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SMHEC 2012 Student Sustainability Summit September 28, 2012 Governors State University 11:30 am – 5:00 pm Breakout Sessions 2:00 pm – 2:40 pm Breakout Sessions A
1. Sustainability Around the Globe for Folks With Short Attention Spans Center for Performing Arts Lobby Students in the Intensive English Language Program – Moraine Valley Community College 4:20 pm Closing Remarks
Jamie Viebach Email: jamie@viebach.nett Student, Governors State University Abstract: Each of us makes hundreds of choices every day ("Should I set my thermostat at 68 or 72?”, "Do I stop for a cup of coffee or bring one from home?”). During this presentation, take a virtual walk through a typical home and see how you can easily incorporate more sustainable decisions in your everyday life. Topics will include water and energy conservation, toxic cleaners, composting, and more. Workshop/Panel Plan: This workshop will be a presentation with PowerPoint detailing ways to make more sustainable choices at home. Topics to be adressed will include composting (including vermicomposting), water and electrical use reduction, reducing the use of toxic chemicals (i.e. cleaning products and personal care), etc. The format will be a virtual walk through a typical home with sustainable tips and tricks offered along the way. Time will be allotted at the end for Q&A. Materials will be available electronically for those who would like them. Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with? Participants will:
Using Campus Land to Promote and Maintain Biodiversity Rebecca Preisler, Dwight DeVries, Lee Witkowski, & Dr. Jerry Kavouras Lewis University Abstract: Conservation and restoration will be highlighted in this presentation. The Romeoville campus of Lewis University will be used as an example on how to promote biodiversity. Details: According to the famous philosopher Aristotle, everything in this world has a unique function, and if it is functioning properly, it is said to be flourishing. To flourish is to grow, succeed, and function properly. Many ecosystems are doing everything BUT that. This is due to the invasive, ignorant, and destructive tendencies of humans. Nevertheless, it is our responsibility to educate others, and enable all ecosystems to flourish. Conservation is a process that maintains the beauty and balance of an ecosystem. Restoring and maintaining local habitats promotes biodiversity. The more diverse an ecosystem is the healthier it is. Moreover, a healthy ecosystem has the opportunity to flourish. Planting native species is important to the restoration of a local habitat. Often, non-native species are planted and later become invasive species. Invasive species may overtake a habitat due to the lack of local competition, and if an invasive species expands, it severely minimizes the biodiversity of that ecosystem. A plot of land as little as a backyard can be used to promote biodiversity. But, like the saying goes, the bigger the better! The landscape of college campuses should be utilized to promote biodiversity, but also campus awareness. Lewis University sets an example of how to promote and maintain biodiversity on campus. The Conservation Foundation has recently awarded Lewis with the sustainable development award. One reason the award was given is for the success of the native restoration plot located on campus. During the recent drought, the restoration plot bloomed while many other plants wilted and died. Plants native to the Chicago land area have deeper roots that retain more water. This enabled them to survive the drought. A forested area on campus and permeable pavers (instead of concrete sidewalks) support the recharge area for a nearby wetland that is crucially for the Hines Emerald Dragonfly. Native plants fill the campus landscape and the campus has been recognized as an arboretum. These initiatives promote biodiversity by maintaining ecological services and providing habitats for native organisms. Outcomes: At the end of this presentation, attendees will understand the significance of using campus land to promote native biodiversity and have some ideas on how to transform their campuses.
Lydia Quinones Student, Governors State University Abstract: To provide awareness about the ease of being sustainable. Methods of being sustainable can be facilitated through simple and basic everyday observations of habits and by making small steps of changing known behavior that is not sustainable. Change can include shopping at sustainable food outlets, water conservation, and choosing other energy sources. Workshop/Panel Plan: The plan of the panel is to provide information through verbal, and overall interactive methods to highlight the interconnection of food, water and energy. This approach will however highlight the methods and resources of community-based and school-based efforts upon food and taking an activist's approach in creating efforts of sustainability. In focusing on food, efforts become more clear and rational and some overall commonsense approaches come about as the correlation of food, water and energy become readily apparent to the audience. Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with?
