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Climate and Sustainability Academy

Climate and Sustainability Academy

Drawing of future city

Apr 21, 2026

Creativity to Imagine the Future at NC State

What do science fiction stories, 10-minute plays, and scholar-driven conversations have in common?  They’re all working to change our planet’s future through creative solutions to wicked problems like climate change.  The impacts of climate change are both immediate and far-reaching. As NC State prepares students for careers that will extend far beyond the next five…

Apr 20, 2026

Student Spotlight: Meet Alex Link, Director of Sustainability within Student Government

Alex Link is a Junior majoring in Environmental Science and Political Science with a minor in History. Alex served as the Director of Sustainability within Student Government at NC State for the 105th session. The Student Government helps boost the connection between students and administration. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, picnics, and…

Mar 16, 2026

Student Spotlight: Meet Gracie Wood, Connecting Sustainability with Design

Gracie Wood is from Cary, NC, and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Design Studies with a minor in Psychology. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking and singing a cappella. Wood sat down with CaSA to share her experience as a member of the 2025 Sustainable Futures Fellows program. What was your…
The Floating Grove with Trashy furniture installed.

Mar 16, 2026

Green Unseen: Trashy Furniture in the Floating Grove

Tucked between Biltmore Hall and Jordan Hall sits one of the most sustainable structures on campus. From the infrastructure to the furniture, the Floating Grove has layers of sustainable design—and one of those layers is made from material recycled from NC State’s campus. In this installment of CaSA’s Green Unseen series, we’re diving into what…
Sustainable futures fellows students pose for group photo.

Feb 26, 2026

Reimagining Sustainable Futures: 2026 Fellows Cohort Announced

Twenty undergraduate and graduate students have been selected as the second cohort of NC State’s Sustainable Futures Fellows. Over the next 15 weeks, students will participate in five interdisciplinary teams alongside faculty and staff mentors to explore sustainability challenges and opportunities across key sectors of the economy. This year’s teams are examining the short, medium,…

Feb 16, 2026

Student Spotlight: Meet Grace Upton, Turning a Love of the Outdoors into GIS Expertise

Grace Upton is a graduate student in the Geographic Information System Certificate program at NC State and a previous intern with CaSA’s Coastal Community Resilience Immersive Training (C-CRIT) program. She graduated from Meredith College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Sustainability. In her free time she enjoys outdoor activities such as camping,…
Students pose at the 2025 Make-A-Thon

Feb 16, 2026

‘Bugzu’ and Beyond: Student Designers Rethink Climate-Ready Materials at NC State’s 2026 Make-A-Thon

Nearly 160 NC State students came together on January 22 in Duke Energy Hall for the university’s annual Make-A-Thon, an interdisciplinary design challenge focused on sustainability innovation. Among this year’s featured projects, the Climate and Sustainability Academy (CaSA) sponsored a challenge inviting students to rethink kirigami building materials using sustainable alternatives. Inspired by research from…
A larger-than-life troll built from reclaimed wood stands tall among the trees at Dix Park.

Jan 13, 2026

Green Unseen: Finding Magic in Our Own Backyard

If you’ve taken a stroll through Dix Park recently, you might have felt like you stepped into a fairy tale. The towering, recycled-wood sculptures known as the Dambo Trolls have captivated Raleigh, reminding us that refuse can be transformed into something monumental and that magic is often hidden in plain sight. We invite you to…
Student ambassadors gather for a photo at CaSA one year celebration

Dec 17, 2025

Celebrating One Year of the Climate and Sustainability Academy

Photography courtesy of Sophie Mallinson NC State’s Climate and Sustainability Academy (CaSA) celebrated its first anniversary Dec. 2, bringing together faculty, staff, students and partners for an evening of connection and reflection at the Gregg Museum of Art and Design. The academy invited guests to celebrate a year of growth and look ahead to new…
Student spotlight on Raja Bandari

Nov 19, 2025

Student Spotlight: Meet Raja Bandari, PhD Student Bridging Urban Design, Spatial Data and Sustainability

Raja Bandari is a PhD student in the College of Design whose research explores the intersection of Architecture, Urban Design and Geospatial Analytics. Raja stays busy pursuing research and earning certificates, including the GIS and City Design Certificates. In addition to excelling academically, he can speak seven languages and enjoys journaling, running, biking, and practicing karate…