The University of Pittsburgh is now accepting proposals for the Pitt Sustainability Challenge, which will award $300,000 to an integrated, impactful, durable, and feasible solution to advance carbon neutrality with lasting benefits for the Pitt community.

Eligible organizations must register by Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time in order to apply

Pitt students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate, and applications are also open for external nonprofit and for-profit organizations.

Through this Challenge, the University invites innovative solutions that are grounded in an understanding of local conditions; that are ambitious, yet achievable; that show the greatest potential to realize measurable improvements for the Pitt community; and that will endure in their intended outcomes over time.

For this effort to succeed, participants must reach beyond any single understanding of what is possible, representing an opportunity to think big for the benefit of everyone and to envision a bolder and more sustainable future for Pitt.

Proposals must demonstrate deep integration and alignment with Pitt’s existing sustainability frameworks, including the Pitt Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan.

 Pitt’s sustainability journey is focused on balancing equity, environment, and economics so current and future generations can thrive.

Keeping this in focus, Pitt has active sustainability efforts and initiatives across disciplines, domains, and scales — including pursuing carbon neutrality by 2037.

"We’re incredibly thrilled to unveil the Pitt Sustainability Challenge to both the Pitt community and the public at large," said Aurora Sharrard, executive director of sustainability at the University of Pittsburgh. "This challenge supports sustainability as a core value of the Plan for Pitt and the 2018 Pitt Sustainability Plan’s goal to ensure that there is a mechanism for students, faculty, and staff to advance ideas for positive impact. We’re excited to solicit innovative and transformative solutions that advance carbon neutrality to the benefit of the University community."

Proposals must be led by an eligible Lead Organization, which you can learn more about here. Teams are highly encouraged. .

Those interested in applying should follow these steps:

-- Visit the Pitt Sustainability Challenge website to review eligibility criteria, application needs, timing, and FAQs;

-- Entrant (individual or team) will submit a written application and 90-second video detailing their solution;

-- Proposals will be evaluated through a rubric, external and internal judge panel, and internal decision-makers;

-- Winning proposal will be implemented within a two-year period; and

-- Thanks to your big, innovative ideas, the University will continue to progress on the Pitt Climate Action Plan

The challenge will be open for proposals until the end of Spring 2023, and evaluation of those proposals will begin in the summer. Finalists for the prize, as well as implementation of projects, will begin in Fall 2023.

Anyone interested in learning more is encouraged to visit the Challenge website. Questions can be emailed to questions@pittsustainabilitychallenge.org.

For all the details, visit the Pitt Sustainability Challenge webpage.

[Posted: December 7, 2022]

12/12/2022