Long, Rusty Cesspool or Valuable Cultural, Historical and Natural Resource? Sustainability and the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Jaclyn Wingate JaclynWingate@stfrancis.edu and Kaitlyn Studer KaitlynStuder@stfrancis.edu Students, University of St. Francis Abstract: This workshop will discuss the use of sustainability assessments within a social-ecological inventory framework. An applied example, conducted Spring 2012, from the Starved Rock section of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor will be used to illustrate the concepts. Workshop/Panel Plan: This workshop will first use a didactic presentation style to explain conceptualization and operationalization of a sustainability assessment. An applied example from the I&M Canal will be demonstrated. Handouts of a social-ecological framework will be distributed and questions will be answered about best practices when utilizing this sustainability measurement tool. Details: The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor (IMCNHC) is home to many tourist attractions, businesses, farmers and recreationists. Decades ago, the I&M Canal was instrumental in establishing Chicago as a passageway for goods, but now it is used for different purposes. Modernly, the I&M Canal is known for its trails, bike paths, and relaxing atmosphere as it connects 57 communities along 96 miles of corridor. In the Spring of 2012 six students from a Sustainable Tourism class conducted a sustainability assessment for the Starved Rock Section of the IMCNHC. Sustainability assessments can help in determining direct planning as well as decision making towards sustainability issues, which include social, ecological, economic and institutional factors. A Social-Ecological Inventory framework was utilized to identify key stakeholders and solicit interviews about perceptions of the Starved Rock area of the Canal. Interviewees included members of the Canal Corridor Alliance, the Heritage Corridor Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Starved Rock Foundation, the Starved Rock Lodge, the Hegeler-Carus Mansion, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Mendota Chamber of Commerce. Altogether, 17 organizations were contacted, either by e-mail or telephone, and 10 provided interviews for a response rate of 58.8%. Each interviewee was asked the same seven questions, which related to sustainability in general, marketing, economic benefits, natural resources, communication, decision making and partnerships. Data were analyzed through a qualitative content analysis to identify topics, which were synthesized to build themes based on either respondent agreement or divergent viewpoints. The themes that were found indicated that many organizations were "on the same page” concerning the protection of natural resources. Next, marketing was a big concern, as well as use of new technology and building of partnerships. Communication among stakeholders was also emphasized. Finally, there was some consensus among interviewees that they needed to build on what they already had and worry about the future when it arrives. Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with? Participants will:
MaryJean Ricchiuto Student, Moraine Valley Community College Abstract: Learn how to connect with nature through mindfulness. Understand the impact of time spent outdoors on your health and view of the planet. Take the first small steps to develop a deep appreciation of the earth and its many gifts. Workshop/Panel Plan: 02 minute- Introduction 03 minute- mindfulness exercise 20 minute- slide show with narration of my Mindfulness in Nature field study 15 minute- Q & A Details: Sometimes we forget how small things, like leaving the faucet running while brushing one’s teeth, can impact the planet. Connecting with nature is an easy way to remember why we should protect it. To start, we need not go farther than our own neighborhoods. Ecopsychology proponent Will Adams suggests, "we simply have to begin wherever we are” (129). Walking outside can lead us down the path of environmental consciousness. These positive experiences in nature help us make the connection between our everyday activities and the need to conserve our natural resources. Enjoying nature reminds us to protect our fragile environment. Walking outside leads us down the path of environmental consciousness. Craving deeper sensory experiences, we will begin to seek comfort in natural settings. Enjoying nature reminds us to protect our fragile environment. Follow my story about an experimental week long commitment to mindfulness and outdoor activity. To turn inspiration into action, we will discuss and troubleshoot the challenges of fitting nature-time into our modern lives.
Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with? Participants will:
Antonio Franco (toniofranc89@live.com) and Tiffany Mucci (tmucci68@stu.jjc.edu) Students for a Sustainable Future Joliet Junior College Abstract: This is a Lecture/Workshop on how to organize, the basics about Social Movement Strategies and how to use those strategies in your campus or community. Topics include: what is a social movement, social movement strategies, what a campaign is, non-violent direct action, roles of an organizer, etc. Workshop/Panel Plan: The workshop will begin with a small PowerPoint presentation describing different concepts fundamental in creating a club or organization and developing a social movement strategy to achieve climate justice in campus or communities. Attendees will then work in groups and apply those concepts to come up with a campaign and social strategy to work in their own campus and community. Finally, we will share all this information and get different campaigns and movement strategies that we could all use at some point. Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with? Participants will:
Sustainability Around the Globe for Folks With Short Attention Spans Students of the Intensive English Language Program Prof. Michael Renehan, sponsor Moraine Valley Community College Abstract: Sustainability initiatives from around the globe in an interactive workshop. Workshop/Panel Plan: The presentations will be museum style, with several students placing posters on the wall so that visitors can walk around the room and choose which presentations they want to watch. Several presentations will take place at the same time rather than one by one. Outcomes: What ideas will the attendees walk away with? Participants will:
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