Residing in a net-zero, LEED-certified, sustainable showcase home, next to an organic farm in the heart of Furman’s campus, the Shi Institute brings together environmental scientists and economists, urban planners and policy experts, students, faculty, and community members, and sustainability visionaries and elected officials to collaboratively pursue and promote sustainable communities.
Sustainability at Furman
Sustainability is part of our identity and has been a core university value and a strategic priority for decades.
About Us
The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities connects campus and community around promoting sustainable human flourishing through education, research, and leadership.
Programs and Services
The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities is a regional hub for sustainability education, research, and leadership. We have developed a wide array of sustainability programs to serve the local and regional sustainability ecosystem.
Meet our Staff
We are here to promote and support campus and community sustainability efforts. Have a question?
Claudia Joyce ’26: Applying global perspectives to conservation at The Greenville Zoo
Some of my earliest memories consist of visiting the Georgia Aquarium with my family. Instead of a crib mobile, I fell asleep to whale sharks swimming slow circles above my head. I am fascinated by...
Continue Reading >Introducing our 2024 Summer Fellows!
By Joy Baker '14, Associate Director of Sustainability Programs From helping the BMW Charity Pro-Am Golf tournament achieve its zero-waste goals to catching (and releasing) snakes on the Furman Farm, our Summer Fellows have had...
Continue Reading >Maggie Keller discusses her sustainability work with Project Host
The mission of Project Host is to “[use] food as a tool to nourish the hungry and train the unemployed,” something that I admire in this organization. My name is Maggie Kelleher ’26 and I...
Continue Reading >Support The Shi Institute
Your gift to The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities supports critical work in the areas of climate resilience and biodiversity protection and is invaluable to efforts geared toward advancing sustainability on campus and in our communities.
Contact Us
Looking to learn more about The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities?