Dear Penn Community,
We are excited to announce that the Environmental Innovations Initiative (EII) team is joining the Office of the Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action. This is a major step forward for Penn’s climate work and our community.
Since its launch in 2020, EII has served as a vital conduit for Penn’s climate and sustainability community, connecting people across campus and disciplines, and turning ideas into action. Through programs such as Climate 101, Integrating Sustainability Across the Curriculum, and Research Communities, EII has supported interdisciplinary research and scholarship, convened across all 12 of Penn’s schools, and helped students engage meaningfully with environmental challenges. EII has also been the driving force behind Climate Week at Penn, one of the most anticipated and celebrated events on our campus, to bring together our community each fall. EII has built the exact kind of collaborative community that it is now Penn Climate’s responsibility to cultivate and continue to expand, and one that we should all be proud to have on our campus.
This integration brings EII’s proven strengths in building partnerships directly into Penn Climate’s work. It means we can enhance the incredible climate research happening across Penn and help ensure this work reaches beyond our campus for maximum impact.
We’re grateful to everyone who has worked hard to make EII such a success over the past five years. We’re energized by what will come next and eager to work closely with our new colleagues to support the Penn community.
With gratitude and excitement,
Sanya Carley
Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action
Julie C. Ellis
Interim Faculty Director, Environmental Innovations Initiative