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It’s a hot and wet summer morning as I step out of my apartment at 3rd Armfield, one of 51����’s apartment-style buildings on campus. The humidity hangs in the air, thick and heavy, as a raccoon casually wanders across the balcony, its eyes reflecting the early light. We’ve learned to be careful not to leave any trash cans in the open; these clever creatures will dig through them in search of an easy meal. Over the summer, students on campus have shared our living space with more than just each other. The raccoons have become regular visitors, as have the deer that occasionally graze near the complex.

Despite these uninvited guests, or perhaps because of them, this summer has been one for the books. It’s not just the wildlife that’s made it memorable; it’s also been the experience of being a part of the Sustainability Scholars program. Directed by 51����’s Sustainability Office, this program pairs 51���� students with local governmental, non-profit, or private organizations that are committed to sustainability work. It’s an incredible opportunity to explore a profession in sustainability and build connections within the Charlotte area, setting the stage for a future in this crucial field.

I was fortunate to be paired with Trane Technologies, working at their Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability. Under the guidance of my supervisor, Cal Krause, I dove into research on sustainable practices, focusing on identifying specific challenges and pathways for reducing embodied carbon in seven key materials within Trane’s supply chain.

Now, you might wonder, what exactly is "embodied carbon"? Imagine you’re producing a desk. The carbon emissions resulting from cutting down the trees and processing the wood to create that desk are considered the carbon that’s “embodied” in the product. It’s the hidden environmental cost that comes with the creation of any material good, from the raw extraction to the final product.

Throughout the internship, I developed important skills that I hadn’t anticipated needing before this program. One of the most surprising was learning how to write professional emails and communicate effectively. Much of the work I did relied heavily on email, from coordinating with colleagues to gathering information. I became adept at scheduling meetings through Teams, reaching out to people I had never met, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Communicating across different departments, I gained valuable insights into corporate sustainability practices and how different teams collaborate to achieve common goals. I even had the chance to attend professional lunches and dinners with individuals in leadership positions, which provided a real sense of what life is like in the workplace and the kinds of work professionals in sustainability do.

Fridays in the program were reserved for all the 51���� Sustainability Scholars to come together, meet, explore, and connect with people and places around the Charlotte area. Cameron, the program’s director, curated a series of amazing trips that allowed us to see sustainability in action. One of my favorites was our visit to Albemarle's lithium mine at Kings Mountain. The site had been closed since the 1990s and had transformed into a giant lake. Now, Albemarle is working on reopening the mine, and it was fascinating to hear about their plans to do so while minimizing the impact on the local ecosystem and nearby communities.

The program concluded with a luncheon at 51����’s Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where all the sustainability scholars shared their summer work in front of friends, professors, and professionals from around Charlotte. It was the perfect wrap-up to an incredible summer—one filled with learning, growth, and a deeper understanding of what it means to work in the field of sustainability.