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Projects Updates for theme: Education

  1. Edu001 Environmental Leadership Program - Successful

    Associated Project(s): 
    iCAP Working Group (iWG)
    Education iCAP Team
    Education iCAP Team Recommendations Summary
    Environmental Leadership Program (ELP)

    Dr. Evan DeLucia, Director of iSEE, responded to Meredith Moore with the following email: 

    ---

    Good morning, Meredith

    I’ve had a chance to review the iWG recommendations and discuss them with iSEE leadership. Both recommendations, the Environmental Leadership Program and Student Sustainability Ambassadors are creative, will provide students with new opportunities to engage in sustainability learning, and will have a positive impact on our iCAP goals.

    The iWG should be aware that we are launching test modules as part of the leadership program this fall semester. iSEE has hired a coordinator to develop several learning modules, likely full day programs, on topics such as ‘environmental communications’ and ‘effective interviewing strategies’. We will use these modules to recruit faculty into the program, build partnerships, evaluate financial expenses, and evaluate student interest. If all goes well, these modules will serve as the components of full program. Once we have a better sense of the curriculum, we can also initiate fund raising activities.

    The ambassadors program has real promise to advance campus’ iCAP goals and to more fully engage students in sustainability activities. That said, iSEE is not prepared to launch this program at this time. Not for lack of merit, but rather for lack of bandwidth. To properly launch the leadership program mentioned above is a significant undertaking and we want to make sure we do it well. While iSEE is not prepared to launch this program at this time, we will take an initial step to explore its viability by discussing the proposed course offering with NRES.

    Please extend my thanks to the iWG and the SWATeams for their dedication to making Illinois more sustainable.

    ---

    See transmittal of Edu001 Environmental Leadership Program to iSEE here.

    See iWG assessment of Edu001 Environmental Leadership Program here.

    See SWATeam recommendation and submittal of Edu001 Environmental Leadership Program here. 

     

    For future updates, please refer to the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) project.

  2. Spring 2020 Project Deliverables

    Associated Project(s): 
    ENG 177 GFX Global Sustainability Scholars
    2014 Campus Bike Plan
    Develop Local Carbon Offset Program
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS)
    EPA SmartWay Affiliate
    Provide Centralized Communication about Sustainability

    Final Project Deliverables for Spring 2020

    There were 7 projects completed by the WIE-GFX Abroad Scholars in the Spring 2020 semester of ENG 177

    1. Armory Bike Path Restoration
    2. Study Abroad Carbon Offset
    3. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
    4. AASHE STARS Report 2020
    5. Food Waste
    6. Sustainability Best Practices Guide
    7. EPA SmartWay Program

  3. SSC Final Report: Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall

    Associated Project(s): 
    ENG 177 GFX Global Sustainability Scholars
    2014 Campus Bike Plan
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The construction on the path began in summer 2020 and was completed by the time students returned to campus. The old bike paths, along with hedges, overgrown evergreens, and decorative urns were removed from the area. A new 6 foot wide path was constructed and plans have been made to restore the landscape as needed. The Armory Avenue bike path is now open to use!

    This project tied in with the renovation of the entire Armory Ave bike path that connects the bike lane on Armory Ave to the bike lane on Goodwin Ave. This bike path goes through the Gregory Hall, Foellinger Auditorium, Smith Hall, IGB, and Bevier Hall.

    Please see attached the final report for this project.

    See the previous update for this project.

    Attached Files: 

  4. SSC Funding Award: Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall

    Associated Project(s): 
    ENG 177 GFX Global Sustainability Scholars
    2014 Campus Bike Plan
    Student Sustainability Committee (SSC)

    The SSC awarded $50,000 for the "Bike Path Renovation: Armory Avenue Path South of Gregory Hall". This award will expire on May, 2022. Please see attached the Funding agreement.

    Attached Files: 

  5. Map the System 2020 Social Innovation Challenge

    Associated Project(s): 
    Co-curricular Sustainability Programs

    Map the System is a global competition that challenges students to think differently about social and environmental change. Watch this year’s teams pitch change-making ideas in the Illinois campus semi-final for a share of $8,000 in cash prizes and a chance to represent Illinois at the Global Final. Join us to learn and get inspired to social action!  Register: go.gies.illinois.edu/mapthesystem

    April 30, 4–6 PM Valeri Werpetinski • Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership

    Map the System 2020 Social Innovation Challenge

     

  7. Sustainability course list!

    Associated Project(s): 
    Inventory Sustainability Courses

     

    Collaboratory-NRES-285.jpgSchedule Time: Our List of Sustainability Courses!

