Area colleges’ inaugural Conference on Sustainability Opportunities is slated for Feb. 20
Lafayette students will be among area college and university students presenting information on green initiatives and research projects on their campuses at the inaugural Conference on Sustainability Opportunities sponsored by the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC).
The conference will run from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, in the University Center at DeSales University. It will feature a keynote talk by John Cusack, executive director of the New Jersey Higher Education Partnership, plus workshops on energy conservation, green initiatives in campus dining, alternative transportation options, integrating sustainability into the curriculum, and other topics. LVAIC schools — Cedar Crest, Moravian, and Muhlenberg colleges and Lehigh University, in addition to Lafayette and DeSales — will discuss opportunities for future collaborations on sustainability issues.
Lafayette students and their projects:
Mickey Adelman ’10 (civil engineering, Clarks Summit, Pa.), “Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle in Compostable Organic Waste.” Jennifer Bell ’11 (geology; Purcellville, Va.), “Creating a Sustainable Food Loop at Academic Institutions through Food Waste Composting and Organic Vegetable Production.” Daniella Colon ’10 (civil engineering; Bronx, N.Y.), “Vegetated Roof Project at Lafayette.” Brian Peacock ’12 (civil engineering; Haddonfield, N.J.), “Composting.
Laura Bochner ’10 (geology; Bethlehem, Pa.), “Green Move-Out”
Dan Goldberg ’09 (chemical engineering; Avon, Conn.), “A Roadmap for Sustainable Development”
Jeff Shoemaker ’10 (civil engineering; Schnecksville, Pa.), “Perchlorate Remediation and Regeneration of DOW3N Chelating Polymeric Ligand Exhange Resins”
Ben Towne ’09 (electrical and computer engineering; Litchfield, N.H.), “Solar Power Possibilities”
Towne and Diana Hasegan ’10 (B.S. civil engineering/A.B. economics and business; Tirgu Mures, Romania), “Sustainability Opportunities in Themed Living Groups”
In all, 21 students are expected to present information on green initiatives and research at Lehigh Valley campuses in a poster session, with cash prizes awarded to the top three posters. The conference also will feature a “green vendor” expo.
Results from NSSE can provide prospective students with insights into how they might learn and develop at a given college. 