Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
@stanforddoerr.bsky.social
https://sustainability.stanford.edu/
Some wildfire smoke plumes are more toxic than others, depending on where a fire burns. Soil scientist and biogeochemist Scott Fendorf explains why: stanford.io/4cfWpZt
How toxic is wildfire smoke?
Some wildfire smoke plumes are more toxic than others, depending on the geology where a fire burns. Stanford scientist Scott Fendorf explains why.
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Inês Azevedo has been named the next director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, succeeding Chris Field on Sept. 1. A Woods senior fellow since 2019, her research spans climate change, air pollution and energy. Full announcement: stanford.io/4hGJ67W
💧 With support from the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator, based at @stanforddoerr.bsky.social, researchers are building modeling tools that could help bring clean drinking water to more people at a lower cost.
A simple idea to bring clean drinking water to U.S. homes at a lower cost
Stanford engineer Khalid Osman and collaborators are building modeling tools to help water system managers find the most cost-effective option for improving their community’s drinking water.
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“Being able to make decisions based on past experiences is good, but if you know what the risks are into the future, that’s even better.” Meet Tao Sun, a postdoctoral researcher combining his knowledge of power systems with climate research to help communities prepare for power outage risks.
Preparing communities for power outage risks
Postdoctoral researcher Tao Sun combines machine learning with decades of utility data to predict future energy disruptions.
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Stanford scholars are studying wildfire risks, connections to climate and health, and promising solutions. Explore wildfire research and insights: stanford.io/4gSnXES
Professor Noah Diffenbaugh joins @cbsmornings.bsky.social to discuss the health impacts of dangerous air quality in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast due to wildfire smoke: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fQ7...
100 million Americans across 14 states impacted by heavy smoke from Canadian wildfires
YouTube video by CBS Mornings
youtube.com
Congratulations to Jane Willenbring, associate professor in Earth and planetary sciences, who has received this year’s Excellence in Teaching Award ⭐ She’s recognized for her ability to engage students from a variety of backgrounds and create a welcoming space for them to learn. 📸 Patrick Beaudouin
Hotter, drier weather driven by climate change could nearly double water bills in some cities, new research finds. Study authors emphasize that interventions at the state and federal level are needed to ensure reliable water access for all. @woods.stanford.edu
Hotter, drier weather could double water bills in some cities, Stanford study finds
Hotter, drier conditions could leave millions of Americans struggling to afford tap water. The cost of drought resilience measures, such as desalination plants, will likely fall on ratepayers, with th...
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⚽ This summer, Stanford civil and environmental researchers studied how human activity was affected by the World Cup games in San José, CA by measuring vibrations on telecommunication cables beneath city streets. Their work could improve crowd experience and city response at future events.
A new study offers the clearest picture yet of why some ocean life survived Earth’s biggest mass extinction while most animals did not. ⬇️
Researchers confirm cause of Earth’s biggest mass extinction
Through experiments comparing living representatives of animal groups that dominated Paleozoic oceans with those that thrive today, Stanford scientists have directly linked the disappearance of once-d...
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1/3 of American households cook on gas stoves, which are known to release chemicals linked to cancers, asthma, & heart disease. This new Stanford program aims to accelerate the transition to safer, cleaner electric appliances to protect human health & support sustainable energy. stanford.io/4f2psAp
Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment@woods.stanford.edu · 4w agoWe're excited to share the launch of ⚡️Electrification for Health (E4H)⚡️, a new program based at the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health with a vision of clean air and power for all. 🔋 Read and watch more about the program: woods.stanford.edu/news/clean-a...
“Agriculture is one of the big problems that we have, and a lot of people have become out of touch with where food comes from and how it’s grown. I want to work locally on a problem that can have a real policy impact.” Meet Sierra Castañeda, Earth system science PhD: stanford.io/4vU7Qy2
With genres ranging from science fiction to thriller, find your next summer read recommended by scholars at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability ➡️ stanford.io/4gk4vU5
What motivates people to participate in collective climate efforts, such as joining a public demonstration? Explore key facts: stanford.io/3SAe8nJ
4 key facts about what motivates climate action
What does behavioral science research show about why people join collective efforts related to clean energy and other climate solutions? Learn what studies suggest about how people weigh personal bene...
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@chefjoseandres.bsky.social draws hope from seeing humanity’s best emerge in moments of crisis. In a recent conversation, he discussed food as the world’s most important energy source and turning problems into opportunities. @wck.org
Chef José Andrés on food systems, leadership, and turning problems into opportunities
During the Stanford Sustainability Forum, the chef and founder of a global food relief organization discussed access to clean cooking fuels and pathways for quickly moving solutions into action.
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El Niño is expected to drive both severe droughts & heavy rainfall around the world this year, with major disruptions in food security. Jen Burney, professor of environmental social sciences & of earth system science, discusses El Niño’s potential impacts on farmers and local government responses.
