2024

Alum Maria Keane (MSES '22) advocates for sustainable practices and pushes for policies that foster a greener future in her role at Energetics

The year 2024 sparked new ideas, programs, and adventures for the Trienens Institute—take a look at some of the top stories of the year

NAI Fellows are named for their "spirit of innovation" and tangible impact on quality of life, economic development, and social welfare

Aamir Paul steers efforts to combat climate change and boost sustainability as President of Schneider Electric

Alum Joshua Pascal (MSES '23) explores new renewable energy technologies and markets, examines how policies impact business

Alumna Corey Blumenthal (MSES '22) was credited with starting the carbon-reduction process for a national restaurant chain

Researchers receive funding to partner with Illinois farms to study enhanced rock weathering for carbon capture

Researchers develop protective coating that extends the life of perovskite solar cells, making them more practical for applications outside the lab

One of the Trienens Institute Six Pillars of Decarbonization, the Transform pillar aims to create technologies and processes that transform wastes and renewable feedstocks into decarbonized chemicals and transportation fuels.

One of the Trienens Institute Six Pillars of Decarbonization, the Generate pillar will develop a new class of solar energy to power the next generation

Craig Arnold teaches MSES students the value of lifecycle assessments in their sustainability toolkit

Internationally recognized expert in surface science and catalysis E. Charles Sykes to give 2025 Ipatieff Lecture

Newly launched Trienens-Q Cleantech Accelerator Program creates clear path from idea design to commercialization

New insights on how to measure active parts of catalysts, an essential step toward improving materials used in clean energy technologies

New partnership will bridge the gap between Northwestern research and innovation and the marketplace

A new surface developed by Prof. Kyoo-Chul Kenneth Park prevents 100 percent of frost formation on flat areas

Northwestern is teaming up with Boston-based venture-capital fund in an effort to support its growing tech startup community

On the Global Engineering Trek to Chile, students learned about mining and critical minerals for the energy transition

One of the Trienens Institute Six Pillars of Decarbonization, the Deploy pillar aims to advance clean hydrogen production and exploit hydrogen’s unique properties to decarbonize agriculture and manufacturing.

One of the Trienens Institute Six Pillars of Decarbonization, the Capture pillar aims to create technologies and processes to remove carbon dioxide from industrial emissions and the air

Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Daniel Horton will study heavy-duty diesel vehicle emissions, air quality, and health outcomes in Chicago’s warehouse-adjacent communities

A new study by Faculty Affiliate Daniel Horton will examine Chicago's air quality policy as it relates to equity, emissions

Bacteria in wastewater could play a key role in breaking down plastics that pollute the environment, new study finds

Asia Lustig (MSES '22) translated childhood aspirations of saving the planet into a purposeful career helping clients reduce their environmental impact

Techno-economic analyst Chris Wu (MSES ‘23) helps make ice cream production more environmentally friendly through his work with sustainable energy

New program will advance Northwestern's ability to find climate solutions while also preparing the next generation of sustainability leaders

Meet the three new faculty taking an interdisciplinary approach to teaching about climate change and sustainability

With a shared goal of decarbonization, the Trienens Institute Six Pillars of Decarbonization leverage Northwestern strengths to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future

Jenny Carney brings a holistic perspective of sustainability solutions to Northwestern's MSES program, where she teaches a course on the circular economy

$14.5 million grant renews the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction (CMQT) for another four years

Rebekah Daniel (MSES '23) shares how MSES prepared her to thrive as a regulatory analyst for the California Public Utilities Commission

A new study led by anthropologist Sera Young finds low confidence in water safety, concerns about public corruption

Mark Gooden (MSES '21) leans on his lessons from the MS in Energy and Sustainability program to create sensible electric-vehicle conversion programs

Researchers in the Ted Sargent group have found a new way to remove extra tin, improve stability of perovskite solar cells

Northwestern students tackle plastic pollution on Alaska’s remote beaches, clearing a total of 15,000 pounds of marine debris

An ongoing exchange between Northwestern and Germany's Univ. of Hamburg scientists looks to drive student research and propel efforts to combat climate change

Metallic minerals at the bottom of the ocean produce oxygen and may play a key role in supporting deep ocean dwellers, new study finds

Prof. Kyoo-Chul Kenneth Park has been awarded the Illinois-Indiana SeaGrant for $2.4M to address the challenge of removing microplastics from aquatic ecosystems and drinking water

New discovery about Earth's phosphorus cycle, crucial for plant health, may help protect global food supply

Researchers take steps towards improving the stability of perovskitoids, a material with great potential as a source of renewable power

Research symposium co-hosted by Pritzker School of Law and the Trienens Institute explored the future of energy policy, paths to decarbonization

Medline ReNewal worked with MSES students as part of the program's project practicum to determine the carbon footprint of a surgical device

New research from Prof. Alessandro Rotta Loria shows potential of carbonated concrete to offset emissions from cement manufacturing

Alumni Alison Polite (MSES '22) focuses on incorporating sustainable packaging practices in her role at candy company Mars

Trienens Institute Co-Executive Director Michael R. Wasielewski gave a Town Talk on quantum science with the Telluride Science & Innovation Center, which was recorded for the "Science Straight Up" podcast—listen to the episode!

