Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World

Upcoming Events

Nov. 18:
Greener Virginia-CommonHealth workshop, USB 102, 1-3pm

Earth Portal

The Earth Portal is a comprehensive resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the environment.







Conservation Tips

The university will be an environmentally literate community whose members think critically and act, individually and collectively, as model stewards of the natural world. – A JMU Defining Characteristic



What do I need to know?

Of the myriad definitions of sustainability, JMU has adopted the definition used by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education: sustainability encompasses human and ecological health, social justice, secure livelihoods, and a better world for all generations. (AASHE, 2009 http://www.aashe.org/about/about.php

Human health and well-being are dependent upon our ecosystems.  Our planet supports provisioning (e.g., food, water, wood), regulating (e.g., climate, flood control, water purification), and culture (e.g., spiritual, aesthetic, and recreation).

Our individual environmental actions do matter: national parks and forests are preserved, damage to the ozone layer is being mitigated through changes in our production and use of ozone depleting substances, and eagle populations have been restored.

JMU’s environmental stewardship effort specifically focuses on environmental literacy,
critical thinking, and environmentally responsible behavior change. We strive to be “eco-WISE": wary, investigative and scientific in our approach, and environmental stewards in our actions.

RecycleMania at JMU 2009, Third in State - Waste Minimization

No Drive Day 2008


Campus Sustainability Day 2008: Trash Sort and Sustainable Business Competition Announcement

LOGO: STEM

JMU Faculty Members Present Sustainability-related Curricular & Co-curricular Highlights (videos)

Dr. Morgan Benton
Dr. Marta Bechtel
Dr. Christie-Joy Brodrick Hartman
Dr. Chris Bachmann and Dr. Rob Prins
Dr. Jim Sochacki


Duke Dog says "Get Caught Recycling at JMU!"