Grist@grist.org · 2mo agoThe ‘super El Niño’ is here. What happens next could upend food systems worldwide.
Rangelands including prairies & savannas support 500 million people worldwide, feeding herds of sheep, goats, and other animals. New research could help agribusinesses and countries choose grazing practices on these lands that will cut emissions targets and move them closer to their climate goals.
Less grazing, more feed for livestock in some regions may benefit climate
Altering livestock grazing could allow soils to store billions more tons of carbon each year, depending on the region. But net climate benefits depend heavily on where supplemental feed comes from.
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Prescribed fire involves deliberately igniting and managing fires to reduce dead wood, brush, and grasses that could otherwise accumulate and fuel more severe blazes. A recent study helps quantify the benefits of this fire management strategy for reducing deadly smoke pollution. stanford.io/4eo3AR1
SFGATE@sfgate.com · 2mo agoStanford released a new study.
Tropical cyclone risk has long been overlooked in Southern California. But according to a new study, climate change could make the historically rare storms more common and increase landslide risk across the region.
Hurricane rainfall and landslide risk on the rise in Southern California
Climate change could make historically rare tropical cyclones more common in Southern California, significantly expanding landslide risk across the region by 2050.
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This #WorldOceansDay, learn how @oceansolutions.stanford.edu is collaborating with teams around the world to support large-scale marine protection, secure a sustainable future for blue foods, and more. The Center for Ocean Solutions is part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.
Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions@oceansolutions.stanford.edu · 2mo agoThis #WorldOceansDay, we're reflecting on our work with partners to advance sustainable blue foods, strengthen marine conservation, and create greater equity in ocean benefits. 🌊 See some of the milestones we're celebrating: stanford.io/3RX8mMz 📸 Damocean / iStock
🪐 There are thousands of planets outside our solar system. Which of them might have the conditions to sustain life as we know it? A new research model can help scientists study this question, focusing on size and atmospheric dynamics. stanford.io/3Qrx3QN @lavainspace.bsky.social
New model refines search for habitable planets
Researchers have developed the Smaller Than Earth Habitability Model (STEHM) to assess which planets can maintain life-supporting atmospheres, focusing on size and atmospheric dynamics.
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Meet Anneli Chow, Earth Systems ’26 🩰 Between soil science research, ballet performances, and sessions as a writing tutor, Chow blends science, creativity, and community. stanford.io/3RPZNTJ
Where soil science meets ballet
From collecting soil samples to directing ballet performances, Anneli Chow blends science, creativity, and community.
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Why is the cost of electricity going up in U.S. western states? Stanford experts explain how wildfires, AI data centers, extreme weather, and deferred grid maintenance are affecting utility bills, along with strategies that could help lower costs. @michaelwara.bsky.social @woods.stanford.edu
4 key facts about electricity prices and affordability
Why is the cost of electricity going up in U.S. western states? Stanford experts explain how wildfires, AI data centers, extreme weather, and deferred grid maintenance are affecting utility bills, alo...
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Scenes from a recent conference organized by the Center for Just Environmental Futures ☀️ Attendees discussed the importance of cross-sector collaboration for reducing pollution and improving environmental & public health across populations. 🔗 stanford.io/4o7Wofa 📸 Patrick Beaudouin
Speakers at the Stanford Sustainability Forum last month discussed topics ranging from wildfire pollution to food security. Hear some of their takeaways: bit.ly/49nTMnd
Bridging scholarship to action 💡 The inaugural Stanford Sustainability Forum convened more than 480 researchers, entrepreneurs, executives, and civil society leaders from dozens of states and 13 countries to examine how research can translate to solutions. 🔗 stanford.io/4eZR2zX 📸 Patrick Beaudouin
Research on a megafire in Scotland highlights the importance of preserving peatlands, a rare type of wet ecosystem estimated to hold about a third of the world’s land-based carbon. 🔗 stanford.io/4dEyIKz @afapellegrini.bsky.social
Study finds UK’s first megafire unleashed nearly a year of fire emissions in four days
New analysis shows 85% of carbon emissions from the 2025 Dava Moor Fire in Scotland came from peat combustion, signaling a dangerous shift in how wildfires behave in historically boggy landscapes.
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A new cross-campus initiative based in the Precourt Institute for Energy, part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, aims to fundamentally rethink how people and goods move across land, sea, and air. 🔗 stanford.io/4uS8Cuu @stanfordenergy.bsky.social
With support from the TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy and the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator, part of the Doerr School of Sustainability, scholars are working to scale a fast-acting fertilizer that captures carbon. Here’s their story: stanford.io/42GgmDO
Gaining Ground
Startup with Stanford roots has developed a fast-acting fertilizer that captures carbon.
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