We all have a role to play in addressing today’s sustainability challenges. As a Penn Stater, it’s in “our nature” to work collaboratively towards these much-needed solutions. Nittany Lions have a long history of positive climate impact and “Our Nature” chronicles trustworthy environmental news, stories, and perspectives from throughout the Penn State community.
Hear firsthand how faculty, staff, alumni, and students are making an impact each day, what their successes and challenges have been, and what’s fueling their passion for progress. By following these stories or submitting your own, we hope you’ll find inspiration and hope for our shared sustainable future.
Both our choices and our voices are powerful tools that can be leveraged to improve conditions for our planet, wildlife, and selves.
A Day in the Life: Observations from Abroad, Matias Moreno
Upon my arrival in Singapore, outside of the jetlag after a 30-hour travel, I was greeted by a tell-tale sign that I was in Southeast Asia – rain, and a lot of it. I happily welcomed this, however. Since I had been used to cold, dry weather back in the United States; it was nice to have a change in scenery. I was on the tail-end of the monsoon season, so I knew it wouldn’t be long before sunny days. [...]
A Day in the Life: Observations from Abroad, Ellie Brown
The Global Sustainability Scholars program, managed by Penn State Global and Penn State Sustainability, selects 10-15 students annually who will use their study abroad experience to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Scholars engage with the sustainability community at Penn State before departure, build global sustainability knowledge abroad, and apply these skills upon return. Applications are due in mid-September each year; please check the website for details! Growing up, I always knew I wanted to travel the world and study abroad. However, [...]
A Day in the Life: Observations from Abroad, Hannah Gadpaille
The Global Sustainability Scholars program, managed by Penn State Global and Penn State Sustainability, selects 10-15 students annually who will use their study abroad experience to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Scholars engage with the sustainability community at Penn State before departure, build global sustainability knowledge abroad, and apply these skills upon return. Applications are due in mid-September each year; please check the website for details! During my time in Masai Mara, Kenya, I witnessed the amazing connection between the Maasai [...]
Hannah Gadpaille, Sustainability Scholar: Pre-departure Blog – Kenya
The Global Sustainability Scholars program, managed by Penn State Global and Penn State Sustainability, selects 10-15 students annually who will use their study abroad experience to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Scholars engage with the sustainability community at Penn State before departure, build global sustainability knowledge abroad, and apply these skills upon return. Applications are due in mid-September each year; please check the website for details! As I prepare for my upcoming journey to Kenya's Masai Mara, I am filled with [...]
Matias Moreno, Sustainability Scholar: Pre Departure Blog – Singapore
Diving into Belize’s haunting reefs, I felt the weight of environmental responsibility settle on me like never before. In the spring of 2024, I joined an embedded study abroad program in Belize that exposed me to the stark realities of climate change. Diving down to reefs that should have been teeming with life, I instead saw bleached corals, barren and pale, where vibrant ecosystems once thrived. This landscape left a profound impact on me, activating a sense of responsibility to [...]
Hannah Kline, Sustainability Scholar
The Penn State Global Sustainability Scholars program is a competitive scholarship program managed by Penn State Global in partnership with Penn State Sustainability. Each fall, a cohort of 10-15 students is selected who are eager to use their education abroad experience in the coming year to develop the skills and knowledge they need to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). These students commit to meaningful engagement with the sustainability community at Penn State before departure, building global sustainability [...]
