Last modified: Thursday, April 19, 2007
Sustainability Task Force to address campus environmental and resource issues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2007
Bloomington, Ind. -- Indiana University has created a Sustainability Task Force for the IU Bloomington campus. The 15-person task force, appointed by Vice President Terry Clapacs, aims to develop by fall 2007 a framework for campus sustainability.
"The issue of sustainability is becoming more important everywhere," said task force co-chair Paul Sullivan, deputy vice president for administration. "On campus it is a becoming an issue to be considered in many administrative activities, from physical plant activities to purchasing, construction and transport. We felt it was important to involve faculty, staff and students in developing a framework to help deal with these issues."
The task force defines sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs," said Michael Hamburger, professor in the Department of Geological Sciences, who also serves as co-chair.
Activities of the Sustainability Task Force include developing a set of sustainability indicators for the university, assessing the current sustainability status of the Bloomington campus, identifying key areas of concern, and establishing a framework for a long-term sustainability plan. The task force also plans to develop a speaker series on sustainability issues, create connections to national and international sustainability organizations, promote student involvement in sustainability programs, and develop a website devoted to campus sustainability.
In addition to the primary task force, a series of working groups comprised of university personnel and community members have been formed under the following headings: Resource Use and Recycling; Energy Systems and Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Built Environments; Food; Education, Outreach and Student Engagement; Environmental Quality and Land Use; and Transportation Systems.
"A key element of this initiative is the effort to develop a truly integrative approach to sustainability that enables the University's core missions of research, teaching and service to merge with community efforts," Hamburger said. "The university has an opportunity to take a leadership role, not only in incorporating concepts of sustainability into university practice, but also in the creation, dissemination and application of new areas of academic scholarship in the emerging field of sustainability."
Task force members are:
- Paul Sullivan (co-chair), Deputy Vice President for Administration
- Michael Hamburger (co-chair), Associate Dean of the Faculties and Professor, Department of Geological Sciences
- Steve Akers, Associate Director of Environmental Operations, Residential Programs and Services
- Matt Auer, Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Keith Clay, Professor, Department of Biology
- Joseph DeJean, undergraduate student, Indiana University Student Association
- Dan Derheimer, Environmental Manager, Environmental Health and Safety
- Elliot Hayden, undergraduate student, Indiana Public Interest Research Group
- Jeff Kaden, Director, Engineering Services
- Lisa Pratt, Professor, Department of Geological Sciences
- Steve Riggins, Director of Purchasing Administration, University Purchasing
- Nicole Schonemann, Director, Community Outreach and Partnerships in Service Learning
- Benjamin Schultz, Lecturer, Marketing Department & Business Communication Department
- Jenny Sumner, graduate student, School of Public and Environmental Affairs
- Mia Williams, Director, Landscape Architecture, University Architect's Office
For more information, contact Sullivan at 812-855-4155 or psulliva@indiana.edu or Hamburger at 812-855-0239 or hamburg@indiana.edu.
