UMACS Coffee Hour with Jenna Jambeck on Thursday, April 13 from 9-10am CST Macarthur Fellow Jenna Jambeck (Environmental Engineer, University of Georgia) is the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of MN, Morris. She has generously offered to host a "UMACS coffee hour" to learn about her Circularity Assessment Protocol and research on waste reduction. Jenna Jambeck is a Georgia Athletic Association Distinguished Professor in Environmental Engineering at the University of Georgia, a 2022 MacArthur Fellow, Founder of the Circularity Informatics Lab in the New Materials Institute and is a National Geographic Explorer. In 2019, she co-led the National Geographic Sea to Source Expedition: Ganges and currently leads the science for the Mississippi River Plastic Pollution Initiative. She has been conducting research on solid waste issues for over 25 years and marine debris/plastic pollution for 21 years. Her work has been recognized by the global community and translated into policy discussions by the High-Level Panel for the Ocean, testimony to Congress, in G7 and G20 Declarations, and the United Nations Environment program.
From Soil to Stars, Finding Nature in the Archive: A Reading & Conversation with Erin Sharkey and Michael Kleber-Diggs on April 3 from 4:30-6pm What are the politics of nature? Who owns it, where is it, and what role does it play in our lives? Does it need to be tamed? Are we ourselves natural? Erin Sharkey and Michael Kleber-Diggs will discuss, A Darker Wilderness: Black Nature Writing from Soil to Stars, a collection of personal and lyric essays in conversation with archival objects of Black history and memory. The collection explores stories spanning hundreds of years and thousands of miles, traveling from roots to space–finding rich Blackness everywhere. Together we will consider the significance of nature in our lives and on the role of nature in the lives of Black folks.
Re:wild Your Campus Info Session on March 30 from 1-1:45pm
Are you interested in creating healthy, natural spaces on your campus? Learn about organic land care and discover some ways you can help in creating safer and healthier grounds.
Ed Humes: The Forgotten Side of Sustainability on March 24, 2023 from 1-2pm
Are you interested in discussing topics that historically have been left out of sustainability conversations? Come join UMN Morris' event with keynote speaker Ed Humes, author of Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash!
Thursday, February 9, 10:00-11:00: Virtual Power Purchasing Agreements
Learn from Chris O'Brian, VP of Business Development for Coho about how large-scale renewable energy solutions, such as wholesale power purchase agreements (a.k.a. "virtual" or VPPAs) can zero out up to 100% of your scope 2 GHG emissions from purchased electricity. Wholesale PPAs require no capital expense, cause net new solar and wind projects to be added to the grid, and can produce long-term cost savings. However, they are complex and involve many stakeholders. Learn how to navigate these challenges and achieve what could be your campus's greatest climate success.
Introduction to Second Nature, Thursday, February 2, 12:00-1:00 CST Learn about resources and programs offered by Second Nature (including how you can be involved (with or without being a member), Session will be led by Cami Sockow, their new Climate Programs Regional Manager (previously the Sustainability Coordinator at Georgia Southern University).