Celebrating our work in 2024!

During 2024, The Shi Institute continued to build its commitment to creating a greener, healthier future for our campus and beyond. Here are a few highlights:

Sustainability Myth Busters: Debunking Misconceptions and Driving Action

The Shi Institute’s Dr. Andrew Predmore, Laura Bain and Mike Winiski presented “Sustainability Myth-Busters: Debunking Misconceptions and Driving Action” to an audience of more than 100 people at the 2024 Maximizing Our Future Upstate Summit, hosted by Ten at the Top at the Greenville Convention Center (shown above). The mission of Ten at the Top is to encourage collaboration and partnerships on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life in the Upstate. This year’s event included sessions on “Maximizing Workforce & Entrepreneur Opportunities” and “Maximizing Sustainability Amid Continued Growth.”

Exploring Sustainability Leadership through Climate Change, Technology and Wisdom

Executive Director Dr. Andrew Predmore presented the keynote lecture for the Rotary District 7750 Conference this fall in downtown Greenville. He encouraged the audience to lean into systems thinking and a more complex understanding of our sustainability challenges, particularly when it comes to climate change. He pointed out that we’ll need technology but that it’s not a silver bullet. We’ll need to reconsider individual values (materialism and consumerism) and culture (perhaps a return to old values, and showed that prioritizing opposing values (community, spirituality, intrinsic) values are tied to happiness and pro-social and pro-environmental behaviors. Humans are a clever species but now is a time for collective wisdom, especially with the development of AI and other technologies that will either accelerate ecological ruin, or alternatively, applied with wisdom, open the door for a new golden age for humanity. Photo: Amy Randall Photography

Promoting Sustainable Living through the Greenbelt Community

The Greenbelt Engaged Living Community is a residential living-learning community by Furman Lake intended to foster sustainable living and lifestyle choices among 14 student residents.

“Living in the Cottage has fostered an environment and community that supports and encourages me, along with others, to practice and learn more about sustainable living and keep each other accountable.”
Anastasia Svachenko ‘27

“Living in the Greenbelt has opened my eyes and ears to issues like this (waste of single use products) and the problems they pose from a local and systemic perspective.” Garrett Ritter ‘27

“The eco-cabins serve as a bridge between everyday people and habits that must be adopted to create a sustainable future. It has served as a symbol to the Furman community that we acknowledge the lasting effects of climate change and that we will commit ourselves to do everything we can to create a different life in the future. Most importantly, we do it together, as a community, rather than trying to conquer society’s biggest problems solo.”
Luke Anderson ‘26

To learn more about the Greenbelt community, visit here.

Advancing Resilience in the Lowcountry

The Beaufort County Planning and Zoning Department hosted the Regional Resilience Accelerator Workshop in September. The workshop was facilitated in partnership with the Shi Institute at Furman University and Resilient Cities Catalyst as part of the Climate Ready America program led by Geos Institute. The Regional Resilience Accelerator Workshop aimed to foster collaboration among resilience practitioners in the Beaufort region. By bringing together 64 individuals from 30 organizations to share their experiences and challenges regarding advancing resilience to various shocks and stresses, the workshop inspired new partnerships and approaches to achieving goals and identified areas for improvement. Throughout the workshop, participants could learn from one another, elevate their own initiatives, and collectively map a path forward to ensure critical work that builds greater resilience is not only prioritized but is accelerated.

Planning for Resilience

Director of Applied Research Mike Winiski and Climate Resilience Manager Adelaide Bates  presented “Planning for Resilience” this summer at the SC City and County Managers Association in Hilton Head.

Promoting Sustainable Living through the Eco Reps

The Eco Reps Program at Furman trains student leaders to promote sustainable practices on campus and encourage sustainably responsible behaviors among peers. This year, we were proud to have 31 Eco Reps volunteering their time with us on campus. Some of Furman’s Eco Reps are shown at this fall’s Convocation.

“Eco Reps is a wonderful organization where students can learn leadership skills while assisting their peers in cultivating sustainable lifestyle habits. As an Eco Rep fellow I have grown in my leadership, team work and communication skills. I feel confident graduating Furman and going into my future with the skills I’ve learned thanks to the Shi Institute.” Stella Frisbie ‘25, Eco Rep Fellow

Learn more about the Eco Reps in this Furman News feature!