UCI Sustainability Spring 2021 Week 9 Digest

Racial Equity, Environmental Justice and Indigenous Wisdom (Virtual)

Native American and Indigenous people model economic and social exchanges on reciprocity and relationships in all systems. Centering this and other Indigenous wisdom has led to significant and meaningful contributions to the advancement of conservation, protection, and environmental justice, especially in the lives of youth.

Dawn Knickerbocker belongs to the Anishinaabe people, is a citizen of White Earth Nation/gaa waabaabiganikaag, and a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe from the Ottertail Pillager Band of Indians. Juan D. Martinez Pineda is a Senior Program Manager at the Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions and proud descendant of the Be'ena' Za' Zapotec people. Together they will explore how centering culture, reciprocity, and relationship can fulfill this country's promise to lift up all people.

Learn more and register here .

May 26, 2021
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

California Plastic Crisis: Impacts and Solutions at Home and Beyond

Hosted by the Newkirk Center for Science and Society and the University of California, Irvine (UCI) the goal of this 5-part conference series is to engage the community in a discussion about the scope of the plastic problem, the impact of plastic pollution in California and beyond, as well as plastic alternatives, and policy solutions. Participants will learn about:

Plastic Impacts and Solutions: An overview of the plastic pollution problem and impact on coastal ocean ecosystems, waterways, and public health.
Plastic Health and Community Impacts, at Home and Abroad: Impacts of plastics on front-line communities in California and how California’s actions affect the global community.
California Plastic Legislation: The landscape of current and newly introduced California legislation on plastic pollution, specifically plastic waste, recycling, and reuse, and reducing plastic.
Debunking Common Myths and Best Solutions: Debunk common myths and present environmental justice, community-based and regional solutions, best practices, plastic alternatives, and case studies.

Learn more and register here .

May 27, 2021
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Reuters Events: A Sustainable Future for Packaging Post Covid

COVID-19 touched all aspects of everyone’s lives, affecting everything from where people went, to the items they bought, and the way they bought them. More goods were delivered, generating higher volumes of packaging and recyclable materials. There was already an intense focus on environmental issues before, now questions will be asked about the longer-term impact the pandemic may have on consumer attitudes and actions, the consequences for sustainability, and how packaging can contribute to a circular economy as we adapt to new behaviors.

Panel:
Shawn Welch, Group President, Hi-Cone
David Tulauskas, Chief Sustainability Officer, Nestle Waters
Kate Vasquez, Director, Planning and Advisory Services - Solid Waste, RRT Design & Construction
Moderator: Emily Tipaldo, Executive Director, U.S. Plastics Pact

Learn more and register here.

May 27, 2021
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

2021-22 CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps Applications OPEN NOW!

CivicSpark and Climate Action Corps offer unique opportunities for those passionate about environmental and community resilience to gain direct experience, build strong networks, and gain professional, technical, and leadership skills through service.

The Local Government Commission’s national service programs offer a unique opportunity for recent or upcoming graduates and emerging professionals passionate about environmental and community resilience to build experience in the sector.

CivicSpark is a Governor’s Initiative AmeriCorps program where Fellows focus on planning and policy support to build local government capacity to address environmental and community resilience challenges and create lasting impact in California communities.

Climate Action Corps is part of a larger statewide initiative led by California Volunteers to address the climate crisis. CAC Fellows focus on engaging Californians with direct climate action to help protect vulnerable communities against the most adverse impacts of a changing climate.

Learn more and apply here .

May 30, 2021

Environmental Justice Organizing Academy Applications Open!

EJOA is an intensive training that covers topics such as Indigenous Sovereignty, Climate and Environmental Justice, and Policy Advocacy, to prepare participants mobilize in their cities as OCEJEF members to investigate environmental injustices, hold elected officials accountable, and implement Just Transition policy changes.

This year, they plan to include two curriculum tracks: Track I is focused on grassroots organizing and community-led research action partnerships, and Track II is focused on electoral organizing and building campaigns around environmental justice issues.

Learn more and apply here.

International Student One Health Alliance

The newly founded ISOHA (International Student One Health Alliance) is currently looking for officers for next year.

ISOHA has the mission to educate students about One Health issue, defined as issues that cross all geographical boundaries to affect animals, humans, and the environment. Learning about the intersectionality of global issues is critical to giving animals, minorities, and the environment a voice in health policy and practices to promote health equity. They offer students an international platform to collaborate and share One Health educational and professional development opportunities.

Learn more and apply here.

Campus as a Living Lab Applications are Still Open!

Campus as a Living Lab applications are still open! Are you an upper-division undergraduate student interested in applied research and projects related to sustainability? Through Campus as a Living Lab, you can gain hands-on experience conducting applied research and lead projects that meet campus sustainability needs! Applications are open until filled. Apply here to be a Campus as a Living Lab intern.

Project sites to intern at include UCI Outdoor Adventures, UCI Dining, UCI Campus Recreation, Womxn's Hub, UCI Campus Human Resources - Wellness & Engagement, Campus Physical & Environmental Planning, Facilities Management-Sustainability Department, and Student Housing Sustainability.

Sustainability: Just a Buzzword?

The Challenge: Has the word ‘sustainability’ become an empty term used in policy, industry, research and amongst consumers? How can we move beyond the hype towards real sustainable change?

The Future: A renewed understanding of the word ‘sustainability’, in which everyone has a clear definition of what qualifies as sustainable. The parameters of sustainability lay a common foundation for all the actors in the food system (from farmers, industry, research, policy and consumers) to move towards true sustainable production and consumption.

The Question: How do we qualify, quantify and reinforce sustainable practices, industries, innovations and policies?

Your View: This Dialogue invites the millennial generation to discuss these questions openly and honestly from their own perspectives as consumers, as well as their roles (if applicable) in sales/marketing, agriculture, industry, policy innovation.

Learn more and register here.

June 23, 2021
10:00 pm - 12:30 pm