Connecting the Dots...By Cathy L. Z. DuBois, Ph.D. What strikes me about this week’s AASHE Bulletin postings is that they reflect an inspiring amount of commitment. Clearly, sustainability initiatives call forth the better aspects of our human nature. Sustainability urges us to think beyond the narrow – beyond our small selves and our current needs, to identify and invest in the greater good. To be sure, it complicates things.
Consideration of whole systems requires creatively accommodating a wide range of interests and needs including those that are inconvenient and make us uncomfortable; this builds flexibility and strength. Following are some of the examples of commitment I draw from this week’s entries. Read more  | |
Education & Research
Curriculum
Co-Curricular Education & Student Organizing
Research
Campus Operations
Buildings
Climate
Energy
Transportation
Planning, Administration & Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Funding
New Resources
Opportunities
Jobs & Internships
Events
Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums Highlights
Education & Research
Curriculum
The university has redesigned its Master of Business Administration program to focus on globalization, communication and sustainability. Starting this fall, students will be able to choose from seven different concentrations.
See also: AASHE Resource: Sustainability-Focused Programs in Business, Management & Finance
The university's new bachelor’s degree program focuses on social, cultural and environmental dynamics in communities, cities and nations, and will include a community development concentration. Students will examine how these dynamics impact the development of sustainable systems.
See also: AASHE Resource: Sustainability-Focused Baccalaureate Degree Programs
The university's new major, set to launch this fall, will include introductory sustainability courses, electives and an applied learning experience. Students will have the opportunity to choose from two concentrations in public communication or science.
See also: AASHE Resource: Sustainability-Focused Baccalaureate Degree Programs
The Council of Graduate Schools has approved the university’s master degree programs in resource management and conservation, and environmental studies for affiliation as Professional Science Master’s programs.
The recognition confirms that the programs effectively train students to be both scholars and practitioners.
See also: AASHE Resource: Sustainability-Focused Master's Degree Programs
Three faculty members have been awarded Sustainability Course Development Fellowships for 2012. Courses to be developed include "Pleasure, Pain and Peak Oil," "Hands-on LEED for Existing Buildings on Campus” and "Cheaper is not Better, Zero is: Sustainable product development starts with students." The fellowship program supports efforts to enhance instruction of topics related to sustainability and environmental literacy.
Co-Curricular Education & Student Organizing
Inspired by the economic plight of a community in the Dominican Republic during a service trip, a senior at the university has successfully campaigned for the university's Fair Trade status. The status commits the university to support Fair Trade through the use of fair trade products where feasible in university-operated/owned outlets, meetings and special events; Fair Trade education and awareness building on campus; and general support of Fair Trade through procurement practices.
See also: AASHE Resource: Campus Fair Trade Practices and Policies (AASHE Member Resource)
Research
A professor and head of chemistry at the university has received a $390,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to test methods of coating solar panel films using nanoparticles from a chemical group called metal chalcogenides. The inexpensive films could be wrapped over everything from vehicles to buildings to gain maximum sunshine exposure and produce electricity.
The institute has partnered with Powin Energy to provide battery testing equipment for students and faculty in the renewable engineering program. Students will conduct advanced experiments on batteries, the results of which will be publicly disseminated to help inform companies that design and use batteries.
Campus Operations
Buildings
The university has completed construction on its 127,000-square-foot science complex that was designed to be both sustainable and to serve as an environmental learning tool. Sustainable features include a 10-kilowatt photovoltaic system, rooftop garden, geothermal system and wind turbines. The facility also features a heliostat that helps capture natural daylight.
See also: AASHE Resource: Green Science Buildings (AASHE Member Resource)
After a two-year, $23 million renovation, the university's classroom building features low-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient windows. The renovation included the refurbishment and reinstallation of the original hardwood floors, clay roof tiles and marble.
Climate
During a recent a three-day Appalachian Energy Summit hosted by Appalachian State University and Rocky Mountain Institute, representatives from all 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system and five private colleges made a signatory commitment to work toward carbon neutrality by 2050. The inaugural event was designed to aid in the creation of actionable energy plans that benefit students, the environment and the local economy. The summit launches a multi-year process in which participating campuses will collaborate to set goals, share best practices and educate leadership on integrated design and the latest technologies. The five private colleges include Catawba College, Davidson College, Duke University, Warren Wilson College and Wake Forest University.
A recent five-year report released by the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) reveals that collectively, the ACUPCC network of almost 700 signatories has reduced gross greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent since 2007. Released in conjunction with the ACUPCC's annual Climate Leadership Summit, the report also states that more than 30 percent of signatories have targeted climate neutrality within 20 years and, by 2022, signatories are projected to reduce their gross emissions by more than 50 percent.
Energy
The new data center has the capacity to house up to 1 megawatt of high-performance computing equipment in a compact container the size of several shipping containers. With the flexibility to expand its capacity as needed, the center is designed to cool equipment 75 percent of the year with the use of outdoor air.
The college’s Center for Energy Conservation and Advanced Manufacturing has announced plans to install a 47-foot wind turbine at its Oak Creek campus. If approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, the turbine would join the campus' 510-kilowatt Photovoltaic Educational Laboratory solar array.
