on the forefront of what comes next
Purdue University’s Institute for a Sustainable Future (ISF) promotes research, partnerships, and engagement that advance the understanding of persistent global sustainability challenges.
Western Digital Data Storage
ISF was gifted 1.2 petabytes of hard disk drive (HDD) storage from digital storage giant Western Digital to further enable research that relies on quick access to big data repositories.
Rethinking Systems for Sustainability
ISF’s Chad Laux (POLY) has always been drawn to systems and how they can be made better — which has evolved into a commitment to rethinking how we use resources entirely.
Carcinogens in Drinking Water
PFAS researcher Jennifer Freeman spoke to Newsweek discussing the Waterkeeper Alliance study, which found carcinogenic PFAS chemicals in drinking water sources across 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Partnerships and Purpose
Aaron Thompson’s work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: that sustainable and resilient landscapes emerge when science, planning, and community voices come together.
Transforming Environmental Discovery
Maria Sepúlveda has always been driven by a deep curiosity about the relationship between environmental health and the well-being of people and ecosystems.
Key areas of research impact
Our research spans a wide range of sustainability challenges, technologies, and solutions — highlighting where Purdue science has the greatest potential to improve lives and ecosystems.
In the News
Recent News
IN Statewide PFAS Network
ISF research leaders Jennifer Freeman and Marisol Sepulveda have led the development of the Purdue-based Indiana Statewide PFAS Network, which brings together research resources, statewide institutes and collaborators, and funding opportunities for furthering critical PFAS research.
Recent News
Purdue Leads NSF-Funded Agrivoltaics Project
Purdue University has received a National Science Foundation grant to establish the Regional Resilience Innovation Incubator (R2I2): Midwest Agrivoltaics for Resilient Communities (MARC). This initiative aims to help rural Midwest communities withstand extreme weather by integrating agriculture with solar energy systems. The Phase 1 award positions Purdue to compete for up to $15 million in Phase 2 funding.
Recent News
Redesigned Field Buffers Boost Water Quality and Cut Pollution
Exciting new research led by ISF affiliate Aaron Thompson (HLA), in collaboration with Purdue, Iowa State University, and the USDA, explores how redesigning edge-of-field conservation buffers can dramatically improve sediment capture and reduce runoff pollution.
News & Stories
Explore the people, discoveries, and ideas driving sustainability research at Purdue.
Much has been accomplished by ISF through the communities, special initiatives, strategic research teams, and other internal endeavors. We will build upon these accomplishments and the foundation that has been set as we explore new horizons to elevate the status of ISF.
Margaret Gitau
Director of Purdue University’s Institute for a Sustainable Future
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Stay up to date with ISF news, announcements, publications, and more, and see how our researchers are advancing sustainability.
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