UW News

October 10, 2011

Summit helps mark first anniversary of Campus Sustainability Fund

News and Information

Learn about some of the inaugural projects by students, faculty and staff using money from the student-funded Campus Sustainability Fund as part of the second annual Sustainability Summit on campus Oct. 26.

Events that day include an evening poster session featuring up to eight of the projects awarded Campus Sustainability Fund money and an afternoon panel discussion with Seattle author and green-building architect Neil Chambers and representatives from Sierra Club and Cedar Grove Composting. During the day, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., groups interested in sustainability from on and off campus will have booths in Red Square.

“The summit is meant to celebrate sustainability and the one-year birthday of the Campus Sustainability Fund,” said Julie Fisk, who just earned her masters in marine affairs and is the Sustainability Summit coordinator.

Ways to increase composting was one of the projects funded thought the Campus Sustainability Fund. Learn more about the fund during this years Sustainability Summit.

Ways to increase composting was one of the projects funded thought the Campus Sustainability Fund. Learn more about the fund during this years Sustainability Summit.Mary Levin/University of Washington

The Campus Sustainability Fund was created by students using student services and activities fee money to fund short-term projects suggested by students, faculty and staff to lessen the University of Washington’s environmental impact. For example, one group conducted a project looking at ways to increase composting on campus and how strategic communication could raise awareness on campus. That group is among those expected to present during a poster session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Johnson Hall lobby.

Chambers, the author of “Urban Green: Architecture for the Future,” a book that sketches an ambitious way forward for the green building industry, according to a review in the Washington Post, will be among the panelists from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Johnson Hall 102. Moderating the panel discussion will be Lisa Graumlich, dean of the UW College of the Environment. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Sandra Archibald, dean of the Evans School of Public Affairs and chair of the UW Environmental Stewardship Advisory Committee, will give opening remarks.

The day before the summit, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will be an open house for those interested in learning more about the Campus Sustainability Fund and meeting this years coordinator Jamie Rowe, a graduate student in public affairs. Application deadline for letters of intent is Nov. 2. The open house will be in Gerberding B40, the UWs Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability office, which is one of the sponsors of the Sustainability Summit.

“The summit and open house are meant to keep up the momentum of the Campus Sustainability Fund, generate new ideas and keep people invested in collaboration among students, faculty and staff,” Fisk said.

Earlier in the week, on Oct. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Kane Hall  Walker-Ames Room, the documentary “Unwasted: The Future of Business on Earth,” will have its campus debut in Kane Hall. The film, which concerns UW efforts to reduce food wastes on campus, is one of two films being shown and discussed in an event by the student group Real Food Challenge.