MISSION

Advancing impactful initiatives that intertwine sustainability with education for students in DFW and beyond.

200+

members

8

participating schools

4

projects

A collage of smiling students appears over a world map, connected by drawn lines and shapes.

We work in TEAMs.

A phone screen shows a map of farm plots with a health analysis overlay and a wildfire smoke risk alert below.

Technological innovation

01

We build, research, and engineer simple, impactful inventions that students can use to tackle environmental challenges challenges in their communities.

A phone screen showing information about an apple scab diagnosis.

Environmental justice

02

We help students identify and respond to real, local issues by creating or taking part in solutions that make those conditions fairer and safer for everyone.

A phone screen showing information about an apple scab diagnosis.

Agricultural communities

03

We work with people who grow, prepare, and distribute food — whether that’s local farmers, school gardens, or food banks — to make sure sustainability solutions are practical, affordable, and meet everyday needs.

A phone screen displays a wildfire smoke alert under the "priority" section with a red button to view smoke mitigation strategies.

Municipal + school involvement

04

We team up with cities and schools to turn student ideas into action — whether it’s installing green infrastructure, starting sustainability clubs, or starting policy conversations in school districts.

Featured initiatives

For students, by students.

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Installing hydroponics in Frisco ISD schools

At Lebanon Trail and Centennial High School, students in Frisco ISD are piloting hydroponic gardens that let students and staff grow fresh lettuce right where it’s served. These vertical towers use 98% less water and land than traditional agriculture, and they are 40% more energy efficient than typical hydroponic setups. Students can actually see their lunch growing, and staff love knowing the food is organic, super local, and grown sustainably.

Coming to Frisco High School in 2025

Watch video

Students work with a vertical hydroponic garden to grow and harvest leafy greens.

Researching for social + environmental good.

By competing in ISEF / affiliated fairs, we help Frisco ISD students conduct hands-on environmental research projects. From analyzing the impact of urban agriculture on atmospheric pollution to investigating the impact of particulate matter on pediatric asthma vulnerability in areas of different vegetation, they have the opportunity to work with peers from other states and countries through the Dallas Regional Science and Engineering Fair and Texas Science and Engineering Fair.

Science Fair + Research Club

Our results in 2025

A collage of students engaging in various educational activities, including receiving awards at a science fair, collecting data in nature, and using a phone with a tripod in an open field.

Partnerships that last a lifetime.

We have established partnerships between the Computer Science, Science Fair / Research, and Sustainability clubs across 7 Frisco ISD campuses to collaborate on real-world projects like. These cross-club efforts have culminated in research recognized at the Texas Science and Engineering Fair; school-wide environmental initiatives involving composting food waste in cafeterias; and district-level presentations on solutions to local sustainability challenges through the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council, CTE center, and end-of-year symposia.

District sustainability initiatives

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Students participate in community service activities, including gardening with children, packing boxes in a warehouse, and composting food scraps outdoors.

Learning by applying.

Our students work with AP teachers across Frisco ISD for AP Environmental Science, AP Human Geography, AP Computer Science, AP Capstone, and CTE courses to help students turn what they’re learning into real-world projects, experiments, research, and service that promotes sustainability and earn recognition for it through the AP with WE Service Program.

Computer science at Frisco High School

Learn more

Students present their computer science final projects on stage in front of an audience under the hashtag #csfinalproject.

Global sustainability scholars

Become a global sustainability scholar.

This fully remote, free, 8-week fellowship brings together a close-knit community of 150+ students annually from across the globe to explore new approaches to sustainability.

Apply

Applications will open on December 1st, 2025 at 12:00am.

February 9th to April 3rd, 2026

Applications close January 16th, 2026

~3-5 hours time commitment per week

Held remotely and entirely free

01

Fostering global connections

Conduct research, implement projects, and exchange ideas on sustainability issues with like-minded people from around the world by participating in hands-on projects tailored to address sustainability challenges in your local area.

Students participate in a virtual meeting, with individual portraits highlighting some of the participants.

02

Start a research project

Conduct research on a sustainability, technology, agriculture, or environmental justice issue of your choosing through case studies, solvathons, and workshops — in groups or individually.

