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When we think about our mission at the University of Kentucky—to improve the lives of Kentuckians and beyond—environmental stewardship and sustainability are core parts of our legacy. We believe in creating a campus—and a world—that is healthy, fair, and built to last. We're committed to integrating sustainability into our curriculum, research, outreach, and daily operations, so that our students and community are prepared to lead toward a more sustainable future.

Celebrating our trees: University of Kentucky awarded Tree Campus Higher Education honor for 15th consecutive year

Since the University of Kentucky was founded in 1865, our campus landscape has been an important part of who we are and how our community engages with the campus. This year, UK received its 15th consecutive Tree Campus Higher Education recognition in honor of high levels of attention in the care of our campus canopy. 

Product design student transforms red oak tree into functional work bar

Chase Lobaldo, 3rd year product design student, was working in the Fabrication Lab at the University of Kentucky’s College of Design, when the Office of Sustainability approached him with a clear goal in mind: create a multi-person workspace where students, employees, and visitors can work and conversate in front of the large glass windows overlooking the intersection of S Limestone and S Upper.

New SAVS courses prioritize sustainable materials for studio practices

The University of Kentucky’s School of Art and Visual Studies (SAVS) is reimagining what an art studio can be. Two courses, Healthy Materials Lab and Digital Matrix Modeling, led by fabrication lab specialist Hannah Smith and professor Jonathan McFadden last fall, aimed to eliminate toxic materials from studio practices and introduce students to safer, recycled, and biodegradable alternatives.  

Mathews Garden Work Day

Help us remove invasive plants from UK's Mathews Garden  March 23rd, 3:00 - 4:15 PM. Contact Kenton Sena for additional questions: kenton.sena@uky.edu RSVP on BBinvolved 

Microplastic Madness Film Screening

Community members are invited to a free screening of the documentary Microplastic Madness, an optimistic take on the plastic pollution crisis as told through the eyes of a group of school children. Common Threads LEX, a new sustainability-focused partnership between the City of Lexington, the University of Kentucky and Fayette County Public Schools, is hosting the screening. This is Common Threads LEX’s inaugural event. 

An Evening with Robin Greenfield Foraging 100% of My Food for a Year!

For one year, Robin Greenfield is foraging every bite of his food and medicine. A year without grocery stores, restaurants, pharmacies or even a garden. “Nature” is his garden! Is it possible to eat in harmony with Earth and live in reciprocity? Robin wholeheartedly believes so and is putting this love and devotion for Earth into bold action as he harvests the food and medicine that is growing freely and abundantly all around us.

Mathews Garden Work Day

Help us remove invasive plants from UK's Mathews Garden!  March 30, 3:00 - 4:15 PM. Contact Kenton Sena for additional questions: kenton.sena@uky.edu. Register via BBinvolved