Center for Community Engagement Environment & Science

Beneski Museum of Natural History

The Beneski Museum of Natural History is one of New England’s largest natural history museums, featuring three floors of exhibits with more than 1,700 specimens on display, and tens of thousands of specimens available for use by scholars and researchers from across campus and around the world. Learn more about the museum and the collection.

Book & Plow Farm

Book & Plow was officially established in 2013 through the collective efforts of a dedicated committee of students, professors, alums, and staff that wanted to see an on-campus farm that could both supply some of Dining Services' vegetable needs with local produce and foster educational and research programs that involved the entire College. Fostering a thriving community on and off the farm, Book & Plow’s ethos is rooted in community, sustainability, and responsibility. Students are welcome to visit the farm space at any time and are encouraged to apply to the farm’s work study, summer crew, and green dean positions as appropriate. Learn more about the farm’s projects and initiatives.

Office of Sustainability

The Office of Sustainability serves as a focal point and catalyst for awareness-building, collaboration, and action on sustainability issues across campus, facilitating and coordinating sustainability efforts across the curriculum, co-curriculum, and campus operations. Learn more and get involved.

Hitchcock Center

The Hitchcock Center, located right down the road, connects people with nature and encourages a deeper emotional bond with the natural world that sustains us all. The Center helps develop a community that understands connections among human health, ecosystems, and economies through educational programs that offer a particular focus on children. Learn more about the Center.

Kestrel Land Trust

Kestrel Land Trust conserves and cares for forests, farms, and riverways in the Connecticut River Valley of Western Massachusetts while nurturing an enduring love of the land.  The organization has conserved more than 27,000 acres of wildlands, woodlands, farmland, and riverlands since 1970. Learn more about Kestrel's ongoing work.

Town of Amherst - Sustaining Amherst

Sustaining Amherst provides a single place to find information on all of the green efforts happening in Amherst.  This includes upcoming community events or programs related to sustainability, including the ValleyBike Share program. Explore the possibilities for a sustainable Amherst.

Climate Justice Now

Ashwin Ravikumar & Hannah Holleman

A 2020 survey of nearly 21,000 adults in 28 countries conducted by the World Economic Forum and Ipsos found that 86% of people want to see a more equitable and sustainable world after the pandemic. Action on climate change is central to these goals. But what kind of action do we take? Read More

Exploring the Cosmos

Kate Follette

What is the shape of the universe? How do stars die? What happens when galaxies collide? This course provides an introduction to the nature and evolution of stars, our Milky Way galaxy, other galaxies, and the origin, size, shape and fate of the universe itself. Read More

Hydrogeology

Anna Martini

As the global human population expands in a future marked by climate change, the search for and preservation of our most vital resource, water, will demand thoughtful policy and greater scientific understanding. Read More