-focused learning outcomes. These courses help students develop a meaningful understanding of sustainability and provide tools to create positive change on local and global scales. The attribute also helps students find relevant courses during registration.

For questions or more information, contact the SUS Attribute Committee Chair, Alice Mulder, at amulder@weber.edu.

STAR Grant Research: Great Salt Lake Water Conservation Program 

Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a significant natural and cultural resource in Utah, supporting wildlife habitat, mineral and brine shrimp industries, recreation, and regional air quality. Increasing water diversions (65% for agricultural use and 26% for municipal/industrial uses), along with climate-related pressures, have contributed to declining lake levels. Addressing these declines and maintaining healthy lake levels will require sustained investment in water conservation, raising the question of whether Utah households are willing to contribute financially to such efforts.

With support from a STAR Grant, a research team led by Dr. Matt Gnagey and Dr. Therese Cavlovic (Weber State University), in collaboration with Dr. Robert P. Berrens (University of New Mexico), Dr. Carie Frantz (Weber State University), Kenneth Bramwell and Nicholas Howard, conducted a statewide survey of 1,050 Utah residents to estimate household willingness to pay for a Great Salt Lake water conservation program. The study employed an advisory referendum framework designed to reflect real-world policy decisions, asking respondents whether they would support a conservation program at a specified annual cost, funded either through household water bills or state income taxes.

The results indicate broad public support for conservation efforts. Using conservative estimation methods, the analysis finds that, on average, each Utah household would be willing to pay approximately $40 per year to support programs aimed at maintaining lake levels. When less restrictive assumptions are applied, estimated willingness to pay increases to roughly $110–$160 per household per year. Support levels were similar across the two payment mechanisms, suggesting flexibility in potential funding approaches.

These estimates are consistent with independent assessments of the annual costs associated with incentivizing agricultural water conservation, which is widely considered an important strategy for stabilizing lake levels. The findings suggest that household support could be sufficient to fund meaningful conservation initiatives.
Overall, the study provides policy-relevant evidence that Utah residents place value on the Great Salt Lake and are willing to contribute financially to its protection. 

Dr. Cavlovic will be presenting on this project at the Sustainability Snapshots event on Tuesday, February, 17 at 1:30 p.m. in the Hetzel-Hoellein room in Stewart Library, LI-321.

STAR Grants for Faculty - Call for Proposals 

SPARC is seeking proposals for faculty-led research and practices that foster engagement with sustainability at Weber State, to receive a Sustainability Teaching, Application, and Research (STAR) Grant. Projects should broadly connect environmental and socioeconomic aspects of sustainability. They may include direct action to solve sustainability problems, developing new educational experiences, outreach/communication spreading sustainability awareness, or research that furthers knowledge or technical solutions. Engagement with students and/or community is encouraged.
 
Proposals should be submitted to heatherroot@weber.edu by Friday, February 27. They should be 2-3 pages and include a clear statement of the project goals, impacts, student/community engagement, budget, timeline, and plans for dissemination of results. Projects may be funded for up to $5,000 (or potentially up to $10,000 for high-impact, collaborative projects). Please be sure to detail any matching funds that may be available to support your work. Each year, a total of $20,000 is available for funding grants. In addition to discipline-specific dissemination of results, projects funded by the STAR Grant are expected to be shared at the Research and Engagement Symposium, the faculty Thrive Symposium, or the Intermountain Sustainability Summit. We anticipate future calls for proposals in Fall 2026.

Earth Science and Society Spring Seminar Series 

Explore the future of energy in Utah from an Earth science perspective in Dr. Carie Frantz’s Earth Science and Society Spring Seminar Series. Hosted by Weber State University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, this series will incorporate case studies, readings, presentations, and seminar-style discussions. 

These public lectures take place on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Tracy Hall Science Center, Room 426, followed by student workshops and discussions from 12-12:40 pm.

Sessions for February include: 

  • The role of nuclear in deep decarbonization | Friday, February 6
  • Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) | Friday, February 13
  • Key questions to ask about nuclear energy | Friday, February 20
  • Water use & impacts | Friday, February 27

Upcoming Career Exploration Panel 

Students, are you curious about careers in sustainability? This event is for you! 
Join the Career Exploration Panel to hear from professionals who are actively working to build a more sustainable world. 

Date: February 12
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. 
Location: Stewart Library Room 321

The panel brings together professionals from a wide range of fields: Creed McCord, Program Engineer at the University of Utah’s Industrial Training and Assessment Center; Lauren Smith, Sustainability Director at 3form; Abbey Soukup, Water Quality Extension Program Coordinator at Utah State University Extension; and Tade Wilson, GIS Specialist in Salt Lake County’s Flood Control Engineering Division. Learn how their careers drive positive environmental and social impact, and engage with them during a Q&A and networking session following the discussion.

