Topic: Sustainability

Displaying 1 - 18 of 704

Precision and purpose: App State industrial design team builds next-generation prosthetics
April 14, 2026
A team of App State industrial design students, led by Department of Applied Design faculty Jimena Vergara-Sanz and Dr. Garner Dewy, is taking a human-centered approach to innovation. Using 3D printing technology, the team is working to design and develop next-generation prosthetic hands that are both accessible and customizable for users.
Empowering resilience: App State graduate student creates disaster-ready drinking water system
Bradley Del Vecchio’s design earned him 1st place in App State’s 3MT Competition
April 8, 2026
Leveraging his renewable energy technology studies, App State graduate student Bradley Del Vecchio developed a solar-powered system to provide clean drinking water during natural disasters. Witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Helene inspired his award-winning design, which can produce up to 100 gallons of drinking water per day.
The Search for Vertical Grasslands [alumni featured]
Blue Ridge Outdoors
March 4, 2026
The adventure magazine features App State alumna Laura Boggess ’13, a climber-scientist who explores “vertical grasslands” to discover unique plant communities with the potential to boost ecological health in the Southeast. Boggess has studied cliff science since her time as a graduate student at App State, where she earned her master’s degree in biology in 2013.
12 App State students to study Asian markets as 2026 Holland Fellows
The 30-year-old international business fellowship will take students to Cambodia, Hong Kong and Vietnam
Feb. 12, 2026
Twelve App State students have been selected to participate in the university’s William R. Holland International Business Fellowship program, which, for the past 30 years, has provided exceptional opportunities to study the Asian business landscape. This year’s fellows will travel to Cambodia, Hong Kong and Vietnam.
In 2025, App State celebrates its 8th chancellor amid record enrollment, research growth and campus advancements
Dec. 19, 2025
App State reflects on its 126th year in higher education — one marked by new leadership under Chancellor Heather Norris, as well as record enrollment, upgrades to campus infrastructure, advances in research and innovation, a continued focus on regional resilience, campus and community arts engagement, and student-athlete success.
Walker College of Business celebrates global and sustainability champions at annual luncheon
Oct. 21, 2025
Outstanding App State students, faculty and staff were honored for advancing global engagement and sustainable business at the Walker College of Business’ annual Global Good Conference.
App State advances community-driven research for recovery and resilience
Ongoing post-Helene projects examine flood forecasting models, backup energy systems, ecological impacts, private well contamination and health solutions
Sept. 19, 2025
App State research in the wake of Helene has the university joining local partners, diving into health data, surveying ecosystems and energizing transdisciplinary initiatives to armor the Western North Carolina region against future disasters.
A podium finish and Teamwork Award are the latest wins for App State’s student-led solar vehicle team
Team Sunergy shifts gears to building its most advanced solar vehicle yet
July 14, 2025
App State’s student-powered solar vehicle team, Team Sunergy, has secured yet another podium finish to add to its consistent wins in the annual Electrek Formula Sun Grand Prix. This year, the team earned second place in its class and the event’s Teamwork Award. Team Sunergy is working to launch its next-generation solar vehicle.
Appalachian Energy Summit exceeds 2025 goal with $2.37 billion in statewide avoided energy costs
App State realizes over $90 million in avoided utility savings
June 30, 2025
At App State’s 14th annual Appalachian Energy Summit, N.C. State Energy Office representatives announced that, since 2002–03, the UNC System and its partners have collectively avoided $2.37 billion in energy costs, exceeding the 2025 goal of $2 billion.
App State awarded $2.3M to advance innovation in NC agriculture
The AI-enhanced robotic microscope will streamline parasite analysis in livestock, poultry
May 27, 2025
App State researcher Dr. Zachary Russell and his team have received a $2.3 million NCInnovation grant to develop an AI-enhanced robotic microscope that will streamline parasite analysis in livestock and poultry — helping to strengthen NC’s billion-dollar agriculture industry.
App State students help restore national wildlife refuge as part of Alternative Service Experience
April 28, 2025
Over spring break 2025, 10 App State students traveled to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge in South Carolina, where they performed volunteer work as part of an Alternative Service Experience. ASE provides students the opportunity to take part in service, learning and community engagement during breaks from school.
Climate Change Is Stressing the World’s Blood Supplies [faculty featured]
The New York Times
April 16, 2025
According to a new study, extreme weather events have threatened the global blood supply by disrupting donations, transport and transfusion safety. Dr. Maggie Sugg, associate professor in App State’s Department of Geography and Planning, explains how pregnant women who deal with blood conditions such as postpartum hemorrhage are at particular risk if the supply chain is disrupted. Sugg is a climate and health researcher at the university.
App State opens Mofford and Giffin Food Hub at its Hickory campus
Funds for the food pantry were donated by local residents David Mofford ’09 and Zac Giffin
April 7, 2025
App State has opened a new food pantry — the Mofford and Giffin Food Hub — at its Hickory campus. A vital resource for Mountaineers who are experiencing food insecurity, the new pantry was made possible by a generous donation from local residents David Mofford ’09 and Zac Giffin.
2024 — App State’s 125th year was marked by resilience, progress and opportunity
Dec. 20, 2024
Milestones from App State’s 125th anniversary year include new pathways to expand education access, record support for research funding, the continued improvement of campus facilities and recovery from Hurricane Helene — a historic natural disaster.
Hellbender heroes: App State team continues nearly 20 years of research to help protect NC’s giant salamanders
Dec. 18, 2024
Dr. Michael Gangloff and his team work to monitor the populations and habitats of the eastern hellbender, which was proposed for inclusion on the endangered species list in late 2024. The team’s efforts are part of nearly 20 years of research aimed at protecting N.C.’s giant salamanders.
App State researchers create new tool for honeybees
WXII-TV
Dec. 12, 2024
This feature from WXII-TV highlights ongoing research by Dr. Rahman Tashakkori, App State’s Lowe’s Distinguished Professor of Computer Science, who has spent years leading the development of the Beemon Hive Monitoring System.
App State team’s beehive monitoring system buzzes toward market with NCInnovation support
The monitoring system could help decrease honeybee die-off, improve hive production
Dec. 9, 2024
A $641,951 NCInnovation grant awarded to App State’s Dr. Rahman Tashakkori and his research team will support the commercialization of four components of the team’s Beemon Hive Monitoring System — an innovative tool designed to decrease honeybee hive die-off and increase hive production.
App State students, faculty and staff volunteered to help neighbors after Hurricane Helene
Nov. 27, 2024
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, App State students, faculty and staff stepped up to help those in need — both on and off campus, and during and after the disaster. Read the stories of seven Mountaineers who share how they responded to and volunteered to help others during the historic storm.