New Tree ID Tags on Campus

With installation help from Operations and Maintenance, the Office of Sustainability has deployed tree identification signs around campus for 30 different species of trees. These signs serve an educational purpose for passers-by and help the university fulfill one of the requirements for becoming a Level I certified arboretum through ArbNet.

UMB Launches Center for Climate Health and Entrepreneurship

The University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies will establish the Center for Climate Health and Entrepreneurship (CCHE) following a grant from TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies. The award, part of the Baltimore Innovation Initiative pilot program, will create UMB's first hub dedicated to advancing climate and health entrepreneurship in Maryland.

Learn more about the new center in The Elm.

Collaborative Facilities Project Finishes Replacing Over 58,000 Light Bulbs

The campuswide project to upgrade lighting to LED bulbs and fixtures is now complete. Through a partnership among multiple units within Administration & Finance, the nearly four-year-long project is now finished, having converted over 58,000 light bulbs to highly efficient LEDs. This project is estimated to save 5,300,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 817 passenger vehicles being driven for one year.

Learn more about the project in The Elm.

December SustainabiliTea Session

Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 9 a.m.

Microsoft Teams

The Office of Sustainability will be hosting our September open office hour virtually via Microsoft Teams. Stop by to say hello, ask questions, or share ideas. BYOT (bring your own tea!)

Join the Microsoft Team to learn more.

CEC Workshop: Sustainable Gift Wrapping

Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.

Community Engagement Center (16 S. Poppleton St)

Join us for the last of our fall workshops at the Community Engagement Center (CEC) this fall focused on waste reduction and creative reuse.

Register for the session using this link. You can also sign up for the CEC newsletter to receive weekly updates about events and initiatives.

Values in Action Speaker Series: Well-Being and Sustainability

Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 12 -1 p.m.

4MLK Building or Zoom

Join us for the next Values in Action Speaker Series installment focused on UMB’s core values set of Well-Being and Sustainability. Karen Gordes, professor and program director of the MS and Teaching Graduate Certificate in Health Professions Education, will lead an inspiring conversation allowing for the exchange of ideas and critical reflection with colleagues across our community focused on how we create a sustainable future together.

Please register to attend in-person or virtually using this link.

Walking Wednesday Date for December

On the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, we meet outside the Lexington Building (620 W. Lexington St) at 12:05 p.m. to walk around campus for about 30 minutes during the lunch hour.

In December 2025, there will be a walk on Dec. 10 (the Dec. 24 walk is cancelled due to the winter break).

Join the Teams at bit.ly/SustainabilityCommunityUMB to stay up to date.

Marina DeBris

American-born artist Marina DeBris constructs art in the form of “trashion” using washed up trash from the beach. Her work focuses on reusing trash to raise awareness of ocean and beach pollution. DeBris’ “trashion” shines a light on the ever-growing problem of ocean garbage and the collective wasteful habits of humans. DeBris’ materials are used exactly the way she finds them, the way the ocean brings them to shore. The smelly, dirty and old materials illustrate the severity of the problem, making individuals uncomfortable to the point where they are forced to care. Her creative approach is done with the intent to shock people and force them to confront the issue.

Learn more about her work using this link.

To donate to UMB's Thanksgiving Turkey Drive and Christmas Store during this Season of Giving, visit this link.

Sustainability Champions

Do you have a co-worker who leads by example by demonstrating sustainable office practices? Do you know a faculty member who has integrated climate change into their course curriculum or research? Do you know a student who walks to work rain or shine instead of driving? Any member of the UMB community can be recognized as a Sustainability Champion, whether their actions are big or small. Learn about all of our previously recognized champions using this link.

Do you have a UMB Sustainability Champion you would like to nominate to be featured? Please fill out this form. Self-nominations are welcome.