Call for Chapters Deadline Extended: Envisioning Futures for Environmental and Sustainability Education
This edited collection invites educational practitioners and theorists to speculate on and craft visions for the future of environmental and sustainability education. Exploring what educational methods and practices might exist on the horizon, the editors seek contributions that leverage speculative inquiry to imagine how nascent scientific, technological, social, and ecological developments might perturb, disrupt, and/or transform the field of environmental education. All abstracts are due no later than Dec. 1.
APPA Sustainable Award Call for Applications
All APPA institutional members are invited to submit for APPA's Sustainability Award in Facilities Management that is designed to recognize and advance sustainability excellence in educational facilities. This award recognizes the facilities management department that has integrated sustainable policies and practices throughout all facets of the organization and embedded them within the educational institution. Submissions are due by Nov. 30.
Invitation to Institutions to Sign COP21 Letter to U.N. Officers
A global alliance of higher education networks and associations developed the open letter that will be delivered to senior officials at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in December in Paris. The alliance invites institutions to sign the letter that urges decision-makers to acknowledge and support the vital role that universities and colleges play in addressing climate change and resiliency.
Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Applications are now open for the Sustainability Across the Curriculum workshop with Peggy Barlett, Jan. 7-8, 2016, at Emory University in Atlanta. For faculty leaders of all disciplines, workshops involve an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, outdoor place-based activities and planning. Participants also reflect on their own roles in the transformation of higher education, receive readings and organizational materials and share challenges and strategies with supportive fellow leaders. Deadline to apply is Nov. 6.
Apply for Clinton Global Initiative University 2016
Applications are now being considered for acceptance to the Clinton Global Initiative University 2016 (CGI U 2016), which will take place at the University of California, Berkeley from April 1-3. CGI U is a forum for students, university representatives and topical experts to come together to discuss and develop innovative solutions to pressing global challenges. All applicants must be above the age of 18 and actively enrolled in an institution of higher education at the time of the meeting. Final application deadline is Dec. 1.
National Day of Action to Stop the Corporatization of Education
This Nov. 5, students and faculty are invited to participate in a day of action to help end the corporatization of education. The Unkoch My Campus campaign offers a day of action toolkit for students and an informational packet for faculty participants.
The Power Dialog
College and university students from across the country are invited to participate in a face-to-face dialog on April 4, 2016 with state-level regulators in all 50 states about implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. The Power Dialog will organize hundreds of faculty to take their classes on coordinated field trips to their state capitol. The Bard Center for Environmental Policy, in conjunction with research staff from Resources for the Future, is developing a variety of curricular materials to prepare students for the conversation, and will be hosting a series of webinars on topics ranging from the plan’s impact on public health and environmental justice to renewable energy development.
New York State Clean Energy Competition for Colleges and Universities
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced the clean energy competition for colleges and universities in New York State that challenges student-led coalitions across the state to develop creative ideas to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions on school campuses and beyond. The three groups that propose the best ideas to invest in clean energy will each win $1 million to help implement their plans.
First-Ever Best of GRITS Awards
The Sustainable Endowments Institute's (SEI) Green Revolving Investment Tracking System (GRITS) 1.2 has grown from a few dozen projects to over 1,000 projects and counting. SEI is honoring the great work that is being undertaken at campuses across the country with the first-ever Best of GRITS Awards. From now until Oct. 16, SEI encourages all GRITS schools (and schools that are interested in joining) to log into the GRITS 1.2 online tool, used to track and manage sustainability projects, to add your completed projects and edit existing projects for consideration as one of the best in the GRITS Library.
Call for Applications: Energy Dept Race to Zero Student Design Competition
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Race to Zero Student Design Competition is intended to provide the next generation of architects, engineers, construction managers and entrepreneurs with skills and experience in integrating advanced home designs with building science principles. The competition will culminate April 16-17, 2016, where selected teams will have the opportunity to present to industry leaders at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo. Teams must register by Nov. 12.
Sustainability Across the Curriculum Leadership Workshop
Applications are now open for the Sustainability Across the Curriculum workshop with Peggy Barlett, Jan. 7-8, 2016, at Emory University in Atlanta. For faculty leaders of all disciplines, workshops involve an intensive two days of presentations, exercises, discussions, outdoor place-based activities and planning. Participants also reflect on their own roles in the transformation of higher education, receive readings and organizational materials and share challenges and strategies with supportive fellow leaders. Over 500 campus leaders from across the U.S. and eight foreign countries have praised the workshop. Deadline to apply is Nov. 6.
