The Sustainable Carolina podcast

#Science #Tech #Podcasting Education #Sustainable Carolina #Campus Sustainability #Sustainability #Climate Action #Higher Education

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How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

The Sustainable Carolina Podcast

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We bring you to the center of the sustainability conversation at UNC-Chapel Hill as we explore the technologies, partners, and exciting happenings that make our campus sustainable. From the North Carolina Piedmont to around the world, we seek out and discuss the latest in sustainability.

24 episoder

The Sustainable Carolina Podcast

updated for 7 dage siden

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24 episoder

#Science #Tech #Podcasting Education #Sustainable Carolina #Campus Sustainability #Sustainability #Climate Action #Higher Education

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1
Communicating for Community: Stories for a Better Planet 41:51

for 7 dage siden41:51

41:51

The new season of the Sustainable Carolina podcast kicks off with a special episode, recorded live during a Carolina Engagement Week Panel. From Highlands, North Carolina to the highlands of the Galápagos, Carolina’s communicators have stories to tell. Venture outside the confines of Chapel Hill to learn about the students and faculty conducting community-based research projects for a better future. This episodes discusses light pollution in the Outer Banks, hemlock health in the Appalachian Mountains, water security in the Galápagos and much, much more. This episode features: Alyssa LaFaro, Research Communications Manager, UNC Office of Research Communications , Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research Kelly Weaver, Deputy Director, UNC Center for Galapagos Studies Emily Williams, Director of Communications, UNC Institute for the Environment Abigail Brewer, Communications and Engagement Specialist, Sustainable Carolina Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Amy Kryston | Sanitation as a Basic Human Right 25:59

for 16 weeks siden25:59

25:59

Six million people living in the United States do not have access to safely managed sanitation. But Amy Kryston is cautiously optimistic that this public health problem can be solved in our lifetimes. In 2022, Amy began a deep dive into this staggering statistic. Through the UNC Institute for the Environment's Environmental Justice Graduate Research Award , she wrote a systematic review on the social barriers to adequate wastewater treatment. Her work was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health in 2024. She hopes the review can be a jumping off point for policymakers, municipalities and governments working to address this public health problem. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Nathan Halsey | Cultivating a Beekeeping Business 19:07

for 24 weeks siden19:07

19:07

"Anyone who thinks they're too small to make a difference has never met the honey bee." Nathan Halsey, co-president of the Carolina Beekeeping Club lives by this quote. As a high school student during the pandemic, he picked up beekeeping. When he arrived to Carolina, he knew he wanted to continue his business, Halsey's Hives. But he also wanted to make an impact on campus. In this episode, he shares how he balances running a business, building awareness for beekeeping at Carolina and succeeding in academics. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Research Out in the Real World 15:10

for 25 weeks siden15:10

15:10

On the fourth and final bonus episode, we learn about applying research out in the real world and engaging students in the process. First, UNC Department of Earth Marine and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Antonia Sebastian talks about her research on 100-year floodplains, urban development and the social implications of development. She also shares how her research influences the ways she engages with students at the UNC Sustainable Triangle Field Site. Then, Research Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Public Engagement with Science Kathleen Gray encourages students interested in pursuing research to engage with faculty at Carolina. She talks about the far-reaching efforts of CPES. The group partners with municipalities to share important data and also with schools to share the power of science. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Water, Pipes and Satellites 16:03

for 31 weeks siden16:03

16:03

This third bonus episode explores water. First, we take to the skies with UNC Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences Professor Tamlin Pavelsky. Pavelsky, who serves as the freshwater science lead for NASA's Surface Water and Ocean Topography mission, shares findings from the Atlantic Coast to the Yukon Delta to the Kakhovka Dam. SWOT is visualizing rivers and lakes in ways we've never seen before. In the second half of the episode we hear from Anna Patterson, program director at the UNC Environmental Finance Center. Anna begins by sharing the challenges water utilities, especially those that are underfunded, face when trying to manage stormwater. She shares how green infrastructure can change the way we view stormwater and how utilities might go about paying for this type of infrastructure. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Food Policies in Latin America and Crisis Response in South India 17:23

for 35 weeks siden17:23

17:23

This episode explores two topics in global public health, presented at our spring Sustainability Research Symposium. Both researchers begin their conversations by sharing how our changing climate impacts their research and respective fields of study. Lindsey Smith Taillie, Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Nutrition associate professor and associate chair of academics, shares research she's completed in Latin America and the United States. She talks about how Brazil is leading the way in incorporating sustainability into their dietary guidelines. Then, Abhishek Bhatia, a doctoral student in the Carolina Health Informatics Program , talks about analyzing post-disaster data to understand how countries respond to humanitarian crises. He compares and contrasts the work he did in two different countries — Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria and India — after major flooding in 2018. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Blue Carbon Storage on the Coast & Microplastics in Mountain Streams 17:01

