SIU’s Green Fund grants have assisted with numerous diverse sustainability projects including some involving solar power. Photo by Colton Tefft
April 24, 2026
SIU awards $79,000 in Green Fund grants, recognizes sustainability efforts on Earth Day
CARBONDALE, Ill. — More than $79,000 in Green Fund grants were awarded to nearly a dozen sustainability projects this week during Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Earth Day celebration.
The award-winning projects range from a butterfly pollinator garden to an electric transit trolly, from green roof improvements to composting to recycling bicycles and much more. The varied assortment of projects has one thing in common — all initiatives address SIU sustainability and green goals.
“We received a wide range of applications for this grant cycle,” said Andrew Taylor, program coordinator of campus outdoor programs and sustainability. “The Sustainability Office received requests that focused on each of the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and financial. The Green Fund Committee awarded grants to in-depth scientific research projects addressing environmental sustainability that can help create a cleaner tomorrow as well as projects addressing social sustainability here on campus by addressing concerns such as food insecurity and providing rewarding volunteerism opportunities in the region. Projects were also funded to address financial sustainability through providing free or low-cost transportation alternatives.”
A total of 29 project proposals were reviewed by the Green Fund Grant committee, which features a student chairperson along with three additional students and one member each from the staff and faculty.
Notable plans
Eleven projects were awarded a total of $79,027 in grants on April 22. Including this round of funding, SIU has now awarded more than $3.8 million to 368 sustainability projects. The grants are funded by a student Green Fee of about $10 per semester, adopted in 2009 as the result of a student-led initiative.
The 2026 Green Fund grant-winning projects, including the grant amount, brief details and the primary applicant, are:
- Saluki Food Pantry, Emily Spann, associate director, Student Center, $12,164. The grant will address food insecurity among students by providing a monthly shopping budget to keep the pantry stocked to meet student needs and ensure it is manned by a graduate assistant so hours can be extended.
- Enhancing Farm Sustainability Through Microbial-Informed Nitrogen Management, Oluwaseun Ola agricultural sciences doctoral candidate in the School of Agriculture Sciences, $11,600. The grant will go toward supplies necessary for research at the SIU Agronomy Research Center on how nitrogen fertilizer timing and application rates influence soil microbial abundance, diversity and composition. It will also partially cover costs for employing undergraduate and graduate student workers.
- 3D-Printed, Low-Carbon Concrete Using Recycled Campus Waste Materials for a Permanent Erosion Barrier – Nitin Tiwari, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, $11,000. The grant will cover supplies to create a 3D-printable concrete mix using locally sourced campus waste materials for use as a small erosion barrier at the SIU Sustainable Farm, providing a learning and research experience.
- Repurposing SIU Plastic Waste to Enhance Algal Biomass Production, Himali Delanka-Pedige, assistant professor in the School of Civil, Environmental and Infrastructure Engineering, $10,598. Funding will provide algae chemicals for research and a graduate assistant as researchers work to establish the best method for converting plastic waste into a functional biosorbent for use in water purification.
- Butterfly Pollinator Garden, Jazmine Zarate, a sophomore geography and environmental resources major, $6,825. The grant will cover the purchase of tools for building a butterfly pollinator garden at the entrance of the green roof, behind the Agriculture Building, and its upkeep while partially covering student work hours to maintain the garden, which offers butterflies a safe space with native plants.
- Microbial Research for Smarter Green Roofs, Amanda Weidhuner, assistant professor of horticulture and plant biology, $6,125. Funds will purchase tools for research and analysis of the soil on the green roof of the Agriculture Building to improve the plant health, reduce maintenance costs, and research to prepare for future green roofs.
- Forced Air Composting Update, Rachel Miller, researcher with the College of Agricultural, Lie and Physical Sciences, $6,100. The funds will supply 130 new collection and drop-off bins for use in SIU dining halls to collect food waste for composting, maximizing the amount of food that is converted to compost for use as a fertilizer by University Farms.
- Saluki Stream – Current Exploration, Larry Dunlap-Berg, researcher II with the STEM Education Research Center (SERC), $5,680. An Emriver Em2 Stream Table, a movable bed model teaching tool, will be purchased for use in educating students of all ages and adults about hydrology, earth care, river dynamics, engineering techniques, flooding and erosion risks, safety hazards and more through river simulations.
- Earthen Hearts – Abigail Mizeur, a senior forestry major specializing in forest recreation and park management with a minor in recreation leadership and an outreach programs student employee with the SERC, $3,165. The goal is to support, enhance and expand a service-learning community of practice, engaging campus and local communities with local, state and federal land management agencies by employing student leadership and providing transportation for student volunteers.
- Recycle Your Bicycle, Cynthia Gerlock, automotive parts manager at the Transportation Education Center, $3,110. Tools, equipment, parts and other necessities will be purchased to repair bicycles to be donated to students through the SIUC Recycle Your Bicycle program.
- Electric Transit Trolly – Mark Owens, director of facilities and energy management, $2,500. A new all-electric, wheelchair-accessible tour train will be purchased for SIU Travel Service providing campus tours for 40+ passengers including students, families, visitors and special events.
Recognizing Saluki sustainability efforts
The Earth Day celebration also featured special recognition for students, faculty and staff who lead the way in promoting sustainability on campus and beyond.
Leslie Duram, professor of geography and environmental resources for the College of Agricultural, Life and Physical Science and director of environmental studies, was presented the Honorary Environmental Ambassador award. As she will soon be retiring, she was recognized for a long career dedicated to research, teaching and mentoring in the environmental geography and sustainability areas.
SIU honored several students as 2026 Environmental Ambassadors in recognition of them volunteering a minimum of 30 hours toward environmental-related efforts:
- Alexis Cline, a sophomore health care management major from Fairfield, Illinois.
- Olivia Larrison, a senior forestry major from Metropolis, Illinois.
- Emma Watychowicz, a junior art major with art education specialization and psychology minor from Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Learn more about SIU’s award-winning, long-term commitment to sustainability and green initiatives by visiting sustainability.siu.edu.