Archive Posts
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VIDEO: St. Thomas Students Collaborate to Save Discarded Pianos
St. Thomas 2025 - Lead in STEAM EducationIt’s a heavy, clunky and often emotional problem: how to dispose of an old piano. Once glorified as a beautifully crafted wooden frame housing musical strings and polished keys, unwanted pianos can often end up neglected and ultimately, in the trash. To solve that issue, every fall University of St. Thomas students seek sustainable alternatives.…
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What Powers John Abraham? The Answer May Be in His Backyard
Sustainability & EnvironmentUniversity of St. Thomas engineering professor John Abraham, a globally known expert on climate change, is on a quest to make the world a better place. That quest begins in his very own backyard. When Abraham invites visitors into his south Minneapolis backyard, guests may first notice the large vegetable garden. But after looking up,… -
A Reimagined Way to Address Food Insecurity
Business & LawSpotting an opportunity to combat food waste and hunger while working in facilities management as a student worker, Will Pittner ’22 has partnered with the University of St. Thomas to redistribute excess food to people in need within the community. His start-up, Food to People, is an innovative system to help alleviate food insecurity by… -
Italian Vineyard Serves as Tommie Science Lab
Sustainability & EnvironmentWhen most people imagine a cutting-edge scientific laboratory, donkeys, wine and vines rarely make an appearance. But for University of St. Thomas student and biochemistry major Clara Lucero ’24, that was exactly the kind of laboratory she embraced this summer. Instead of a long parade of beakers and microscopes, this laboratory featured plenty of fresh… -
In the News: John Abraham Joins CNN to Discuss Earth’s Hottest Day on Record
In the NewsJohn Abraham, mechanical engineering professor at the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, recently joined CNN International to discuss rising global temperatures, El Niño’s effect on weather patterns and what humans can do to help slow the trajectory of climate change. From the story: John Abraham is a climate scientist and professor at the… -
John Abraham on Record Ocean Surface Temperatures and Their Impact on Weather Patterns
In the NewsJohn Abraham, engineering professor at the University of St. Thomas, recently spoke with NBC News about a temporary El Niño pattern expected to contribute to more intense storm systems and exacerbate the impacts of climate change. From the story: Daily sea surface temperatures last month reached highs not seen in at least four decades of… -
In the News: Mahmoud Kabalan and Maria Dahmus on the Importance of Sustainability Efforts at St. Thomas
Sustainability & EnvironmentMahmoud Kabalan, director of the Center for Microgrid Research, and Maria Dahmus, director of the Office of Sustainability Initiatives and the Sustainable Communities Partnership at the University of St. Thomas, recently spoke with Upstream about a wide range of sustainability-related work happening at the university. From the story: Situated along the Mississippi River in the… -
Digging for Answers: Microbiology Research Tackles Antibiotic Resistance
ResearchAt the start of Dr. Joanna Klein’s Microbiology and Health course this February, St. Thomas students were assigned the ultimate biology treasure hunt. Instead of rubies or gold bars, their search was for something much more valuable: dirt. Topsoil is far from flashy, and yet, with just the right amount of luck, it could yield… -
How St. Thomas Earned Its Top 50 Green College Ranking
Sustainability & EnvironmentSustainability has been a core part of the St. Thomas mission for years. Recently, that commitment has drawn eyes on a national level. This past November 2022, St. Thomas was ranked for the first time in the Top 50 Green Colleges by the Princeton Review. So how exactly did the university earn a spot on… -
St. Thomas Energy Innovation Receives Multiyear Funding From Congress
St. Thomas 2025 - Lead in STEAM EducationUniversity of St. Thomas’ innovation in renewable energy is catching the eye of lawmakers in Washington, resulting in new federal partnerships that are garnering national attention. Thanks to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, more than $10 million is on its way to St. Thomas to advance microgrid research and establish a new center…