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Turning food waste into biodegradable plastic

What if your leftover food could help solve the plastic problem? A research team led by Professor Sha Jin and PhD student Tianzheng Liu is working on a process that turns food waste into biodegradable plastic. By using bacteria to break down waste and produce eco-friendly materials, their work could help reduce both landfill waste and plastic pollution at the same time.

Bringing back native wildflowers

Native wildflowers like bloodroot and wild ginger are vital to the biodiversity of our forests and they are making a comeback thanks to a research project led by doctoral student Rosebelle Ines, alongside Associate Professor Kirsten Prior and Research Assistant Professor Christina Baer. Partnering with New York State Parks, the team is replanting species that rely on ants to spread their seeds. With restoration sites at places like the Nature Preserve and Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca, the project is helping bring the forest floor back to life. You can even watch it in action in this .

Tackling pollution – from water to energy

��������Ƶ Assistant Professor Yuxin Wang is tackling pollution from multiple angles – from water to renewable energy. Her research includes studying how “forever chemicals” (PFAS) and microplastics interact in waterways such as the Mohawk River, as well as testing how solar panels can be designed to prevent harmful materials like lead from leaching into the environment over time. Together, her work focuses on making both our water and clean energy systems safer and more sustainable.

Helping grasslands handle drought

Grasslands around the world are getting a closer look from Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Science Amber Churchill, who is part of a massive global research effort studying how these ecosystems respond to drought. One study found that adding nutrients, such as fertilizer, can help plants stay strong during short-term droughts, while another explored how grasslands adapt over time. Together, the research highlights just how important grasslands are in responding to climate change and maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Examining the health effects of air pollution

Air pollution isn’t just a big-city problem, and it can affect more than you might expect. Assistant Professor of Public Health Deena Thomas studies tiny particles called PM2.5 and how they impact everything from respiratory and heart health to even mental health. Her research also examines how awareness, data, and even nutrition can help people respond more effectively to pollution and protect their health.

Preparing Binghamton for a warmer future

The “Binghamton 2 Degrees” initiative brings together students, faculty, and the broader community to plan for how climate change could reshape the region. Kickstarted by professors Leslie Heywood and Andreas Pape, the project examines real challenges such as increased flooding, shifting ecosystems, and how we will live, work, and stay healthy in a warmer world. By encouraging collaboration across disciplines, the effort focuses on finding practical ways to adapt and prepare for the future.

Building toward cleaner, faster metal production

A research team led by Distinguished Professor Guangwen Zhou is rethinking how metals are made, with major implications for sustainability. Their study found that using hydrogen instead of carbon monoxide in the metal extraction process can make production faster and significantly cleaner, even helping reactions continue more efficiently at the atomic level. The findings point to a future of greener manufacturing with fewer emissions.

Seeking out climate clues from the ocean floor

Even miles from the coast, ��������Ƶ researchers are diving into marine science to better understand climate change. Assistant Professor Adriane Lam, Associate Professor Molly Patterson, and Professor Howard Richard Naslund, along with their students, take part in international ocean drilling expeditions that collect deep-sea sediment samples to study Earth’s climate history. By analyzing tiny fossils and ocean data, their work helps piece together how the planet’s climate has changed over time, and what that could mean for the future of our climate.

Conserving local spaces

A group of ��������Ƶ faculty and alumni is working to protect the Southern Tier’s natural beauty through the , a nonprofit focused on preserving local forests, wetlands, and open spaces. By balancing conservation with smart development, the group is helping keep the Southern Tier’s natural beauty around for years to come.

Exploring the human side of pollution

For Professor of Economics Neha Khanna, pollution isn’t just an environmental issue – it’s a personal one. Her research explores how things like air pollution, climate change, and even highway noise affect people differently, often placing a heavier burden on marginalized communities. By looking at these problems through an economic lens, she highlights the real-life effects behind environmental decisions and why policy doesn’t always impact everyone equally, especially when it comes to environmental health and exposure.

Emma Young works for the Office of Media and Public Relations as a digital content producer and is a senior majoring in English with a minor in education. She plans to pursue a career in public relations. In her free time, she enjoys baking, reading, and writing.