Call for Applications: New England Farm & Sea to Campus Network Steering Committee
The New England Farm & Sea to Campus Network is seeking applicants for a six to eight member steering committee to provide strategic guidance to the network. The New England Farm & Sea to Campus Network is a community of higher education and food systems stakeholders who connect, share and collaborate to develop transparent regional supply chains and educate campus communities about regional food systems. This effort was organized by Farm to Institution New England (FINE), with input from dozens of other organizations and institutions. Steering committee applications are due by Oct. 9.
Fair Trade Photofest 2015
In honor of Fair Trade Month, Fair Trade is hosting a photo contest to showcase America's love for Fair Trade Products. The photofest takes place the entire month of October with a different theme for the first three weeks. Prizes will be given away each week and the top two best overall winners receive a Fair Trade trip to Mexico.
Energy Education Summit Webinar Series
The Council of Energy Education and Research Leaders (CEREL) of the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) will hold a series of webinars to discuss the conclusions of the first National Energy Education Summit. The webinars will be held the first Monday of the month at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. The first webinar, in the events section below, is titled Energy Majors, Minors, Concentrations and Certificates and is being held on Oct. 5.
Call for Design and Construction Projects Interested in Achieving High Energy Performance
Accelerate Performance is a U.S. Department of Energy-funded initiative that empowers building owners and developers to achieve desired energy performance goals by requiring specific goals at the forefront of the project. The Accelerate Performance team is currently seeking building owners or developers interested in piloting this approach to constructing the next generation of low and zero-energy buildings at a cost comparable to current construction. Projects should be in the pre-planning phase and before the design team is selected.
Call for Papers: World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities at MIT
The third annual World Symposium on Sustainable Development at Universities (WSSD-U-2016) will be held at the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Mass., on Sept. 14-16, 2016. The theme of the event is Designing Tomorrow’s Campus: Resiliency, Vulnerability, and Adaptation. The conference will encompass teaching, research, campus greening and extension. Co-hosts are Dr Julie Newman from MIT's Office of Sustainability and Prof. Walter Leal from Manchester Metropolitan University. WSSD-U-2016 is expected to have 250 participants from over 30 countries. Deadline to submit an abstract is Sept. 30. Deadline to submit a paper is Jan. 16, 2016.
H&M Conscious Foundation Global Change Award
Students and faculty are invited to submit ideas that share the future of how fashion is designed and produced, shipped, bought, used and recycled with a focus on protecting the planet. The Global Change Award, by H&M Conscious Foundation, seeks to create fashion for a growing population while reducing its impact on the environment. The aim of the challenge is to close the loop in the fashion industry. Five winners will share a grant of $1 million euros ($1.1 million), get access to a tailor-made innovation accelerator, and fashion industry access. Deadline to submit is Oct. 31.
EPA Campus RainWorks Challenge
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency invites student teams to design an innovative green infrastructure project for their campus showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the campus community and the environment. Student teams will compete in one of two design categories: the Master Plan category or the Demonstration Project category. This year, teams are asked to incorporate climate resiliency into their stormwater management designs. Registration closes Sept. 30.
#CleanEnergyU Dialogue: Fall 2015
#CleanEnergyU brings together clean energy leaders with students and faculty across the U.S. to empower them toward a clean energy future. As a virtual dialogue, #CleanEnergyU offers activities to support campuses during Campus Sustainability Month including the following: exchanging ideas and sharing insights with #CleanEnergyU by posting selfie photos of their ideas and questions, and engaging with clean energy leaders and dozens of other speakers during the live tweet-a-thon on Oct. 21. GreenBiz.com will be also publishing the five most thoughtful student articles submitted to cleanenergyu@gmail.com. Students and faculty are encouraged to explore how to take advantage of the exciting dialogue happening this #CSM2015.
Pipelines for Sustainability Studies: Two-year to Graduate Level
Calling all sustainability-oriented academic program leaders interested in developing pipelines among related academic programs. The purpose of this survey is to assist participants in the development of pipelines for students/graduates of sustainability-oriented certificate and degree programs. Pipelines consist of articulation agreements and/or other working relationships among academic programs that help students with smoothly transitioning from one academic program to another as they continue their education at higher levels. The idea behind the research is to lay a foundation for an upcoming workshop at the AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo at which participants will work together to initiate pipelines for their students and/or graduates. From Colorado Mountain College, Dr. Tina Lynn Evans, associate professor of sustainability studies, and Kathy Kiser-Miller, interim vice president for academic affairs, are leading the research.
Know Tomorrow Day of Action
Know Tomorrow, a student-led campaign to demand action on climate change, invites students to organize a team, plan a campus event, and amplify their voice about climate change on Oct. 2. Know Tomorrow offers tools and guides to organizers and includes a social platform called Idea Lab where students can connect across campuses.
