UNH Sustainability Capstone Request for Proposals

The UNH Sustainability Dual Major seeks project ideas from community and university partners for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 semesters. The Sustainability Capstone course (SUST 750) is the culminating experience in a series of three core courses and five electives for seniors in the Sustainability Dual Major (SDM). In this class, interdisciplinary teams apply what they've learned to a community-based, action-research project that addresses a specific sustainability issue here at UNH or in the broader community. With the guidance of campus and community partners, students develop real-world professional and problem solving skills that help launch their careers as changemakers. At the same time, our UNH and community partners get dedicated and talented student support to move their sustainability solutions forward. 

Examples of past projects: 

• Review of vulnerability assessments and plans to build coastal flood resilience across East Coast communities to inform city plans for coastal resilience in Kittery, ME (2020)
• Review of relationships between climate change and specific human health impacts and creation of outreach materials about those impacts for NH Healthy Climate (2022)
• Project proposal and operations manual for a student-run thrift store at UNH, "Cat's Closet" (2023)
• Research review of potential for agrivoltaics in New England with Revision Energy (2023)
• Feasibility of installing solar arrays in UNH parking lots (2023)
• Strengthening statewide gleaning efforts to address food waste and food security with Gather & NH Gleans (2024)
• Decarbonizing the UNH Community Pool (2025)
• BioBlitz citizen science & education program with the Town of Durham (2025)
• Town of Durham Composting Challenge (2025)

To be selected, projects must:

• Have an identified mentor (UNH faculty/staff or community member) who can prioritize mentorship of their student group and commit to the responsibilities outlined in the agreement included in this form. Project mentors are a critical part of the learning process in this class.
• Include a research component (literature review and/or data collection including interviews, surveys, etc.).
• Demonstrate that the issue or topic is related to sustainability and is significant and relevant to the community involved.
• Have reasonable, tangible outcomes that can be completed by a group of 3-4 students over the course of the semester.

To submit a project proposal: Please complete this online form by Aug. 1 for Fall 2026 projects or Nov. 1, 2026 for Spring 2027 projects.  Students submitting project proposals should identify a campus or community mentor and work with them to complete the proposal.  Have a project idea but not a mentor? Questions about whether your project idea is appropriate?  I'm happy to discuss project ideas and partners with you! Please reach out to me, Erin Hale (erin.hale@unh.edu) SDM Program Coordinator.