All are welcome to attend!

A second Career Exploration Panel will be held April 2 at noon, during Climate Justice Education Week. 

Plant Powered Food Tasting 

Students are invited to attend the Plant Powered Food Tasting, hosted by the Food Recovery Network (FRN)!

Date: Wednesday, March 11
Time: 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Shepherd Union Atrium

This event offers an opportunity to explore how plant-based eating can be delicious, accessible and nutritious. Attendees can sample free plant-based dishes, from savory options to sweet treats. Raffle drawings will take place throughout the event, giving participants a chance to win fun prizes while enjoying the food and getting to know the community. Discover how incorporating more plant-based meals can be an easy way to reduce environmental impact! The focus is on exploration rather than perfection, encouraging students to find options that work for their own lifestyles.

The event is free, open to all students, and does not require registration. Volunteer, or learn more here.

Green Badge Program Update

Participate in the Green Badge Program and start earning your badges today! 

January's green badge will help you explore
“Education & Outreach” 

The Green Badge program can help you care for the planet and yourself. The program offers well-researched ways to learn about sustainability topics.
As one of January’s participants shared regarding one of the prerequisite videos, 
“In "Food Waste: The Hidden Cost of the Food We Throw Out," I was a little surprised by the impact of food waste. I knew we wasted a lot and I was aware of some of the ways this can impact climate (such as green waste going to landfills), but it was interesting to learn the stats on land and water waste. Learning the different ways we can reduce food waste makes sense at all levels; I think we could farm more responsibly, especially when it comes to producing within season and within ideal areas and stores can be more responsible for cycling and monitoring products. However, I had no idea about the storage aspect and how access to proper storage could reduce so much waste.”

Does Your Department Have a Green Team? 

Form a Green Team today! 

The Green Department Program is for faculty and staff to learn ways to make their departments or offices more sustainable. Green Teams work together to earn points and recognition by implementing change and taking actions outlined in a Green Team checklist. 

Updates: The Study Abroad Office and International Student and Scholar Center have combined to create a new Green Team, the Office of International Programs!

V4.0 has been postponed until department and office changes settle down.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

Earth Science and Society Seminar Series: The role of nuclear in deep decarbonization
Tracy Hall, Room 426
Friday, February 6
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more

Zero Waste Athletics - WSU vs Northern Arizona
Stewart Stadium
Saturday, February 7
6:30 - 9:45 p.m.
Register here

Career Exploration Panel
Hetzel-Hoellein room in Stewart Library, LI-32
Thursday, February 12
12 - 1:30 p.m.
Learn more

Earth Science and Society Seminar Series: Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs)
Tracy Hall, Room 426
Friday, February 13
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more

Sustainability Snapshots with SPARC: Education & Outreach
Hetzel-Hoellein room in Stewart Library, LI-321
Tuesday, February 17
1:30 – 2:45 p.m.
Learn more

Food Committee Meeting
Shepherd Union Building, Room 331
Wednesday, February 18
1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Learn more

Environmental Ambassadors Club Meeting: Basketball Game
Dee Events Center East Entrance
Thursday, February 19
7 p.m.
Register here

Earth Science and Society Seminar Series: Key questions to ask about nuclear energy
Tracy Hall, Room 426
Friday, February 20
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more

Zero Waste Athletics - WSU vs Montana
Stewart Stadium
Saturday, February 21
6:30 - 9:45 p.m.
Register here

SUS Drop-in Help Sessions on Zoom
Wednesday, February 25 at 1-2 p.m | Learn more
Thursday, February 26 at 10:30- 11:30 a.m. | Learn more

Earth Science and Society Seminar Series: Water use & impacts
Tracy Hall, Room 426
Friday, February 27
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Learn more

Food Recoveries
Einstein Bros Bagels, Shepherd Union Building
Mondays
1 – 2:15 p.m.
Volunteer here

Environmental Ambassadors Club Tabling
The Shepherd Union Building
Wednesdays
10 - 11 a.m.
Learn more

Thrifted Thursdays
The Shepherd Union Atrium
Thursdays
1 - 2 p.m.
Learn more

News & Resources

Can this Sundance film help save the Great Salt Lake? Cox, lake experts hope so | Utah News Dispatch

Climate Change in the American Mind: Beliefs & Attitudes | YALE 

The most important thing you can do to fight climate change: talk about it | Katharine Hayhoe

Bill to force data centers to publicly disclose water use advances | Utah News Dispatch 

Utah shattered 91-year-old temperature record, other records in 2025 | KSL.com