Last modified: Thursday, April 5, 2012
IU Bloomington sustainability interns to showcase projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2012
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Students in Indiana University Bloomington's 2011-12 Academic Year Internship Program in Sustainability will showcase their completed projects on Friday, April 13.
The third annual Academic Year Sustainability Internship Symposium will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, 275 N. Jordan Ave. It will include oral and poster presentations and a lunch reception hosted by Indiana Memorial Union Catering, featuring local and organic foods. Those interested in attending should register online. This event is free and open to the public.
Interns will share the products of their projects, which include coordinating IU's Green Teams; promoting sustainable living off-campus; and long-range research and implementation projects conducted in conjunction with the Campus Sustainability Advisory Board's seven working groups: academic initiatives, energy and the built environment, environmental quality and land use, food, resource use and recycling, sustainable computing and transportation.
Intern biographies and project descriptions can be found at the IU Office of Sustainability website.
"The sustainability internship program has been a powerful force for innovation in campus sustainability initiatives," said Director of Sustainability Bill Brown. "Over 150 sustainability interns have provided a vital link between academic programs and campus operations to transform our campus into a sustainability learning lab. In the process, they grow as young leaders in significant ways and leave behind a legacy upon which others may build."
In addition to showcasing the interns' work, the Office of Sustainability sees the Sustainability Internship Symposium as an opportunity to showcase green event planning on the IU Bloomington campus. The Indiana Memorial Union Catering Services will construct the symposium menu around food available locally in April. Some of the produce will be sourced from the intern-led Campus Garden at Hilltop Garden and Nature Center. Additionally, the Neal-Marshall Center and IMU staff are working closely with the office to reduce the carbon, water and waste impacts by providing reusable dishware, composting, recycling and other services at the event.
"We are delighted that IMU Catering is partnering with the Campus Garden Initiative to source locally grown, organic greens from our student-run gardens at Hilltop," said Assistant Director of Sustainability Emilie Rex. "This is an excellent example of how these student-driven initiatives can build trust, support and ownership of sustainability among a diverse group of campus stakeholders."
The IU Office of Sustainability was established in March 2009. The Campus Sustainability Advisory Board is co-chaired by Jeff White, professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and Paul Sullivan, deputy vice president for administration. Its mission is to develop and implement initiatives to advance sustainability on IU's Bloomington campus.
