Programs and Centers Relating to Sustainability

The following centers and programs at Georgetown focus largely on environmental issues as a part of their mission, or contain a strong environmental sustainability component in their related work. Follow the links below to learn more about each program, and contact each directly for more information.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Engagement

Center for the Environment - The Center for the Environment (CFE)'s main goal is to provide an evolving forum for the discussion, dissemination, and awareness of environmental issues affecting all areas of scholarship, education, and service at Georgetown University. CFE engages students by supporting up to nine student internships each fall and spring semester. The Interns advise the CFE Director and help increase green awareness on campus through coordinating and participating in events and other activities. Additionally, the CFE awards small, competitive grants to GU students for ecological research and presentations at scientific meetings.

Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service - In order to advance justice and the common good, The Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service (CSJ) promotes and integrates community-based research, teaching and service by collaborating with diverse partners and communities. A variety of the programs that CSJ runs and the student initiatives they support contain an environmental sustainability component, such as environmental education for DC youth, local neighborhood clean-up activities, and environmental justice initiatives such as educating around cleaner burning stoves for rural villages in the developing world.

Program on Science in the Public Interest - Through a Fall and Spring Seminar, Internships, Congressional Visits, and national award-winning Student Projects, Georgetown University's Program on Science in the Public Interest (SPI) provides opportunities for students to engage with the government, industry, and the community on scientific issues that are shaping the nation and the world. SPI students examine challenges in fields such as the environment, energy, health and security. Click to read an article on SPI students' environmental legislative successes.

Faculty Research Initiatives

Georgetown Environment Initiative - This multi-campus effort, launched in November 2012, will advance the interdisciplinary study of the environment in relation to society and stewardship of natural resources. The initiative brings together leading researchers and academics, students, and university partners to help people better understand and interact with complex environmental issues.

Programs at the Georgetown Law Center

Georgetown Climate Center - The nonpartisan Georgetown Climate Center (GCC) seeks to advance effective climate policies in the United States - policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to climate change, and bridge the gap between climate and transportation planning. GCC works with state and federal officials, academics and an array of stakeholders to strengthen state and federal climate partnerships in the United States.

Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Program - The Georgetown Environmental Law and Policy Program (GELPP) facilitates and encourages synergy among the elements that have contributed to making Georgetown a national leader in environmental and land use law. GELPPs three main functions include maintaining an informational website about all aspects of environmental and land use law at Georgetown, organizing events and conferences, and promoting communication and mutual support between Georgetown faculty, students, and alumni working in the fields of environmental and land use law.

Programs at the McDonough School of Business

The Global Social Enterprise Initiative, a program in development at the McDonough School of Business (MSB), will encourage social value thinking, learning and activity. It will include a comprehensive curriculum, have extracurricular and experiential programs, and connect students, faculty, staff and alumni with professionals in the private, public, and social sectors. The purpose is to prepare future leaders to understand Social Enterprise as a critical component of business and other organizational strategy so that they may make responsible management decisions that emphasize long-term economic and social value creation. For more information, please contact Jennifer Walker in the MSB Dean's Office.

Know of a program at Georgetown that should be on this list? Contact the Program Coordinator for Sustainability.