About Us

Institute for Applied Sustainability

What We Do

The Institute for Applied Sustainability is dedicated to:

Bringing together faculty, students, and staff to foster a culture of sustainability across disciplines to support research, further education and empower learners
Engaging with communities, corporations, and other organizations to drive change and amplify voices
Catalyzing sustainable innovation through established programs and dynamic collaborations
Envisioning new possibilities for regenerating communities, environments, and economies

Faculty Fellowship

The Faculty Fellows Program supports SOU faculty in advancing sustainability-centered scholarship, teaching, and professional pursuits. Open to faculty from all disciplines, this program provides up to $20,000 in flexible funding to support innovative sustainability-centered or sustainability-related projects. Faculty Fellows are encouraged to explore creative approaches to sustainability, whether through research, curriculum development, community engagement, or interdisciplinary collaboration.

Fellows also become part of a dynamic community within the Institute for Applied Sustainability, fostering connections across disciplines and engaging in shared decision-making, professional development, and events that amplify the impact of their work. The program seeks to spark meaningful partnerships and long-term engagement with sustainability initiatives at SOU and beyond.

Faculty from all departments are encouraged to apply.

2024-2025 Cohort

See the Fellows in Action

Applications for the 2025-2026 Faculty Fellows Program is open now through February 21, 2025.

Call for Proposals

The Innovation Fund

The Institute for Applied Sustainability offers a unique funding opportunity for projects focused on sustainability in our community. Aligned with the IAS mission of creating practical and sustainable solutions through creative, innovative, and collaborative approaches, the IAS Innovation Fund (IASIF) plays a crucial role in supporting these initiatives.

Through innovation fund micro-grants, our aim is to provide a boost to forward-thinking projects that are led by SOU Staff, Faculty, or students. The IASIF serves as a strategic investment in the long-term success of your project, aiming to lay the groundwork for broader funding opportunities. These funds are envisioned to help pave the way for your project to attract larger-scale support.

Innovation Funded projects should serve as models, contributing to a future that benefits all in creating a better tomorrow.

If you are interested in submitting a proposal for The IAS Innovation Fund, please reach out directly to the IAS Coordinator, Kira Welch at welchk1@sou.edu

Check out Past Projects

Event Scholarships & Sponsorships

The Institute is proud to support transformative conferences and networking events surrounding sustainability. We are also excited to share that we will be providing scholarships to support the growth of networking and knowledge sharing among our students, faculty, and staff at some of these events. If you want to learn more, please direct your questions about event sponsorship and scholarship to IAS Coordinator, Kira Welch.

This year, we will be sponsoring 15 students, staff, and faculty members to attend the Washington Oregon Higher Education Conference (WOHESC) in Portland, OR.

Learn more about WOHESC