UNE students put sustainability lessons to work locally [Video]

A half-dozen University of New England students put their classroom knowledge to work last summer helping local partners tackle sustainability challenges such as how to reduce extreme heat, lay hiking trails through wetlands, and help businesses reduce their carbon footprints.

The students were UNE’s first sustainability fellows, each paid a $6,800 stipend to work full time over 10 weeks to address real-world sustainability challenges identified by local community partners, such as Climatework Maine, The Ecology School and Nonantum Resort.

“For me, the fellowship was like a trial run for my career,” said Abby Tasca, a 21-year-old from Worcester. “As a marine biology major, I thought I’d do research. But I keep taking marine affairs and law classes. So this summer was a test. Could I really love the business side?”

For Tasca, who spent 400 hours building a five-year business plan for The Ecology School in Saco, the answer was …