The Sustainability Institute is excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 Sustainability Research Seed Grant program. SI awarded over $300,000 in funding to 12 faculty-led team projects focused on advancing interdisciplinary knowledge and solutions in SI’s priority areas of AI, circular economy, climate adaptation, energy, health communities, and water. 

Half of the awarded projects this year are deeply embedded in Ohio communities, reflecting SI’s focus on advancing transdisciplinary research and place-based solutions to local sustainability and resilience challenges. Topics range from addressing climate vulnerabilities and health impacts to innovations in resilient agricultural production, sustainable forest management, and harmful algal bloom monitoring.  

“By integrating external partners and community-based knowledge into the research process, these projects are better positioned to address real-world sustainability challenges and their societal impacts, particularly as communities across Ohio and elsewhere confront increasing climate risks” said Charlene Brenner, SI’s Research Development Partnerships Senior Analyst. 

The Department of Art would like to congratulate Associate Professor Amy Youngs and Living Art And Ecology Lab Specialist Emma Kline for their upcoming work on the project Earth Mother – Indigenous Latin America and Sustainable Environments.

This project pairs interdisciplinary faculty and staff in humanities, social and environmental sciences at Ohio State with community partners in Amazonia and highland Ecuador in an intercultural, transdisciplinary collaboration supporting community initiatives in reforestation, biodiversity resilience, sustainable water systems, education and cultural knowledge and livelihoods connected to the land.

Full Research Team: Michelle Wibbelsman, Associate Professor, Spanish and Portuguese; Bryan Mark, Professor, Geography/Byrd; Jo Peacock, Assistant Professor, SENR; Amy Youngs, Associate Professor, Art; Emma Kline, Lab Specialist, Art; Maria Jose Iturralds and Daniel Bryan with Pachaysana Foundation (external)