Copy
Issue No. 5
 
October 5,
2015
Join us for CSUN's annual Campus Sustainability Day!

Tuesday, October 20th, USU Northridge Center

9:30 am - 10:45 am  
"Making a Difference, One Bite at a Time"
- Dr. Erica Wohldmann (Professor, Psychology)
“Urban Agriculture and the Sustainable City”
- Mario Giraldo (Professor, Geography) 

11:00 am - 12:15 pm
"Leveraging Technology to Increase the Adoption of Solar"
- Max Aram and Chris Blevins (Co-Founders, Pick My Solar)
“Solar Technology and Job Training for Communities who Need it Most"
- Shirley Powers (Program Manager, GRID Alternatives) 

12:30 pm - 1:45 pm
“Backyard Ecology in Suburban Los Angeles"
- Dr. Paula Schiffman (Professor, Biology)
“Conservation Biocontrol” 
- Kyra Ankenbruck (Production Manager, Rincon Vitova)
Alumni Spotlight
Matthew DelgadoMatthew Delgado graduated in May with a double major in English, Creative Writing and Photojournalism. He worked at the Institute from Fall 2014 through Spring 2015 as the compost coordinator, helping to continue the growth and management of the compost program.
 
"My job at the Institute helped me grasp a better idea that anything is possible. It helped me understand that there are many opportunities for those who are willing to discover and learn - and that has helped in my current job."  Matthew is currently living in the Green Mountain National Forest and working for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps as an AmeriCorps member.   View our current staff
New Waste Hauler Helps Campus Meet Diversion Goals
With CSUN's new waste hauling contract being implemented, the University is likely to meet its 2015-16 goal of a 50% diversion rate, explained Sustainability Program Manager, Austin Eriksson. The university is now under contract with Athens Services, which picks up trash from the main campus and housing. The waste is taken to a Materials Recovery Facility where it is sorted based on whether or not it is recyclable. CSUN receives two waste audits a year to find the percentage of recyclable items in trash cans. According to Eriksson, well over 50% of what is currently discarded into trash bins is probably recyclable. 
Eriksson is hopeful that with this contract and other projects, we will go from 15-20% to 50-60% diversion by the end of this year. With students, faculty and staff still being mindful of where their waste goes, these numbers can continue to increase. It is important to remember that just because trash cans are being sorted contaminated containers still may not be recyclable, so it is up to everyone on campus to continue to do their part to reduce, reuse, and recycle in the correct manner. Learn more about AS Campus Recycling Services.
CSUN students with a drive to change the world are encouraged to apply now to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University 2016 (CGI U) at UC Berkeley, April 1-3, 2016. CGI U is President Clinton's initiative to engage the next generation of leaders on college campuses around the world. Each CGI U student will have access to resources, connections and mentors to help them make a Commitment to Action: a specific plan of action that addresses a pressing challenge on campus, in the  community, or in a different part of the world. The Travel Assistance application deadline is October 16, 2015 and the final deadline is December 1.

CSUN is a member of the CGI University Network and has funding available for students accepted to CGI U 2016. Students selected for CGI U 2016 may be eligible to receive travel stipends and seed funding to support their projects.
 
CGI U is proof that young people have the power to make a meaningful impact by confronting some of the world's most urgent challenges.  To find out more about CGI U, students should email CSUN's initiative advisor Dr. Kenneth Luna, or join CGI U for a weekly webinar.
This year's conference will focus on factors that allow communities and individuals to prepare for a dynamic future, one with uncertain, but generally increasing socio-ecological stresses. Conference proposal submissions are being accepted through Saturday, October 31, 2015 through this link.

Paid Fellowship Opportunity

The Los Angeles Sustainability Collaborative (LASC) is a non-profit organization that awards paid fellowships to exceptional graduate students to conduct research that addresses an environmental sustainability challenge in Los Angeles. They are now accepting proposals and applications for two Research Fellows for a $1,000 (each) Research Fellowship opportunity in conjunction with Los Angeles’ newly launched electric car-sharing pilot program serving disadvantaged communities. Applications are due by October 30. Apply here

Berkeley Cleantech University Prize

Students are invited to apply to UC Berkeley's Cleantech University Prize (Berkeley CUP) sponsored by the Department of Energy. Participants will receive extensive cleantech mentor-ship, entrepreneurial training and access to fabrication/prototyping spaces at UC Berkeley. They will benefit from the Competition’s dedicated mentors and educators. After four months of training and workshops selected teams will compete for the $100,000 Grand Prize and numerous other exciting prizes. Submit your innovative clean technology solutions before the
October 10 deadline - apply now!

LACI Cleantech
Global Showcase

October 21-22, 2015
J.W. Marriott
900 W. Olympic Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90015

LACI's Cleantech Global 
Showcase (GloSho) is an 
annual summit held in 
Downtown Los Angeles that 
offers the opportunity for 
cleantech thought leaders 
and stakeholders from 
around the world to meet 
and exchange ideas, 
facilitate trade and 
investment, celebrate 
entrepreneurship, and 
further innovation. 
GloSho'15 will feature Steve
Westly, California Secretary 
of State Alex Padilla, and
many other speakers. Use 
code 'partnerUSGBC-LA' for 10% of your ticket!
Mailing address:
Institute for Sustainability
18111 Nordhoff Street
Santa Susana Hall 116
Northridge, Ca 91330

Phone: (818) 677-7710
Email: sustainability@csun.edu
  
Copyright © 2015 Institute for Sustainability, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you signed up for CSUN's Institute for Sustainability mailing list. To unsubscribe, use the link below.

unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences 

view in browser