The Decarbonization Academy provides an immersive sustainability learning experience for students who are interested in working towards UVA’s goals of being carbon-neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel free by 2050 

Applications now being accepted

The application for the Summer 2023 academy is now available. Deadline is March 13 (5 p.m.) Accepted fellows will be notified before March 15. For questions or more information, please contact Program Director, Professor Lisa Colosi Peterson at [email protected].

The program is open to rising third- and four-year undergraduates and graduate students currently enrolled in any UVA program. Student fellows are assigned to a project topic based on their interests and previous experiences. The projects are co-supervised by UVA faculty and staff (e.g., Facilities Management). 

Projects cover a broad range of topics and can be suggested by any member of the UVA community. Fellows work on their projects approximately 30-35 hours per week over the course of the 8-week summer program. Fellows also engage in group learning sessions including panel discussions, tours, field trips and other hands-on experiences. Students and mentors are compensated for their participation. At the end of the program, each team generates a project report and the results are synthesized in an overall report, which is shared with stakeholders and decision-makers.

The program was launched in 2022 by the Teaching & Research Subcommittee of the University Sustainability Committee, with support from the Environmental Resilience Institute. 

Decarbonization Academy 2.0 (2023)

The Teaching & Research Subcommittee is pleased to announce that the Decarbonization Academy will be offered again in 2023. The scope of the program has been expanded to encompass both parts of the University’s 2030 and 2050 goals – i.e., addressing not only the carbon footprint but also the nitrogen footprint. Hence, “Decarb+”.

Program dates will be June 20 to August 11. Compensation for student fellows will be $5,000. Fellows will be expected to participate in-person, with some flexibility to accommodate special events or unique circumstances. Use the links below to learn more about tentative project topics, participating faculty and expectations for student fellows.

ApplicationLogistics

Decarbonization Academy 2022

The inaugural offering of UVA’s Decarbonization Academy during the summer of 2022 was a tremendous success. Use the links below to learn more about the student fellows and read the synthesis report. Individual project reports are also available upon request from  Program Director, Professor Lisa Colosi Peterson --  lmc6b [@] virginia.edu.

2022 Student Profiles  2022 Final Report