New study led by Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Ludmilla Aristilde tracks how microbes in soil play a role in the carbon cycle

Northwestern University leadership and supporters gathered with the family of Paula M. Trienens ’47 (’79 P) (’98, ’03, ’07 GP) to formally dedicate the institute in her honor

Every year, more and more Northwestern students seek out a future in sustainability and energy—meet some of the Class of 2024 working towards a more sustainable future

Students deepen their understanding of global sustainability and energy challenges firsthand through learning experiences worldwide

Campus partnerships to commercialize sustainability and energy technology are amplifying university-incubated projects

An Executive Note from Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Omar Farha covers Northwestern's decarbonization efforts this spring

Six climate and energy experts from around the world visited campus May 1 to speak at annual Northwestern Sustainability Lecture Series

Northwestern journalism student reports on embedded experience with scientists and engineers in Sri Lanka

Northwestern will lead the newest U.S. Department of Energy-funded Midwestern carbon-capture hub, uniting prominent partners from research and industry

Researchers discover sweet new way to dispose, convert, and repurpose captured carbon dioxide—using table sugar as a key catalyst

More than $600K has been awarded to Northwestern faculty for lab instrumentation and seed funding that will lay the ground work for future discovery

In the NUvention: Energy class, a team of MEM students provided assistance on a project at one of the nation’s most important physics labs

Sponsored by the Trienens Institute, the Center for Engineering Sustainability and Resilience, and the Alumnae of Northwestern, the day-long summit on May 1 will explore topics in energy, climate and environment, and urban transformations

Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Robert. A Weinstock reflects on Earth Month as well as the legislation and policy needed to protect our planet

Northwestern SPS alumna Ryann Howard drives international plastics progress at the Department of State

Trienens Institute collaborates closely with Kellogg Energy and Sustainability Club leadership to produce star-studded speaker lineup at annual Climate Conference

At Pritzker School of Law, law and economics Prof. Alex Lee focuses on market mechanisms and government regulation as tools for addressing environmental issues

Researchers from Northwestern and the Chicago Botanic Garden will study the carbon capture effects of soil additives on agricultural fields

Northwestern University hosted a plenary meeting for the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) to facilitate the advancement of quantum research and technology development

Northwestern mineralogist and Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Steven Jacobsen is leading lunar soil analysis for NASA’s MMPACT project

Results of a global poll on water experiences developed by Prof. Sera Young were made public on World Water Day March 22

Alumni Ankur Seth relies on his MSES education as a senior product lead for sustainable agriculture certification at Rainforest Alliance

Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate and Professor Sera Young reflects on her work to develop Water Insecurity Experiences (WISE) Scales to capture universal experiences with water access and use

A team of Northwestern researchers has designed the ‘PEARL’ media, a sponge-based platform with a special coating that has an affinity for pollutants found in the Chicago area

Environmental science alumna Kirsten James (WCAS ’00) leads the Value Water Finance Initiative at Ceres, engaging nearly 100 institutional investors worth $17.5 trillion to combat water resource risk globally

Fireside chat showcases Northwestern's ability to harness physical and social sciences to take on urgent societal challenges and advance University priorities

Northwestern researchers, students are tapping technology to trees for a closer look at how climate change is playing out in urban environments

Katriella Lumbantobing (MSES '21) and Ryan Dooley (MSES '22) are using skills from the classroom to build successful careers in energy and sustainability consulting

Professor and Trienens Institute Co-Director Bradley Sageman speaks to new opportunities to advance student learning through study abroad, travel support, fellowship opportunities, and more

As Chicago prepares for the nation's largest auto show this weekend, auto makers under continued pressure to electrify vehicles as part of global effort to decelerate climate change

The Trienens Institute catches up with four alumni from its inaugural undergraduate Sustainability and Energy Certificate class in commemoration of the program's 10th anniversary

New findings from Trienens Institute Faculty Affiliate Ludmilla Aristilde explain how soil sequesters plant-based carbon from the atmosphere

Sustainable design and environmental impact analysis expert Craig Arnold appointed adjunct professor and fellow at Trienens Institute for 2024

Klaus Weber’s MSES course helps students understand how businesses impact everything from the environment to income inequality, and how they can change to become sustainable

Northwestern University serves as a core partner on project to discover innovative technology to attract water-intensive manufacturers to the region, recover valuable energy and mineral resources from wastewater, and more

A research team including Professors Ted Sargent, Mercouri Kanatzidis, Bin Chen, and Mark Hersam created a technique that led to improved efficiency for large-area perovskite solar modules

Trienens Institute Co-Executive Director Ted Sargent shares insights on Northwestern's role in driving research, partnerships to expand carbon removal initiatives

Lopez and his research group are working to improve the performance of energy storage devices and to make battery manufacturing and recycling processes more sustainable

A new scholarship will support two environment-focused journalism graduate students each year, starting with the 2024-25 academic year

Ian Olson shares a uniquely global perspective on supply chain sustainability with MS in Energy and Sustainability (MSES) students