The Center for a Sustainable Water Future and the Office of Sustainability are hosting Illinois State University’s first-ever Campus Sustainability Showcase on Thursday, October 26, from 9 a.m.-noon in the Old Main Room of the Bone Student Center with support of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost. All members of the Illinois State University community are invited to attend.
“We intend for the Campus Sustainability Showcase to highlight some of the innovative work already being done across our campus, while also bringing awareness towards the goals and action items outlined in our Sustainability Strategic Plan,” said Elisabeth Reed, director of the Office of Sustainability and one of the planners of the Campus Sustainability Showcase.
Dr. Joan Brehm, department chair and professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, co-director of the Center for a Sustainable Water Future, and another planner of the showcase explained further goals of the event. “The event is meant to celebrate successes but at the same time build momentum for some of the more intensive and significant goals that remain ahead of us. We also want to create a more collaborative approach to these sustainability efforts across all sectors of our campus community.”
The Campus Sustainability Showcase will begin at 9 a.m. for an open house of posters and exhibits highlighting the eight key pillars of the Illinois State University Sustainability Strategic Plan. Poster presentations, informational tables, and exhibits will be offered by:
- Alternative Breaks and Center for Civic Engagement
- Centralized Waste Stations at ISU: Gig Supanichrattana, Mac Gao, and Lee Fox
- Fair Trade Program: Dr. Noha Shawki
- Fell Arboretum: Sydney Metternich
- Felmley Greenhouse: Sophia Reavley
- Floating Garden Research: Dr. Eric Peterson
- ISU Freight Farm: Dr. Dave Kopsell
- ISU Horticulture Center
- Office of Sustainability
- Recycled Building Materials Research: Dr. Pranshoo Solanki, Dr. Guang Jin, and Taimoor Kayani
- Renewable Energy: Melker Isaksson and Dr. Jin Jo
- Sugar Creek Ecology Area: Dr. Matthew Dugas, Dr. Pirmin Nietlisbach, Dr. Ben Wodika, Sydney Metternich, and Dr. Victoria Borowicz
Additional interactive exhibits will provide an opportunity for attendees to create seed bombs of native wildflowers, explore an ISU Rolling Garden, take the ISU Sustainability pledge, write inspirational notes for students receiving plant care packages next semester, and identify where they see themselves in the Sustainability Strategic Plan and what sustainability initiatives they believe the campus should prioritize.
From 10:30-11:15 a.m., a series of roundtable discussions will take place surrounding the eight pillars of the Illinois State University Sustainability Strategic Plan and facilitated by faculty and staff. Attendees will be able to attend several tables within the various topic areas to learn about and share their thoughts on how they feel the campus is doing in these areas as well as share their suggested priorities:
- Academic and research
- Engagement, partnerships, and planning
- Energy
- Built environments
- Water and natural environments
- Transportation
- Food and events
- Materials management and waste reduction
From 11:15 a.m.-noon, a panel discussion on fair trade and the connections of sustainability and social justice will take place with Reed, Jackie Corlett from Motif Handmade, which is a business partner with Chicago Fair Trade, and Donna Brouillet from Crossroads Fair Trade Goods and Gifts in Bloomington. Attendees are encouraged to ask questions.
Campus community members are invited to attend any portion of the event, or all, as their schedules allow. There is no prior registration or cost required to attend the showcase. Refreshments will be available throughout the event. The multifaceted format of the showcase is intended to provide multiple ways for the campus community to learn, participate, share perspectives, and potentially lend a hand in campus sustainability efforts. After all, “the Sustainability Strategic Plan is a plan for the entire University community,” said Reed. “Everyone can help make a difference towards a more sustainable ISU.”
For additional information or if you need special accommodations to attend the event, please contact Sustainability@IllinoisState.Edu.