for 38 weeks siden17:01

17:01

In the first of four bonus episodes this season, we have Mike Piehler and Chloe Hall's talks from our April 2024 Sustainability Research Symposium. The research presented in this episode takes place at two of the UNC Institute for the Environment's field sites. Piehler's episode looks at blue carbon storage at the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences and Hall's research takes us to the Highlands Biological Station, where she studied microplastic particles in mountain streams. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Ileana Fenwick | Opening Doors and Data in Marine Science 27:44

for 43 weeks siden27:44

27:44

Ileana Fenwick is both a marine scientist and a data scientist. Pursuing her doctorate in the UNC Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, she searches for patterns in fisheries ecology data. Because she strongly believes that greater data transparency and inclusion will help solve the climate change puzzle, she challenges herself to share her own data and code with other scientists. Outside of her research, Fenwick works to help other Black environmental and marine researchers feel less isolated in their work. With direction from Openscapes and a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, she leads the Pathways to Open Science Program . The remote, 6-part program brings in Black researchers and speakers to talk about data-intensive science with participants. This work is made possible through partner support from Black in Marine Science , Black Women in Ecology, Evolution and Marine Science and seven Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Ella Feathers | Showing up for local climate action 25:36

for 46 weeks siden25:36

25:36

Ella Feathers, a senior at Carolina, wears many hats in the sustainability space at Carolina. She has served on the Carolina Sustainability Council and currently co-chairs the UNC Student Government Department of Environmental Affairs. She also works as a science communicator for the Data Driven EnviroLab, led by Angel Hsu. In her episode, Ella talks about recognizing burnout, carrying a mindset of progress and showing up in the sustainability space. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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An Earth Day message from Carolina's Chief Sustainability Officer. 2:38

for 47 weeks siden2:38

2:38

On Earth Day 2024, Chief Sustainability Officer Mike Piehler gives an update on the University's sustainability initiative, Sustainable Carolina. He walks through Carolina's Climate Action Plan, Water Plan and progress made from 2020 - 2024. This audio comes from a video, shared on the UNC Institute for the Environment's YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/HpjasYF_IaM?feature=shared Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Will Freund | Exploring the Natural World and Accessible Science 30:12

for 50 weeks siden30:12

30:12

Between his day job and his passion projects, Will Freund gets the best of both worlds. As the community engagement specialist for Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, he leads programs for adults, teens and our youngest North Carolinians. And every April when Morehead's Science Expo rolls around, he runs the show. Freund has a natural curiosity for the world around, and it's contagious to those around him. His debut documentary explores perceptions surrounding climate change; his second gets personal, as he travels with his father to Blue Glacier in Olympic National Park. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Greening health care, generating change 25:42

for 1 year siden25:42

25:42

Julie Jacobson Vann made her way down to North Carolina to pursue her passion — and Ph.D. — in public health. She grew up in Wisconsin knowing the importance of water quality and recycling. So when she began her career at the UNC School of Nursing, it only made sense that she would incorporate environmental health and sustainability into the courses she taught. Most recently, her interest, advocacy and volunteerism led her to be named the sustainability liaison at the UNC School of Nursing. Join us for this episode to learn about the greening of health care and why it's important we teach the next generation of health leaders about the importance of sustainability. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Bonus Episode 4 | Surface Waters and Underground Elements 14:27

for 2 years siden14:27

14:27

In this episode, Assistant Professor and Voit Gilmore Fellow Amanda DelVecchia talks about her lab's work in understanding greenhouse gas flux — the natural release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere — in rivers and streams. Then Drew Coleman, chair of the UNC Environment, Energy and Ecology (E3P) program talks about balancing Earth's ecosystems. Specifically, he talks about his partnership with the NC Collaboratory exploring how mining companies can be more sustainable in their extraction processes. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Bonus Episode 3 | Protecting Water Quality, Improving Air Quality 15:28

for 2 years siden15:28

15:28

In the third of four bonus episodes, we bring you a conversation about water and air quality from two centers based out of UNC Institute for the Environment. First, Megan Lane talks about the work the Center for Public Engagement with Science is doing, especially as it has to do with water quality. Then Sarav Arunachalam, director of the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy Development , talks about a case study his team conducted on the adoption of electric medium- and heavy-duty trucks and what that could do to improve air quality. Launched in fall 2020, Sustainable Carolina is the University’s comprehensive initiative to advance and amplify all sustainability activities, including reducing the University’s environmental footprint through three goals : net zero water usage, zero waste to landfills and net zero greenhouse gas emissions. Led by Chief Sustainability Officer Michael Piehler, Sustainable Carolina will advance these goals through collaborative partnerships across operations, academics, and research.…

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Bonus Episode | Urban Heat Island Effect & Climate Resilience 16:21

for 2 years siden16:21