Reflections on United Nations SDGs:n.6 Clean Water and Sanitation

Schiller Core Faculty: Hanqin Tian

Hanqin Tian, Schiller Institute core faculty and director of Boston College's Center for Earth System Science and Global Sustainability, highlights the university's initiatives to advance Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. This article, coordinated by the Office of Global Engagement, is part of a larger conversation through the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SARCU). 

Largest meeting of International Climate Modeling Conference held at Boston College

Schiller Core Faculty: Yi Ming

Yi Ming, Institute Professor of Climate Science and Society and professor in Earth & Environmental Sciences, led the organization of the 2024 Cloud Feedback Model Intercomparison Project (CFMiP) meeting. Climate scientists from around the world gathered at Boston College this summer to discuss clouds and cloud cover, one of the most complicated variables in predicting the course and effects of climate change. There were approximately 160 scientists in attendance – from physicists to environmental and atmospheric science to representatives from NASA, DOE, NOAA, and the European Space Agency.  

Chemistry Solutions Fueled by the Sun

Schiller Core Faculty: Jier Huang

Jier Huang, the Institute’s professor focusing on renewable energy and sustainability and associate professor in Chemistry, is pioneering solar-powered photocatalysis to combat climate change. Inspired by photosynthesis, her work transforms carbon dioxide into less harmful gases and splits water molecules into hydrogen, a cleaner alternative to natural gas. Her research is funded by grants, including a $400,000 grant from the US Department of Energy, and advanced through interdisciplinary collaborations. Dr. Huang’s innovative work reduces greenhouse gases and creates new renewable energy technologies. Her work was recently featured in Diversity in Action.

Schiller Institute Research Grants

The Schiller Institute offers two types of seed grants for BC faculty: Grants for Exploratory Collaborative Research (SI-GECS) and Grants for Research in Targeted and Emerging Areas (SI-RITEA).

SI-GECS grants support collaborative, interdisciplinary projects between two or more faculty members in the areas of energy, environment, and health. SI-RITEA grants support projects featuring the Global South and collaborations with US-based, non-academic partners. The Institute awarded grants to 12 projects for approximately $430,000 this year, which are described in the article below. The SI-GECS and SI-RITEA pages have all of the current and past projects. 

Empowering Youth Leadership in Chelsea: From Summer Training to Community Action

Schiller Affiliate Faculty: Becca Lowenhaupt

Adding on to her Schiller grant-funded research with the Chelsea Children’s Cabinet, Professor of Education and Schiller faculty affiliate Rebecca Lowenhaupt and her team organized a one-day workshop in May 2025 to reconnect participants, welcome peer mentors, and engage city leaders. Held at the Chelsea Library, the event aimed to strengthen youth leadership, build community, and inform ongoing research. The workshop was inspired by participants’ strong desire to remain engaged and further develop their leadership skills. 

International symposium reframes computer science education to include character-building

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Marina Bers

Marina Bers, Professor of Education and Schiller faculty affiliate, hosted an international symposium on reframing computer science education as a human-centered, character-building endeavor. The event, titled “A Palette of Virtues: A Humanistic Education Through Computer Science,” brought together 28 educators, researchers, and innovators from nine countries to Boston College in May 2025.

New funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Liane Young

Building on a Schiller Institute grant, Professor of Psychology and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Liane Young and 5th-year graduate student Isaac Handley-Miner received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation for their project, Truth in the Age of Large Language Models. This research examines how people determine truth, whether AI models reach similar conclusions, and how they should evaluate truth in fields like science, law, and journalism.

Award: Collaborative Research: Science and Information Integrity: Strategies for Rebuilding Trust in Science

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Mo Jones-Jang

Professor of Communication and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Mo Jones-Jang has received the NSF Science of Science Award (2024–2027) for research on strengthening public trust in science. This project investigates how misinformation and current fact-checking approaches impact trust, developing evidence-based strategies for effective science communication in the post-truth era.

BC STEM educators guide Charles River Collaboratory project for underserved youth

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Avneet Hira

Professor of Human-Centered Engineering, Sabet Family Dean’s Faculty Fellow, and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Avneet Hira leads a NSF-funded Collaboratory project that provides underserved youth with hands-on STEM learning experiences. This initiative fosters creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills, helping students build confidence and envision futures in STEM fields.

Co-chairing the 2nd Research Innovations in Sustainable Marketing Global Symposium

Schiller Faculty Affiliate: Gergana Nenkov

Professor of Marketing and Schiller Faculty Affiliate Gernana Nenkov has been named a co-chair for the 2nd Research Innovations in Sustainable Marketing Global Symposium (RISM2025) in collaboration with the European Marketing Academy (EMAC). This premier event brings together global scholars and industry leaders to explore cutting-edge research and strategies for sustainable marketing. 

Research Spotlight Archive

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