The Pitt Green Spotlight is a monthly series highlighting people advancing sustainability, including Pitt Green Ambassadors and Pitt’s Green Offices & Labs!
We hope these spotlights will inspire you to try out new sustainable practices in your own campus experience! Want to be included in our next highlight? Contact us.
Pitt Green Spotlight:
Sarah Ross, PhD, Professor of Neurobiology, School of Medicine
Dr. Sarah Ross is a Professor of Neurobiology in the School of Medicine and is a passionate advocate for sustainability in the health sciences through initiatives that organize both graduate students and staff to advocate for and implement more sustainable operations in lab spaces. Read on for more information about Sarah and these initiatives!
Can you tell us more about yourself?
“I am a Professor of Neurobiology. My lab studies the neural circuits that underlie pain and other sensations such as itch and temperature. I am also the Co-Director of Sustainability for the School of Medicine Graduate Students, where I facilitate student’s initiatives to make research at Pitt more sustainable. Finally, I am the Chair of RISE — Revitalizing and Inspiring Sustainable Environments, which is a floor-wide initiative in my building (Starlz BST) to improve the environment. “
What got you interested in sustainability and acting on climate change?
“One of the things that brings me the most joy is the beauty of our natural environment and the astounding diversity of life. The fact that human activity has already caused tens of thousands of life forms to go extinct is deeply troubling. Now, with the accelerating rate of climate change, projections suggest that over half the world’s species could disappear by the end of this century. I feel profound sadness for the planet that my children will inherit, and I want to do whatever I can to help limit the damage.
It’s easy to feel cynical or defeated when considering the scale of climate change and the seemingly small impact of individual actions. However, I believe that every small step we take creates a cultural shift. These small efforts accumulate, not just in their tangible impact, but in the way they shape our collective psychology. The more we act, the more invested we become — both personally and as a society — in building a sustainable future.”
How would you recommend those just getting started with sustainability on campus get involved?
“Join a Sustainability Group! If you are a student or postdoc in any of the Health Sciences, there’s a committee eager for your participation. Reach out to your faculty representative to learn how you can get involved!”
What sustainability challenge would you like to tackle next, and what would you like to see the university address?
“Our goal is to launch new sustainability programs on our floor—like composting or recycling Styrofoam—and see if we can get these initiatives to spread, one floor at a time. Eventually, we hope we can inspire others to adopt these practices across the entire building.”
Thanks to Sarah for all your efforts to advance sustainability at Pitt!