    Our sustainability course lists are live for Summer and Fall 2020, with hundreds of offerings across campus.

    From English to Geology to Horticulture, find a class incorporating sustainability that's right for you!

    iSEE is also accepting applications for its two educational programs: the Sustainability, Energy and Environment Fellows Program campuswide minor; and the undergraduate Certificate in Environmental Writing.

  8. Status update from WEF Design Team Co-Captain

    Associated Project(s): 
    Independent Student Projects
    Green Infrastructure
    Water Environment Federation (WEF)

    Justin Chen, from the University of Illinois joint student chapter of the Water Enviroment Federation-American Water Works, and the rest of his design team have been hard at work this school year!

    Some project updates via the co-captian:

    • Chose project topic: Green Infrastructure Solutions for Veterinary Medicine Facility Flooding
    • Made team site visit to Vet Med, surveyed areas for potential green infrastructure applications
    • Came up with preliminary ideas on solutions and locations for implementation
    • Conducted research on past green infrastructure projects to establish a base understanding of the options available

    Click here to find out more and how you can become involved with WEF!

     

     

  9. iSEE Awards Levenick Teaching Sustainability Fellowships

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Course Development or Modification

    iSEE is pleased to announce that eight instructors have been named 2020-21 Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellows.

    Funded by a generous endowment from Illinois Alumnus Stuart L. Levenick and his wife Nancy J. Levenick, this second cohort of faculty and teachers from across the University of Illinois campus (and one from University Laboratory High School) will incorporate sustainability into existing classes or create entirely new courses built around sustainability elements.

    Associate Director for Education & Outreach Gillen D’Arcy Wood said applications nearly doubled for the Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability program this year, a positive sign of a growing program — and growing interest in adding sustainability thinking in all academic units.

    The 2020-21 cohort and the courses they will undertake:

    • Alison Anders, Associate Professor of Geography, “GIS for Geology and Environmental Science”;
    • Kim Curtis, Adjunct Lecturer in Theatre, “Theater Design and Production”;
    • Sean Kennedy, Assistant Professor of Urban + Regional Planning, “Food and the City”;
    • Eleftheria Kontou, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, “Urban Transportation Models”;
    • Daniel Schneider, Professor of Urban + Regional Planning, “FAA 230: Sustainable Design of the Built Environment”;
    • Andrew Stillwell, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, “ECE 330: Green Electric Energy”;
    • Chiara Vincenzi, Adjunct Instructor in Art + Design, ” ARTS 321: Sustainable Fashion Development & Branding”; and
    • Andrew Wilson, Teaching Associate in Social Studies at Uni High, “World History”.

    Read more about the Fellows and their projects >>>

    The Levenick iSEE Teaching Sustainability Fellowship program consists of four elements to help the 2020-21 Fellows best incorporate sustainability into their courses:

    • a retreat for developing lesson plans, held in Spring 2020 and available via teleconference for interested instructors from other U of I campuses;
    • summer feedback from iSEE and sustainability subject matter experts;
    • a fall progress check-in; and
    • a Spring 2021 debriefing, at which time the cohort will meet the newly named 2021-22 Fellows.

  10. EPA SmartWay Program presented infirst-year women in engineering class

    Associated Project(s): 
    EPA SmartWay Affiliate
    ENG 177 GFX Global Sustainability Scholars

    Abby Culloton, a freshman in Civil and Environmental Engineering, put together a project proposal for the SmartWay program and presented it on February 28th. This proposal included why being an affiliate of this program would be beneficial to campus, who/ what departments across campus would be involved, proposed objectives, and other facts that needed to be considered. 

    Attached is the full proposal.

