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CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s MENV program has spent more than a decade pairing graduate students with community partners on sustainability capstone projects that address needs local organizations may not otherwise have the capacity to tackle. Recent projects supported BVSD’s district-wide decarbonization plan, assessed the market for regionally native plants in ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ County, strengthened ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ County Farmers Markets’ food hub, and advanced sustainability planning for ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Theater and Fox Theater. Together, the examples show how MENV capstones create practical, lasting impact across schools, landscapes, food systems, and cultural venues in ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ and beyond.

MENV students are launching their summer Capstone Projects, partnering with organizations to tackle real-world sustainability challenges. At an April event, 25 teams presented project plans, highlighting collaboration, peer learning, and diverse approaches. Now in its tenth year, the Capstone connects nearly 80 students with public and private partners. Following presentations and feedback, teams will finalize scopes and begin work, delivering actionable sustainability solutions across Colorado and beyond.

Natalie Ooi, a teaching professor who is the director of the Masters of the Environment (MENV) program and leads the Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry specialization, studies sustainable tourism and recreation economies. CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Today recently spoke with Ooi about why this season stands out, how towns built around outdoor recreation can adapt, and what longer-term conversations communities across the Mountain West and beyond should be having.

CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s Masters of the Environment (MENV) capstone program is advancing Colorado’s clean energy transition through real-world projects on energy storage, building decarbonization and electrification. By partnering with industry and government, students produce actionable research that informs policy, investment and workforce development supporting Colorado’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040.

The Masters of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Program is CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½â€™s flagship environmental and sustainability professional graduate program. To provide our students with the best opportunities for honing their skills in

CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½'s Masters of the Environment (MENV) program partners with Colorado communities through capstone projects and coursework to build local government capacity, advance sustainability and resilience initiatives, and provide students with hands-on professional experience.

Gregor MacGregor gets bored if he sits behind a desk for too long. His energy seems boundless. That’s key because MacGregor’s interests are vast, and his personal ethos about service transcends the personal and professional.  

In a capstone project partnership with the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Watershed Collective, Masters of the Environment students study what it means to live alongside beavers 

 On October 31, 2025, the CU ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Masters of the Environment (MENV) program hosted its annual Capstone Symposium, a culminating event that showcased the passion, creativity, and applied expertise of this year’s graduating

October 3rd, 2025- ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½, CO- Nearly 200 current students, alumni, and faculty from the Masters of the Environment (MENV) program at The ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ came together for the second annual Alumni Engagement Day -