News and Events

Throughout April, UB celebrated Sustainability Month with over 30 events that engaged students, faculty, staff, and alumni across all disciplines, highlighting campus-wide commitment to climate action, innovation, and community impact. Key moments included Earth Day’s Climate Action Plan showcase, the announcement of major sustainability initiatives, and the recognition of changemakers through the 11th annual SLICE Awards.

Omar Suri (MUP ’25) spearheaded the creation of Western New York’s first Miyawaki mini‑forest on UB’s North Campus, a densely planted, self‑sustaining ecosystem of nearly 1,400 native saplings and understory species to transform invasive greenspace into a resilient, community‑oriented sustainability hub.

UB Sustainability’s Climate Justice Student Assistant attended Second Nature’s Higher Education Climate Leadership Summit, gaining insight into both the challenges and resilience of climate leaders facing deep cuts to environmental and equity programs.

"Temple of Hortus," a multimedia exhibition by Amanda Besl at the UB Art Gallery, explores the complex, relationships between humans and houseplants through paintings, videos, and sculptures. The immersive installation examines themes of hybridization, ownership, and the blurred boundaries between nature and artificiality, inviting viewers to reconsider their connections to the botanical world.