    Attached Files: 

  11. Map the System 2020 Social Innovation Challenge

    Associated Project(s): 
    Co-curricular Sustainability Programs
    Build a Culture of Sustainability

    Map the System 2020 Social Innovation Challenge

    Encourage students to register for Map the System 2020, a global competition that will challenge them to think differently about social and environmental change. Teams develop systems-level thinking, research, presentation, and changemaking skills and pitch at the campus semi-final for a chance to win a funded trip to compete for cash prizes at the University of Oxford Global Final in the UK.

    February 5, 5 pm • Registration Deadline

    Valeri Werpetinski • Origin Ventures Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership

  12. Deadline Jan. 31 for Sustainability Course Development Funding

    Associated Project(s): 
    Encourage Course Development or Modification

    Faculty and instructors have until month's end to apply for iSEE's 2020 Course Development Cohort program, targeted to intentionally grow sustainability course offerings across campus. The 2020 Levenick Teaching Sustainability Fellows will integrate sustainability components into an existing course ($1,000) or develop a new course with a sustainability focus ($2,000).

     

    Tony Mancuso • Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE)

  14. CEE PBL class project

    Associated Project(s): 
    Solar at Willard Airport
    CEE Project Based Learning (PBL)

    Per the executive summary report, "One goal of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is reaching carbon neutrality by 2050. This is outlined in the Illinois Climate Action Plan, a proposal which also establishes a goal for annual solar energy generation. UIUC’s large energy demand poses an opportunity for implementing more cost-efficient renewable energy and increasing efficiency. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of a solar canopy system with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at a UIUC parking lot. The goal of this initiative was to reduce campus emissions, save money, and use parking lots as a place to create renewable energy."

    Attached Files: 

  16. Apply by Nov 1 for Wanxiang Fellows Program (Sustainability in China)

    Associated Project(s): 
    Educate Future Leaders

    The Illinois Wanxiang Fellows Program is a competitive program open to U of I undergrad students at the Urbana, Chicago, and Springfield campuses. The program offers a unique opportunity for students to study environmental issues and renewable energy in China while gaining exposure to the Chinese language and culture. Most travel & program costs are covered. https://go.illinois.edu/wanxiang

    Yu Chuan Shen • Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies

    Apply by Nov 1 for Wanxiang Fellows Program (Sustainability in China)

  17. Committee meeting tomorrow

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bee Campus USA
    CEE Project Based Learning (PBL)

    This meeting is open to anyone on campus interested in supporting local pollinators.

     

    We are meeting tomorrow from 1:30-2:30 at F&S with both advisors and students from the Bee Campus USA committee.  Chantelle sent the invite, but there are more people than can fit in the room she sent, so please join us in the Garage and Car Pool building conference room.  This is in the building at the southwest corner of Oak and Kirby. 

     

    Our agenda is as follows:

    • Overview of the Bee Campus USA 2018 submitted plan (attached)
    • review the draft signage for small Bee Campus USA signs and proposed placement (attached)
    • discuss a student project related to future expansion of the Pollinatarium, with guest Namita Johri
    • review annual renewal requirements (see attached)

     

    Attached Files: 

  18. CEE student works with Dr. Schmidt and F&S

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Infrastructure
    Independent Student Projects
    Rainwater Management

    Junren Wang, an undergraduate student in Civil and Environmental Engineering, working under the guidance of Dr. Art Schmidt, researched the impacts of existing green infrastructure on campus property and the relationship to potential cost reductions from City Stormwater Utility Fees.  She provided the following update and attached files.

    Dear All:

    This is an update for the GI project:

    ECE Permeable Pavement(U08032): All the necessary calculations have been completed. We may get 0.22% credit for this parcel.

    Design Center Detention(U16015):All the necessary calculations have been completed. We may get 0.307% credit for this parcel.

    FPC Detention(U17018): All the necessary calculations have been completed. We cannot get credits from this infrastructure. But we may get $250/10yr incentives.

    IGB Detention: More information need for the pump as mentioned last time. But it seems that we cannot get credit from this infrastucture.

    Waiting for your suggestion this Thursday!

    Thanks,

    Junren

    Attached Files: 

  20. WHATS HAPPENING?

    Associated Project(s): 
    Sustainable Student Farm
    Educate Future Leaders

    Producing 25000 lbs. of tomatoes,

    now have classes there looking to work with university to teach about plants! 

    economically sustaining our own building,

    looking to expand to a new location! 

    Strong producer for the campus, and excited to grow more!

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