Food Day 2015
In partnership with Real Food Challenge, Oct. 24 is a day for campuses to celebrate Food Day 2015 by convening a broad coalition of student groups, dining services and community organizations to educate, inspire and mobilize around food issues. Themed Toward a Greener Diet, Food Day 2015 has a focus on diets as a way to address both health and environmental issues.
Project Green Challenge
Turning Green is hosting its 5th Annual Project Green Challenge 2015, a global 30-day eco-lifestyle initiative for college and high school students that is intended to inform, inspire, mobilize and also incentivize participants to transition their lifestyles from conventional to conscious. Throughout the month of October, which AASHE has designated as Campus Sustainability Month, participating students will receive daily challenges with sustainability-related themes. Focused on simple, fun, high impact steps that make sustainability relevant and tangible for students, these challenges boast four levels of engagement (green, greener, greenest, extra credit) with points awarded for each action. At the end the 30 days, up to 16 participants will be invited to attend the Project Green Challenge Finals, where they will work with eco-experts and industry leaders to develop sustainability initiatives to bring back to their campuses. One finalist will be named the Project Green Challenge 2015 Champion and awarded a prize package valued at more than $12,000.
Call for Students: IARU Global University Climate Forum
Organized by the International Alliance of Research Universities, Yale University and the International Sustainable Campus Network, the forum is a call to action for university students. Student teams are invited to submit ideas for a project that will have measurable impacts on campus, in communities or regions, and/or in the world. Selected teams will be invited to send two or three student representatives to participate in this one-day workshop during the U.N. climate negotiations (COP21) conference. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 1.
Green Apple Day of Service: Opportunities for Hands-On Learning
The Green Apple Day of Service, which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 26, gives students the opportunity to transform all schools into healthy, safe and productive learning environments through local service projects. In addition to the real world experience, leadership and demonstration of social responsibility that accompanies student participation in Green Apple Day of Service, the Center for Green Schools is excited to reward the efforts of hard working student participants with a Higher Ed Certification of Completion. With recognition from the U.S. Green Building Council, projects may include teaching environmental literacy to younger students, sharing information about exemplary green buildings on campus, or conducting a campus sustainability assessment.
Scholarships for Emerging Professionals in Sustainability
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) is accepting nominations for the 2015 Kate Goldstein Award for Emerging Professionals in Sustainable Energy. Nine scholarships for NESEA online courses and conferences will be awarded to students and/or recent graduates through the Kate Goldstein Award. An emerging professional is defined as anyone enrolled in a higher education program or who has graduated within five years. Age is not a determining factor. Nominations are due by Sept. 10.
AASHE 2015 Membership Survey Closes Aug. 28
This survey is intended for individuals at AASHE member institutions, organizations and businesses who are working to advance sustainability in higher education. Please allow approximately 20 minutes to complete the survey. AASHE will present the feedback gathered from this survey in the member meeting at the AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo in Minneapolis (Oct. 25-28). Respondents who complete all required questions will be entered in a drawing for a free AASHE Conference & Expo full registration pass. The survey closes Aug. 28.
Call for Proposals: 11th Annual Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference
This year's Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference is themed Measuring Our Impact. Proposals are welcome to align with conference tracks as follows: measuring our impact; education for sustainability: innovating curriculum & research; the built environment; change management: towards transformation; and expanding the sustainability community. Submissions will be accepted through Oct. 23.
Student Scholarships for Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference
Applications are now being accepted for a limited number of complimentary student registrations for the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference held in Baltimore, Md., on April 4-5, 2016. To receive a scholarship, students must be currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program. Application deadline is Nov. 2.
GameDay Recycling Challenge: Open Registration
Registration is now open for the annual GameDay Challenge, a friendly competition for colleges and universities to promote waste reduction at home football games. During the challenge, colleges and universities implement waste reduction activities and track data that is used to rank the schools. The 2015 Challenge is a partnership of the College and University Recycling Coalition (CURC), RecycleMania and Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and is supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program.
Sustainability Professionals Hiring Survey
ISSP, the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, is conducting research on the important attributes that hiring managers are looking for when hiring sustainability professionals. As the sustainability profession matures and more sustainability practitioners are being hired, ISSP is tracking the skills that organizations value and confirming that its certification credentials are aligned with the needs of organizations. If you have hired or are in the process of hiring a sustainability professional, please consider taking this survey, which should take approximately 10-15 minutes.
