Claire Abbott is a Freshman double majoring in Neuroscience and Ecology, Evolution and Behavior! Though her passions for sustainability started before college as she was president of the Environmental Club in her high school. She was very involved in climate action and completed a climate action project as well. She was inspired when she found out about the Sustainability Advocate position, wanted to gain more volunteer experience, and fulfill her passion for sustainability. 

The Sustainability Advocate position is a volunteer role for students to become zero waste experts and agents of sustainable change! This role is in partnership with the University of Minnesota Recycling Program and Office of Sustainability. Sustainability Advocates promote, inform, and educate peers on zero waste and sustainable practices within their residence hall.

• Educate peers on recycling practices
• Plan and execute sustainability projects in residence halls
• Add leadership experience to your resume
• Gain real-world experience in the growing field of sustainability
• Conduct waste station inspections
• Create & disperse sustainability-related resources to your peers
• Be an agent of sustainable change on campus and help move the University of Minnesota toward zero waste! 
• Dive deep into recycling and waste diversion through workshops and training resources
• Have the opportunity to earn a Sustainability Advocate certificate
• Have the opportunity to earn credit Spring Semester when paired with an internship course

When Claire signed up to be a Sustainability Advocate, she came in with an open mind and didn't know what to expect. She started to gain understanding through the monthly meetings with all the other Advocates, and with the dorm group meetings. The smaller group meetings allowed her to start to come up with project ideas. There are multiple Advocates throughout the Superblock residence halls, and at least one in the rest of the dorms. Each area has a mentor that you get to know and work on projects together.

Some residence hall projects they did last semester were: a field trip to thrift stores, compost bin distribution and education program on waste management- what goes where. The trash area received signs and shelves to leave what you don't need. 

In the meetings, and with working with her peers, the Advocates noticed that alcohol bottles were not being properly recycled due to concerns of getting in trouble. They were able to solve this issue and disseminate a message about trash, waste, and recycling to improve ease and awareness of recycling. Overall, Claire has learned a lot of skills on problem solving for sustainability. 

Some of their bigger projects have been tabling events at Pioneer Hall to educate and engage other students. They have given out stickers, and created activities for zero waste, including a sorting waste simulation game, along with giving out a recycling guide magnet. A lot of their work is educational lessons. The general layout of this program is one large event/project per semester, and possibly other smaller events. They are all learning events surrounding zero waste as the main theme. The semester project is dorm specific, “you do your own thing but collaborate with others.”

Claire states that the overall objective is “peer to peer engagement, outreach and education that is more approachable for sustainability education.” When asked what she has accomplished as being a sustainability advocate she noted that it starts with herself. She has noticed that she is being more conscious with her own recycling, and that sustainability starts with your own actions. She is always learning and seeking ways to be better. Through talking and educating her close friends, she sees them use the compost bins more often, and sees the recycling of alcohol bottles. She states that she can “see firsthand her friends and peers change their behaviors.” What a powerful thing! 

Claire is an active member of the University community, interested in ecology, attends the Outdoors club and the Robotics Club. She plugged the Solar Panels Car Team with the Robotics Club as being “great for people interested in sustainability, especially those also interested in engineering.” 

She has started brainstorming ideas for her Spring semester project, and expressed interest in doing something for Earth Day. She is interested in a mending clothes event where you fix/repair clothes as a workshop in the lounges in her dorm. Stay tuned to what Claire, and the other Sustainability Advocates do for their spring projects!

Claire’s future aspirations are geared towards the healthcare field but she wants to continue her involvement with sustainability as a passion or a project. She notes that her Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior major is more geared towards sustainability. She stated that sustainability could either be a career path or a hobby, but she is dedicated to keeping sustainability practices in her life. Her philosophy on sustainability is “try to practice what you preach as much as you can'.” Obviously she understands that reusing and recycling is important, but it starts with first reducing consumption - something she has been working on with the zero-waste philosophy. She is actively working on not being as big of a consumer, especially around the holiday season. She actually made all her own gifts this year by sewing or crocheting! She said that it “helped save her money and helped the environment.” She was not contributing to fast fashion, large companies, or consumerism - way to go Claire! Another way sustainability shows up in her life is through water conservation, something she has been conscious about. She also noted that “being on campus has helped reduce [her] carbon footprint because of public transportation and walking everywhere on campus.”

Overall, she is always trying to think of new ways to be sustainable!

Does this interest you? Check back in Summer 2023 to apply to become a zero-waste expert for your residence hall! Gain hands-on sustainability leadership experience educating peers on sustainable practices, plan zero waste community events, and more in partnership with the Recycling Program, Office of Sustainability, and Housing & Residential Life!