Announcing Sustainability Week 2015 Events

OCT. 9, 2015 — A chronological look at some of the iSEE-related events that will take place during Sustainability Week on Oct. 19-23:

 

CAMPUS TREE WALK: Noon-1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19 — starts at the north entrance of the Illini Union

Join Gary Kling, Associate Professor of Horticulture and a member of the Campus Tree Advisory Committee, which is seeking Tree Campus USA status for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign this year. On the walk, Kling will highlight some of the valuable and historic trees in the heart of campus near the Quad. The route consists of about 35 species, including large grand old specimens of Ginkgo, Bur Oak, American Beech, Red Oak, Bald Cypress, the longest-lived plant in the world (Bristlecone Pine), and a number of small ornamental  trees like Serviceberry, Fullmoon Maple, Paperbark Maple, and Oriental Cherry.

 

OFFICIAL 2015 iCAP RELEASE & FORUM: 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 (Sustainability Day) — Illini Union Room A

Join us for the official release of the 2015 Illinois Climate Action Plan (iCAP) promptly at 1 p.m.

After the iCAP goes public, learn more about the details of the Plan, and about the progress of campus sustainability at Illinois as each of iSEE’s Sustainability Working Advisory Teams (SWATeams) share the latest results and the path forward in the areas of:

We will also discuss ways that you can get involved to help reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and transform Illinois into a global role model for campus sustainability!

Register here: https://illinois.edu/fb/sec/3510756

 

SUSTAINABILITY DAY KEYNOTE EVENT: 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 — National Soybean Research Center (NSRC) Room 149

Award-winning filmmaker Shalini Kantayya will share her new feature documentary “Catching the Sun: The Race for the Clean Energy Future.” The film follows the lives of unemployed American workers training for jobs in the solar industry to expose some hard questions about creating a clean energy economy.

After a screening, Kantayya will speak about making the film, the conclusions it draws, and take questions from the audience.

This event is presented by iSEE and the Solar Decathlon, Beyond Coal, and U.S. Green Building Council student organizations. Let us know you’re coming, and invite your friends to this event on Facebook!

 

WASTE TRANSFER STATION TOUR: 11 a.m.-noon Thursday, Oct. 22 — WTS, 10 E. St. Mary’s Road, Champaign

During this Sustainability Week, learn how recycling happens for our campus! Tracy Osby, Coordinator of Waste Management & Recycling, will walk us through the facility and describe the process for sorting recyclables. Limited space available: You (and your guest) should up sign up now using our form.

 

Other Campus and Community Events During Sustainability Week

“Climate Crisis, Climate Justice, and Imagining a Post-Fuel Future.” Join Unit One Guest-in-Residence Sarah van Gelder, a writer and opinion leader on innovative approaches to the world’s biggest challenges, as she leads a discussion on what life will be like in a post-fossil-fuel future — and why we need to get there fast. The discussion is set for 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, in Allen Hall’s South Rec Room. Learn more about van Gelder at Unit One’s website: http://bit.ly/1LlUYGP

Energy Conservation Incentive Program (ECIP) Awards Ceremony. Eight facilities on the Urbana campus will win funding for facility improvements as recipients of the 2015 ECIP awards. The ECIP encourages energy conservation through the behavioral and structural changes of academic units and cooperation of building occupants. The awards ceremony is set for 4:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in NSRC Room 149 (right before the Sustainability Week keynote event, see above, in the same room). More info here.

“Inequality and Sustainability: A New Economy Emerging.” Van Gelder (see more info above) will discuss how we can transform the economy to address inequality and concentrations of wealth and power, and what new democratic models are emerging. The talk is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, in the Allen Hall South Rec Room.

“Post Best Management Practices for Improving the Quality of Stormwater.” Brad Bennett, City of Urbana Environmental Engineer, will discuss the Green Infrastructure improvement to the Boneyard Creek, and City of Champaign’s Eleanor Blackmon and Alex Nagy will follow up with Champaign’s Green Infrastructure implementation in the large stormwater management projects including the Boneyard and West Washington Street Detention Basin. A light lunch will be included during the presentations. This Champaign County Sustainability Network (CCNet) event is set for noon Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Urbana Civic Center, and after lunch participants will walk the Boneyard to see the Green Infrastructure.

 

 

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