This project was previously called "Big Ten & Friends Environmental Stewardship Group" and had the following description:

"Big Ten & Friends Environmental Stewardship Group began in 2009 as a group of individuals working together to discuss challenges and to work toward solutions to common environmental problems. The group meets in the spring and fall by video conference. Topics of discussion include energy conservation, financing strategies, transportation, renewable energy, and efficient laboratories. In addition to the schools of the Big Ten Conference, the University of Notre Dame, University of Chicago, University of Texas, University of Nebraska, and the University of California schools were also represented."