Frequently Asked Questions

We partner on climate action and resilience planning, sustainability assessments, community conservation, sustainability data and mapping, scenario planning, and tools that support decision-making. We also work with our partners to develop new, innovative solutions that are customized for their needs.

For a full list of our services, please see our services page.

For a list of recent projects, please see our projects archive page.

We use analysis, GIS, and visualization to clarify patterns and help stakeholders understand and act on evidence. See examples of projects that implemented data visualization and mapping.

Yes. We collaborate with municipalities, nonprofits, businesses, and community partners to align priorities and implement solutions that are grounded in evidence.

Meaningful change requires understanding how human and natural systems are connected. We work to help communities thrive — meeting the needs of all people while staying within the ecological boundaries that make life on Earth possible. That means looking beyond isolated problems to address the deeper structures and relationships that shape outcomes for both people and the planet.

The Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities is one of four institutes at Furman University, alongside the Riley Institute for Policy and Leadership, the Institute for the Advancement of Community Health, and the Hill Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. As part of Furman, we are able to draw on expertise from across the university’s many academic departments, bringing relevant faculty expertise to bear on the complex challenges our partners face.

Sustainability challenges are complex and interconnected — they don’t fit neatly into a single discipline, and neither do we. We draw on faculty expertise from across Furman’s academic departments, connecting the right knowledge to each project so that our partners get solutions grounded in both rigorous research and real-world practice.

Students gain experience through fellowships, EcoReps peer education, campus-based learning through programs like the Furman Farm, and applied projects connected to partner needs. Our student experiences are opened to all Furman students regardless of major.

Yes. The Institute supports hands-on learning across both the academic year and summer experiences. Some student experiences require applications; these applications are announced via our Instagram page and our student newsletter.

Students build practical sustainability skills such as systems thinking, research and analysis, communication, GIS and visualization (as relevant), leadership, and teamwork.

Opportunities may include project-based fellowships, communications and outreach roles, sustainability education through peer-to-peer programs, and hands-on work tied to campus sustainability initiatives.

Students work on real projects with partners and develop transferable experience that supports careers in sustainability, planning, research, and related fields.