Go To AIChE IFS Home IFS Log On Contacts Sitemap
 

Sustainability Education and Young People in Sustainability

The Institute for Sustainability (IfS) an American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Technological Community has partnered with SustainUS to form the Youth Council on Sustainable Science and Technology (YCOSST).  YCCOST's mission is to create an understanding about sustainability issues and principals, raise awareness of the science and technology behind sustainable choices, and develop grass root campus efforts. The organization is focused on promoting sustainability education in schools at all levels and encouraging the involvement of young people in sustainability careers, research, and organizations.

The activities of YCOSST include an active network of students and mentor partners from numerous disciplines---engineering, environmental science, chemistry, physics, social sciences—who work to implement sustainability concepts into undergraduate research projects and curriculum across disciplines and provide information of sustainability-related majors and careers. They are also interested in outreach activities to educate the public and youth on sustainability. IfS has also been involved  in the NSF curriculum development project, Active Chemistry where members have developed a new high school chemistry curriculum which includes sustainability concepts. 

YCOSST Goals:

  • Enhance the capacity of emerging students
  • Bolster existing educational infrastructures
  • Provide resources to fill existing gaps in sustainable science and technology curriculum
  • Utilize innovative organizational structure and national network to disseminate resources
  • Establish interdisciplinary connections between students, faculty, and administrators

Get Involved!

Your membership is crucial to the building of grassroots efforts that will influence curriculum and ultimately lead to the incorporation of sustainability concepts in all research.  Through our efforts we can foster graduates that understand the concepts of sustainability, embrace them, and bring them to all future endeavors. Students can become an active participant by emailing ifs@aiche.org for more information.

Students can also join the Sustainable Engineering Forum for $10 by contacting ifs@aiche.org. SEF Membership is free for active AIChE student members.