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Sustainability
1255 Lincoln Drive
Student Center, 2nd Floor South End
MC 4418
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
618-453-2846
sustainability@siu.edu
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Our mission
The Sustainability Office at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is committed to empowering a culture of sustainability through collaborative campus-based solutions across academics, operations, research, and campus life.
Meet the team behind the sustainability initiatives at Southern Illinois University!
Aimee Lemrise, Director of Sustainability
Aimee Lemrise is the director of Sustainability. She has an extensive background in academics and student affairs in higher education and has earned a Master of Science in Geography & Environmental Resources. Her graduate studies focused on research in food systems, and undergraduate research about the Ivory Billed Woodpecker habitat in southern Illinois. Her academic achievements allowed her the opportunity to be selected as an Illinois Governor’s Environmental Corp EPA intern. After college, Lemrise quickly became involved in community grassroots environmental efforts. Her career later focused on opportunities in advising and teaching college students.
Outside of work, Lemrise loves exploring, gardening, and anything that will get her outdoors when she can find time. Aimee also enjoys being creative with art and music, traveling and learning about different cultures, anything related to food, working with the youth, and loves to make memories with her family. Lemrise is a recent inductee of Rotary Club of Carbondale Breakfast. Her role as the director of Sustainability has opened her up too many environmental and social issues which has fed her drive to communicate the urgency to the public that we must make changes now to improve the future opportunities for the next generation. As she continues to sharpen her philanthropy in sustainability, she is currently working to connect with the external community and align similar goals to better our society.
- At SIU, Lemrise’s leadership skills begin with staffing a team to support the university’s sustainability goals.
- She manages the SIU Sustainability Council in awarding grants and overseeing the SIU Green Fund. These grants are aimed at enhancing campus sustainability through various innovative projects
- Organize highly successful Earth Month celebrations one featuring keynote speaker Wanjiku “Wawa” Gatheru, who is an environmental justice advocate, Rhodes Scholar and founder of Black Girl Environmentalist. This event raised awareness and inspired action on environmental justice issues.
- Give Before You Go program: Coordinates this program to reduce waste when students move at the end of the school year in collaboration with university housing, rotary and campus ministries.
- Organized and led participation in the National Wildlife Federation national competition Campus Race to Zero Waste. SIU won first place in the Green Events category for its operation of a zero-waste station at the annual International Food Festival.
Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Pukar Bhandari, Summer 2023
Pukar is a PhD student in the School of Electrical, Computer and Biomedical Engineering. He completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Kathmandu University, Nepal in 2018. After graduating, he worked as a Software Engineer in Studio Matrix Private Limited for 3 years before moving to the USA to pursue his graduate studies. He presently holds the position of President within the Nepalese Student Society (NSS) at SIU. He is also a part of the youth social organization - International Leo Club where he served as the President of Kathmandu Mount Makalu Leo Club. He has organized numerous social work programs with a focus on sustainability. Pukar believes that change starts from yourself, so he encourages everyone to follow the 5R practices (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle) as much as they can because it can significantly reduce the amount of waste an individual produces each day. In his free time, Pukar loves playing soccer, hiking, traveling, playing guitar, and hanging out with friends.
Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Shadia Afrin, Spring 2024
Shadia Afrin is a graduate student in the school of Earth Systems and Sustainability. Currently pursuing her Master of Science in the department of Geography and Environmental Resources. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Geography and Environment from Pabna University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. She excels in map projection, GIS, sustainability, land cover mapping, and quantitative techniques. After completing her graduation, she worked as a Human Resource and Environmental Officer, where she contributed to building environmental strategies and environmental resources management. Shadia's academic achievements include a thesis on effectiveness of Telemedicine during Covid-19. Shadia developed the Environmental Club at Pabna University of Science and Technology, showcasing her commitment to environmental awareness. Shadia visited the largest mangrove forest Sundarbans and longest natural sea beach in the world located in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh to explore the biodiversity and natural resources in that particular region. Her leadership extends to involvement in SIUC international festivals, seminars, and organizing workshops on environmental resource management. Shadia loves fishing, gardening, travelling, and spending time with friends and family.
Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Bharath Kumar Chintada, Spring 2024
Bharath Kumar Chintada is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He obtained his Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in Hyderabad, India. His passion lies in renewable energy sources, particularly in advancing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) to mitigate the environmental impact of combustion vehicles. He has demonstrated his commitment to this cause through several innovative projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of Electric Vehicle.
One notable project led by him is the development of Dynamic Wireless Charging in Electric Vehicles. This technology enables electric cars to charge while in motion on the road through wireless power transmission. By harnessing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, His solution not only reduces reliance on fossil fuels but also promotes sustainable transportation.
Additionally, He is committed to promoting widespread awareness and implementation of renewable energy resources. He believes that educating individuals about the benefits of renewable energy and empowering them to utilize these resources is essential for creating a more sustainable future. Through his advocacy and outreach efforts, Bharath aims to inspire others to embrace renewable energy technologies and adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives. He seeks to contribute to a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable world for future generations.
Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Sai Pavan Reddy Doddam Reddy, Fall 2024
Sai Pavan Reddy Doddam Reddy is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Computer Science at Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC). He previously earned a Bachelor's degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Vignan Institute of Technology and Science in Hyderabad, India. Sai Pavan Reddy began his career as a Trainee Recruiter at Avance Consulting, where he gained valuable industry experience, and later transitioned to a role as a Data Engineer at Wipro Limited. In this role, he developed expertise in building data pipelines, managing large datasets, and ensuring data integrity and availability for analytics.
Passionate about sustainability, Sai Pavan Reddy has actively contributed to various initiatives focused on environmental conservation and renewable energy. Through his involvement in the National Service Scheme (NSS), he demonstrated a strong commitment to these causes by organizing community engagement projects that addressed solid and liquid waste management, energy audits, and waste reduction strategies.
Beyond his academic and professional endeavors, Sai Pavan Reddy is deeply engaged in environmental advocacy and education. He believes in leading initiatives that advocate for policy change and empower communities through education. His interests lie in driving innovation, conducting impactful research, and fostering global collaboration for a more sustainable future. He is also enthusiastic about engaging in environmental education initiatives and sustainability workshops, furthering his commitment to creating a more environmentally conscious society.
As a Sustainability Graduate Assistant at SIUC, Sai Pavan Reddy is poised to make meaningful contributions to the university community and beyond, blending his academic expertise with practical experience and a deep passion for creating positive change.
Sustainability Undergraduate Student Worker: Andrew White, Fall 2024
Andrew is an undergrad student in the School of Earth Systems and Sustainability with a major in Sustainability and a minor in environmental studies. He is skilled with GIS software, Remote Sensing, and drone photography. Andrew enjoys electric longboarding, making art with ceramics and glass blowing, hiking, gardening, and spending time with loved ones.
A recent project of Andrew’s is the SIU Bike Fix-It station Additions and Repairs. This project repairs pre-existing stations while also installing additional stations. These new stations will be located at the center of campus and at Evergreen Terrace family housing. Andrew's goals are to improve campus life at SIU by focusing on the mental health and physical safety of its students.
Andrew is passionate about promoting awareness towards social and environmental injustice, climate change, and green decision making.
Sustainability Graduate Assistant: Bharathi Bhumireddy, Summer 2023
Bharathi Bhumireddy is a graduate student at the school of computing. She contributed passionately to her UG's sustainable solutions for environment and agriculture council. She worked in a clean India mission for 3 years. Bharathi is confident that what we do now will have an impact on the future. This concept of creating the future is something we live by and a principle that guides our actions and decisions every day. She believes regenerative farming techniques and reduced food consumption can enhance soil health, crop yields, the quality of produced food, and the long-term value of agricultural resources.