Students are a driving force in improving campus sustainability and promoting change. Explore the many student groups on campus and discover ways you can make sustainability happen on campus and in the world.
Students for a Sustainable Stanford (SSS) is an inclusive and intersectional community that strives for sustainable practices on and off campus through discussion, engagement, and direct action. As Stanford’s central environmental student group, SSS builds student coalitions; pushes for institutional reform; and works through project groups focused on climate, education, transportation, waste, environmental justice, and more. Join us!
The Stanford Energy Club works to connect the energy subcommunities at Stanford University. From students searching for energy-related events on campus, to local researchers looking for resources, to organizations looking to promote and publicize an event, the Energy Club’s goal is to be the first point of contact for locating and promoting energy events and resources.
The Stanford Coalition for Planning an Equitable 2035 (SCoPE 2035) is a coalition of student groups with a vision for a more equitable Stanford, beginning with the General Use Permit (GUP) process. The General Use Permit is the agreement between Stanford University and Santa Clara County that, after negotiations and adoption, will specify the limits and requirements on Stanford’s future land use, growth, and development. The GUP is a powerful document in which Stanford, reflecting the priorities of Stanford community members, the County, and neighboring jurisdictions and communities, can make strong commitments to mitigate the impacts of its development and growth for the next two decades.
Students for Environmental and Racial Justice (SERJ) was established in 2014 to faciliate conversations and raise awareness of environmental and racial issues at Stanford and in the greater community.
Join fellow engineers working on projects, on campus and internationally. ESW addresses poverty and sustainability in many different hands-on projects around the globe.
Connect with the nation’s oldest environmental law group, publisher of the Environmental Law Journal, as well as numerous handbooks on environmental legislation. Help influence public policy, participate in environmental advocacy, and learn about environmental careers.
Stanford announced its divestment from coal companies in May 2014. Leading up to the announcement, Fossil Free Stanford tabled, petitioned, and hosted events to spread the word about fossil fuel usage in America.
Join Stanford students, faculty, staff, and community members who seek to ensure equal access to environmental benefits and prevent the disproportionate impact of environmental harms on behalf of all communities.
Stanford PAW (People for Animal Welfare) works to reduce animal suffering and raise awareness of animal welfare issues on campus. PAW’s activities include campus outreach, working with dining halls to create more humane food options, and political campaigning for animal-friendly candidates.
Build a car that runs completely on solar energy—from scratch! Stanford’s solar car competes biannually in the World Solar Challenge in Adelaide, Australia, a 3000 km solar car race through the outback. Undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines can join the group; no prior experience is necessary.
SEEDS is a student group committed to increasing awareness of our local ecosystems and providing opportunities in the field of ecology. Their mission is to diversify and advance the ecology profession through opportunities that stimulate and nurture the interest of underrepresented students to participate and lead in ecology. SEEDS is a chapter of the national SEEDS program of the Ecological Society of America (ESA).
Stanford Roots, formerly known as Stanford Farmers, was founded in 2017 and promotes community involvement on the campus farm to connect people to their food and food systems, particularly through experiential learning.
All About No Waste is group of Stanford students, researchers, faculty, and alumni passionate about the broader topics of waste management across industries, sectors, functions, and geographies. It is an open platform for Stanford students and researchers to share projects and connect with like-minded waste experts in the field.
Sprout Up provides free, college student-led environmental education programs to 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in California. The Palo Alto chapter, led by Stanford students, helps teach children concepts in environmental science, sustainability, and the unique ecosystems that surround them.
ICLSS is a group of students, faculty, and staff from various departments working together to promote sustainable practices in labs across campus. Its mission is to reduce waste, conserve resources, and implement sustainable purchasing practices in our research environments. The coalition hosts regular meetings and pilot initiatives ranging from energy conservation to plastic waste reduction and green purchasing strategies.
If you’re passionate about sustainability and want to make a difference in your academic environment and beyond, consider joining! Whether you’re a seasoned environmentalist or just looking to learn more about sustainable lab practices, there’s a place for you in ICLSS.
Stanford has set a new benchmark for sustainability at live events through its first major concert hosted by Stanford Athletics and Stanford Live. Sustainable Stanford hosted a fireside chat with sustainability leadership from Live Nation and Warner Music Group in tandem with this milestone.
From reducing embodied carbon in construction to piloting organic landscape management, the annual Student Sustainability Symposium highlighted how student-led innovation is driving sustainability at Stanford.
Laura Segura Gonzalez, a second-year design student, is leading jean upcycling workshops to combat fast fashion waste, empowering students to transform old jeans into something new.