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The Schiller Institute for Integrated Science and Society brings together all members of our campus community to address society鈥檚 most challenging problems, particularly in the areas of energy, health, and the environment. Through interdisciplinary scholarship, initiatives, courses, and events, we enhance 艾可直播 College鈥檚 rich history of working across disciplines to develop new knowledge that makes a real-world impact.

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Program & Initiative Spotlight

艾可直播 Sustainability Competition

The 艾可直播 Sustainability Competition (ESC) challenges interdisciplinary teams of undergraduate students to propose solutions to a real sustainability problem posed by a department on campus. This year鈥檚 campus partner was the Office of Sustainability. The competition finals were held on March 28.

ESC is a collaborative program managed by the Schiller Institute, the Undergraduate Government of 艾可直播 College, and the Carroll School of Management. The campus partners in prior years were the Athletics Department and BC Dining.

Read about the ESC 2025 Competition

Research Spotlight

听The Middle East's First Comprehensive Carbon Budget

Schiller Core Faculty: Hanqin Tian

Hanqin Tian,听director of the Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability (CES3), is the corresponding author of the recently published article titled 鈥溾€�. The study produced the first comprehensive greenhouse gas assessment of 24 countries across the region. By combining state-of-the-art atmospheric and terrestrial models with national reporting systems, the study offers a rare full-spectrum look at emissions of CO鈧�, methane (CH鈧�), and nitrous oxide (N鈧侽) from 2000 to 2020.
Largest meeting of International Climate Modeling Conference held at 艾可直播 College

Schiller Core Faculty:听Yi Ming

Yi Ming, Institute Professor of Climate Science and Society and professor in Earth & Environmental Sciences, led the organization of the 2024 Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMiP) meeting. Climate scientists from around the world gathered at 艾可直播 College this summer to discuss clouds and cloud cover, one of the most complicated variables in predicting the course and effects of climate change. There were approximately 160 scientists in attendance 鈥� from physicists to environmental and atmospheric science to representatives from NASA, DOE, NOAA, and the European Space Agency.听听

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Chemistry Solutions Fueled by the Sun

Schiller Core Faculty:听Jier Huang

Jier Huang, the Institute鈥檚 professor focusing on renewable energy and sustainability and associate professor in Chemistry, is pioneering solar-powered photocatalysis to combat climate change. Inspired by photosynthesis, her work transforms carbon dioxide into less harmful gases and splits water molecules into hydrogen, a cleaner alternative to natural gas. Her research is funded by grants, including a $400,000 grant from the US Department of Energy, and advanced through interdisciplinary collaborations.听Dr. Huang鈥檚 innovative work reduces greenhouse gases and creates new renewable energy technologies.

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Schiller Institute Research Grants

The Schiller Institute offers two types of seed grants for BC faculty: Grants for Exploratory Collaborative Research (SI-GECS) and Grants for Research in Targeted and Emerging Areas (SI-RITEA). SI-GECS grants support collaborative, interdisciplinary projects between two or more 艾可直播members in the areas of energy, environment, and health. SI-RITEA grants support projects featuring the Global South and collaborations with US-based, non-academic partners. The Institute awarded grants to 12 projects for approximately $430,000 this year, which are described in the article below. The听SI-GECS听and听SI-RITEA听pages have all of the current and past projects.听

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New funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Liane Young

Building on a Schiller Institute grant, Professor of Psychology and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Liane Young and 5th-year graduate student Isaac Handley-Miner received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their project, Truth in the Age of Large Language Models. This research examines how people determine truth, whether AI models reach similar conclusions, and how they should evaluate truth in fields like science, law, and journalism.

Project Page
2023 Best Article Award Winner Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Shawn McGuffey

Professor of Sociology, former Director of African and African Diaspora Studies, and Schiller Faculty Affiliate C. Shawn McGuffey鈥檚 award-winning research examines Kentucky鈥檚 role in bell hooks鈥� Black feminist theorization. Using a feminist geographical framework, the study analyzes hooks鈥� memoir, poetry, and essays to explore homemaking, subjectivity, and the politics of location. Winner of the 2023 Best Article Award from the Southeastern Division of the American Association of Geographers.
Reflections on United Nations SDGs:
n.6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Schiller Core Faculty: Hanqin Tian

Hanqin Tian, Schiller Institute core 艾可直播and director of 艾可直播 College's Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, highlights the university's initiatives to advance Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. This article, coordinated by the Office of Global Engagement, is part of a larger conversation through the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SARCU).听
Award: Collaborative Research: Science and Information Integrity: Strategies for Rebuilding Trust in Science

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Mo Jones-Jang

Professor of Communication and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Mo Jones-Jang has received the NSF Science of Science Award (2024鈥�2027) for research on strengthening public trust in science. This project investigates how misinformation and current fact-checking approaches impact trust, developing evidence-based strategies for effective science communication in the post-truth era.
BC STEM educators guide Charles River Collaboratory project for underserved youth

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Avneet Hira

Professor of Human-Centered Engineering, Sabet Family Dean鈥檚 Faculty Fellow, and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Avneet Hira leads a NSF-funded Collaboratory project that provides underserved youth with hands-on STEM learning experiences. This initiative fosters creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills, helping students build confidence and envision futures in STEM fields.

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Co-chairing the 2nd Research Innovations in Sustainable Marketing Global Symposium

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Gergana Nenkov

Professor of Marketing and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Gernana Nenkov has been named a co-chair for the 2nd Research Innovations in Sustainable Marketing Global Symposium (RISM2025) in collaboration with the European Marketing Academy (EMAC). This premier event brings together global scholars and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge research and strategies for sustainable marketing.听
Chelsea Project Team visit the Harlem Children鈥檚 Zone听

Schiller Faculty Affiliate:听Rebecca Lowenhaupt

Schiller Affiliate Faculty member Rebecca Lowenhaupt and the Chelsea team are planning the next phases of their collaboration. As part of this effort, the team visited the Harlem Children鈥檚 Zone to continue planning the next steps for the partnership

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