The Power Dialog: Call for Educators on Climate Change
College and university students from across the country are invited to participate in a face-to-face dialog on April 4, 2016 with state-level regulators in all 50 states about implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. The Power Dialog will organize hundreds of faculty to take their classes on coordinated field trips to their state capitol. The Bard Center for Environmental Policy, in conjunction with research staff from Resources for the Future, is developing a variety of curricular materials to prepare students for the conversation, and will be hosting a series of webinars on topics ranging from the plan’s impact on public health and environmental justice to renewable energy development. The first webinar about the Power Dialog is on Oct. 7 at noon Eastern.
Environmental Leadership Program National Fellowship
The Environmental Leadership Program is accepting applications for its 2015 National Fellowship Program. Through immersive retreats, the curriculum is designed to help emerging leaders hone their leadership styles, improve their strategy and organizational development, and strengthen their outreach to diverse constituencies. The application deadline is Aug. 31.
Wege Prize Design Competition 2016
Now in its third year, Wege Prize is a yearly transdisciplinary design competition that gives teams of five undergraduate students the chance to work collaboratively, use design thinking principles, and contend for $30,000 in total cash prizes by solving some of the world's toughest issues. Teams must work across institutional and disciplinary boundaries to develop a product, service or business model that can function within and contribute to a tightly looped, restorative economic cycle where resources can be re-adapted for use without limiting the desirability of products or the loss of revenue. Open to any full-time undergraduate student in the world. Registration open until Oct. 1.
Call for Participation: Climate Change Officer Certification and Curriculum Development
The Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO) is currently soliciting participation to establish the Climate Change Officers Certification program along with specialized certificates and supporting curriculum. The curriculum development working group will develop a library of knowledge, course curriculum, learning objectives, instructor guidelines, prerequisites and continuing education requirements. The specialized certificates working groups will identify target audiences, prospective partners, specify areas of knowledge and skills relevant to certificates, and provide oversight of practicum project requirements.
Call for Students: IARU Global University Climate Forum
Organized by the International Alliance of Research Universities, Yale University and the International Sustainable Campus Network, the forum is a call to action for university students. Student teams are invited to submit ideas for a project that will have measurable impacts on campus, in communities or regions, and/or in the world. Selected teams will be invited to send two or three student representatives to participate in this one-day workshop during the U.N. climate negotiations (COP21) conference. Applications will be accepted through Oct. 1.
Sustainable Development Goals: The Impact of Access to Information on our Societies
This online event happening Sept. 7-18 is a joint effort by the Confederation of Open Access Repositories (COAR), the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The forum is for institutions and individuals to learn more about the Lyon Declaration, and to exchange ideas about how information centers and libraries can promote the adoption of access to information as part of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. The event will offer webcasts by experts to provide important background information for participants and to help stimulate dialogue and discussion.
RecycleMania Board of Directors
The RecycleMania board of directors is currently seeking interested individuals to fill two seats on the 2015 board. Comprised of 10 members, the board is the governing body of the 501c3, RecycleMania, Inc., and is responsible for the program's strategic planning and program content. Interested candidates will submit a nomination form by Monday, Aug. 10 to the board.
APPA Sustainability Award in Facilities Management
Designed to recognize and advance sustainability excellence in educational facilities, the APPA Sustainability Award honors the facilities management department that has integrated sustainable policies and practices throughout all facets of the organization and embedded them within the educational institution. Deadline to submit for APPA 2016 is Nov. 30, 2015.
2015 AASHE Membership Survey
All individuals at AASHE member institutions, organizations and businesses who are working in, teaching or are interested in sustainability are encouraged to participate. AASHE will present the feedback gathered from this survey during the member meeting at the AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo in Minneapolis (Oct. 25-28). Respondents who complete all required questions will be given the change to be entered in a drawing for a free AASHE 2015 Conference & Expo full registration pass. The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and is expected to close on Friday, Aug. 14.
Pipelines for Sustainability Studies: Two-Year to Graduate Level
Calling all sustainability-oriented academic program leaders interested in developing pipelines among related academic programs. The purpose of this survey is to assist participants in the development of pipelines for students/graduates of sustainability-oriented certificate and degree programs. Pipelines consist of articulation agreements and/or other working relationships among academic programs that help students with smoothly transitioning from one academic program to another as they continue their education at higher levels. The idea behind the research is to lay a foundation for an upcoming workshop at AASHE's 2015 conference at which participants will work together to initiate pipelines for their students and/or graduates. From Colorado Mountain College, Dr. Tina Lynn Evans, associate professor of sustainability studies, and Kathy Kiser-Miller, interim vice president for academic affairs, are leading the research.
USGBC LEED Call for Volunteers
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is looking for members from USGBC member organizations to join volunteer committees that will help address the challenges that arise in advancing best practices in green building and sustainable development while understanding and working within the constraints of the market. Volunteers are asked to participate in regular calls, offline review and comment on technical rating system language, and at least one in-person meeting per year.