University of Florida promotes sustainability in daylong event

October 21, 2005

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida will participate in a nationwide Webcast Wednesday as part of Campus Sustainability Day.

The Webcast hosted by National Public Radio science correspondent Joe Palca is among many activities scheduled on campus to promote sustainability, which focuses on several environmental and social initiatives.

This year’s daylong event takes on special significance with the recent establishment of an Office of Sustainability at UF and certification of the campus as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. President Bernie Machen also will speak about his commitment to this issue. His wife, Chris Machen, is the honorary chairwoman of the UF Zero Waste Task Force.

Mrs. Machen said she supported recycling long before it was fashionable. “I’ve always thought it was the right thing to do,” she said. “Now that I have grandchildren, it has taken on new meaning.”

Her involvement in UF’s sustainability efforts is the “first time I’ve been involved with a terrific, passionate expert group,” she said. She hopes that students, faculty and staff will attend events on Oct. 26 and return to their classrooms, offices and homes with more ways to practice sustainability.

The two-hour Webcast organized by the Society for College and University Planning involves more than 100 colleges and universities, and starts at 12:30 p.m. in Room 282 of the Reitz Student Union. This year’s theme is “A (recycled, of course) Six-Pack of Sustainability Lessons from the Past Year in Higher Education.” Palca promises to provide a quick look at the latest initiatives and successes from five conferences.

The Webcast ends at 2:30 p.m. and will be followed by a local panel discussion to specifically discuss sustainability at UF. Moderated by Dedee DeLongpre, panelists will include Mrs. Machen; Les Thiele, chairman of the UF Sustainability Committee; Fred Cantrell, associate vice president for finance and administration; Charles Kibert, director of the Powell Center for Construction and Environment; Dave Gustashaw, vice president of engineering at interface; and Bahar Armaghani, project manager and quality assurance coordinator for facilities, planning and construction.

Campus Sustainability Day starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday with a display of various initiatives on the Reitz Student Union North Lawn, and a program on Mountain Top Removal in Room 282 of the Reitz Student Union. The displays continue until 2 p.m.

Judy Bonds, Goldman Environmental Prize Recipient, will speak from 11 a.m. to noon in Room 282, and a free lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the North Lawn.

UF recently became the first university in the world to be certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, and President Machen will accept the certification at 3 p.m. in Room 282. UF won the status because of its master plan that emphasizes the values of academic excellence, sustainability and community partnership.

The day’s keynote speaker, Elisabeth C. Odum, professor emeritus, Santa Fe Community College, will then present “A Prosperous Way Down,” starting at 3:15 p.m.

Campus Sustainability Day will be enhanced by another campuswide initiative, Healthy Gators 2010. Activities will start at 10 a.m. Wednesday, and Mrs. Machen, a former practicing nurse, is scheduled to speak at noon. Events including free health screenings and merchandise will continue until 2 p.m. in the Reitz Student Union Colonnade.

Visitors will have a chance to learn more about student organizations and university departments that have health-related missions, and flu shots will be given to students for $5, and faculty and staff for $20.

For more information on sustainability, visit www.sustainability.ufl.edu. For more information on the event, participation or volunteering e-mail skutter@ufl.edu.
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