See also: AASHE Resource: Wind Turbine Installations on Campus (AASHE Member Resource)
See also: AASHE Resource: Campus Solar Photovoltaic Installations Database
Transportation
The university has ordered an electric bus to transport students across campus. The bus will charge its batteries wirelessly through a pioneering recharge-station technology developed by Utah State University. Funding was provided by a federal grant.
See also: AASHE Resource: Campus Electric Vehicle Fleets (AASHE Member Resource)
Planning, Administration & Engagement
Coordination & Planning
Julian Dautremont-Smith has been named as the college's chief sustainability officer. Dautremont-Smith was most recently with Green Schools National Network, analyzing green school assessment and recognition tools, and developing recommendations for the creation of a new national green school rating system. Dautremont-Smith has also held an associate director position at AASHE and currently serves as a STARS Steering Committee member.
The university’s College Reunions department has achieved platinum-level certification by its Office of Sustainability for reducing the carbon footprint of its 2012 reunion weekends. The department worked with other groups on campus to promote green transportation methods, use renewable products, order locally produced food and dispose of waste carefully. The reunions are the largest on-campus events ever to receive the highest level of green event certification.
Funding
Funded by the New York Power Authority, the university will design and, if approved, construct a 2.8-megawatt wind turbine. The project is expected to provide up to one-third of the electricity needed to power the campus and provide educational opportunities for students.
See also: AASHE Resource: Wind Turbine Installations on Campus (AASHE Member Resource)
The university’s Institute in Energy, Water and Sustainability has received a $1,643,700 grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada to train approximately 20 students a year in research areas including the production of renewable energy and the optimization of water usage in industry.
"Innovations in Campus Sustainability" explores new and ground-breaking practices within the Innovation (IN) category of AASHE's STARS program, focusing on the unique solutions within higher education that positively impact current and future generations. With 11 institutions highlighted, this issue covers data from STARS reports submitted through June 1, 2012.
The higher education community is invited to submit papers for the Ninth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, to be held January 23-25, 2013 at the International Conference Center Hiroshima in Japan. This interdisciplinary conference is for scholars, teachers, and practitioners from any professional discipline who share an interest in sustainability where environmental, cultural, economic and social concerns intersect. The deadline to submit is Aug. 8, 2012.
(U.S.): The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water has launched the Campus RainWorks Challenge, inviting undergraduate and graduate students teams to create an innovative green infrastructure design for a site on their campus that demonstrates how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the campus community and the environment. Winning teams will earn a cash prize, as well as funds for their faculty adviser to conduct research on green infrastructure. Registration opens September 4.
This survey by Pierce Energy Planning asks the higher education community to share information about the sustainability practices in place at their institutions. The survey will inform an upcoming book that aims to identify best practices in energy conservation and sustainability within educational institutions. All responses will be kept confidential unless otherwise specified.
Participants in this survey will help inform the thesis of a graduate urban management and development student at Erasmus University Rotterdam. The thesis looks at "Challenges and Opportunities for Practicing Campus Sustainability in Universities."
The university's School of Earth Sciences is seeking an associate director for its Emmett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and Resources, a graduate degree program that trains students in finding solutions to real-world environment and sustainability problems. The position will serve as the chief academic staff officer of the program with overall responsibility for program management. Successful candidates will have a Ph.D. or professional degree in a related subject area and five to seven years of relevant program management/development experience.
The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences seeks faculty candidates for a university-year appointment in the areas of aqueous/low-temperature geochemistry, geochronology and global climate change, starting September 2013. Faculty will be expected to establish an independent research program and contribute to both undergraduate and graduate teaching in a large public university. Successful candidates will have a Ph.D.
The visiting professor will teach introductory courses in energy systems engineering and energy policy, and upper-level courses in project management and environmental science. This interdisciplinary teaching position is a joint nine-month appointment between the Institute for the Environment and Sustainability and the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Successful candidates will have a master’s degree in a related field and teaching experience.
This position will manage a large‐scale research project and national network on environmental sustainability policy and practice in K-12 and higher education in Canada. The project manager will facilitate connection and collaboration between research team members and oversee day-to-day activities of the research network. Successful applicants will have a Master's in Business Administration or related field and a minimum of four years of project management experience. Applications will be accepted through July 18, 2012.
Oct. 14-17, 2012; Los Angeles, CA
Registration is now open for AASHE 2012: Investing in the Future. The conference will feature campus tours, a Student Summit with keynote speaker Billy Parish, and workshops including "Campus Recycling & Zero Waste" and "Communicating Sustainability to Create Change." New this year, the conference will feature advanced sessions and an advanced track. Look out for the conference schedule to be announced this week.
July 18, 2012; 11:30 a.m. Eastern; Online
This American Clearinghouse on Educational Facilities webinar is focused on educating administrators and designers on the common accessibility issues that many universities encounter on their campuses and inclusive design strategies that can be adopted to help create more usable, safer and friendlier campuses.
| Campus Sustainability Discussion Forums Highlights |
Click on the titles below to view the full discussion thread.
Does anyone know of any scholarly, academic, or reputable resources on the environmental impacts of events? I am creating a green events website for an internship and was hoping to have impact information, but I am having difficulty finding articles. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
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