Students collaborate using laptops and desktop computers, both outdoors and indoors, including a virtual meeting on a laptop.

03

Innovate

Apply your research to address real-world sustainability challenges using design thinking to develop prototypes, inventions, businesses, papers, or initiatives, culminating in a final presentation. In the process, create lasting connections with peers who share your passions!

Students participate in outdoor STEM activities, including reading, operating a small robot, and observing a pond.

04

Contribute to a greener future

Whether you choose to continue your project or join our network of students passionate about sustainability, you will carry forward the tools and connections to turn your ideas into impactful solutions.

A group of nine students participate in a virtual video call, each appearing in their own screen tile.

Global sustainability scholars

Hear from 2025 alumni.

Apply

"Global Sustainability Scholars completely changed how I think about my community — I joined hoping to learn more about agtech and ended up leading a project on nitrate contamination in local irrigation systems, which we prototyped into a low-cost water testing kit during a solvathon. Working with students from Nairobi to São Paulo, I got real-time feedback on our design, and during the final symposium, I even presented it to a Texas state legislator who’s now helping me connect with local school districts to pilot it. What stuck with me was realizing that even as a high school student, I could bring together science, policy, and community to make something real."

Jalen Kim

Plano, TX

"I focused my project on extreme heat vulnerability among low-income seniors living in older apartment buildings without central AC — this was something I saw firsthand with my grandmother every summer. Through the workshops, I partnered with students in Texas to research passive cooling, and we built a low-cost window retrofit using reflective film and venting panels that dropped indoor temps by 5°F in our pilot test. I never imagined I’d be presenting that kind of data at the final symposium, but now I’m working with a community group in Santa Ana to install them in senior housing."

Amara Shah

Irvine, CA

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between sustain + ability and global sustainability scholars? How do they work?

sustain + ability is a year-round initiative that allows students in Frisco and the greater Dallas area to tackle local environmental justice and agricultural sustainability challenges through hands-on projects. Global sustainability scholars is one of its flagship programs: a fully remote, 8-week spring fellowship (Feb–Apr) that connects ~150 high school students from around the world to research a sustainability, tech, or justice issue of their choice, work through solvathons and workshops, and present at a virtual symposium. While sustain + ability runs multiple local initiatives throughout the year, GSS is the most globally collaborative and intensive track within that umbrella—and students can join either one or both depending on their interests.

Apply to GSS

Join sustain + ability

How do you become a global sustainability scholar?

To become a Global Sustainability Scholar, all you have to do is fill out a free online application—open to any high school student, anywhere in the world, who’s ready to tackle a real-world sustainability challenge in their community. The 8-week program is fully virtual (so no travel costs), runs from February to April, and only requires about 3-5 hours a week. You’ll work on a self-chosen project—whether it’s food insecurity, water contamination, atmospheric pollution, or anything else tied to sustainability—and present your work at a virtual symposium with community leaders and policymakers. Applications for spring 2026 open December 1st, 2025, and close January 16th, 2026. The primary characteristic we look for is thoughtful, genuine written responses about your passion and potential.

Apply to GSS

How do you participate in sustain + ability's initiatives? How do they work?

If you're a student in the DFW area, you can join sustain + ability by filling out the quick form below—once you do, you’ll hear back within a few days with next steps. We typically meet every other Saturday at 12pm CST on Zoom for ~90 minutes, where members share updates, brainstorm ideas in small group breakouts, and collaborate on hands-on projects. In addition to meetings, members are encouraged to dedicate a few extra hours each month to work on their own research, businesses, volunteer work, and projects. As such, te specific time commitment can vary depending on the specific projects you choose to participate in. While most of the work is virtual, we occasionally meet in person and often form inter-campus partnerships. Either way, sustain + ability creates space for DFW students to collaborate on real solutions that make a visible impact in their communities.

Join sustain + ability

Can I join sustain + ability if I'm not from DFW?

Yes! You can join sustain + ability even if you're not from DFW. While most of our projects are local, we welcome students from anywhere who care about sustainability and want to make a difference. You’ll get the same support, join our weekly virtual meetings, and either contribute to ongoing initiatives or start your own project based on issues in your community. Whether you’re just getting started or already have ideas in motion, we’re here to help you turn them into something real.