UW News

October 16, 2014

Athletics initiatives, barriers to sustainability topics for Sustainability Summit

News and Information

The University of Washington’s annual one-day Sustainability Summit this year is the centerpiece of a new weeklong SustainableUW Festival.

SustainableUW Festival logoThe summit – Wednesday evening, Oct. 22, 4-7 p.m. at Alder Commons – starts with a panel identifying barriers to solving the largest issues regarding sustainability in various disciplines, and how to address them. On tap will be deans James Jiambalvo of the Michael G. Foster School of Business, Lisa Graumlich of the College of the Environment and Howard Frumkin of the School of Public Health and their students.

After the panel there will be a 45-minute reception and poster session featuring student-led environmental projects funded by the Campus Sustainability Fund and Green Seed Fund. Then the summit keynote will feature Karen Baebler, assistant athletic director for sports operations, discussing sustainability initiatives of UW Athletics.

Earlier Wednesday, the sustainable vendor fair will run 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Red Square. Those attending can sample sustainable snacks and visit with more than 40 exhibitors from on and off campus.

The SustainabableUW Festival, Oct. 20-25, encompasses events all week across campus. For example Thursday, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., in Odegaard Library’s active learning classroom 141, students can learn about sustainability careers with representatives from the business, non-profit and government sectors, followed by a meet-and-greet to talk with the speakers.

“The SustainableUW Festival is a special week focused on activities related to sustainability across the university,” said Ruth Johnston, associate vice president of environmental stewardship and sustainability.” “We are excited to see students, faculty, staff and community partners engage with one another to achieve this UW value and goal. Collaboration is at the heart of our sustainability efforts. We want everyone to attend and promote the festival: to learn, engage and commit to doing more, both individually and collectively.”

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