the UW Sustainability blog
Right now, there's something missing at the UW’s Office of Admissions.
Tables, desks and floors are empty instead of being covered with stacks and stacks of paper applications. For the first time, most applications for admission at the University of Washington are being considered as digital files instead of pages of printed paper.
The University of Washington has a goal of reducing paper usage university-wide, in line with a Washington state law directing state agencies to reduce paper consumption by at least 30% from 2008-2009 levels and use 100% recycled copy paper.
UW is still working toward those goals, and you can see the progress on our Sustainability Dashboard's paper page. Below, you can that the amount of paper per employee across all UW campuses has steadily dropped since the law was passed.
As we prepare for this year's SustainableUW Festival, which will take place Oct. 17-23, we are remembering last year's events. The 2015 Huskies for Humanity presentations focused on connections to the Duwamish River, including restoration efforts and art installations. One of the presentations was on the Duwamish Lighthouse:
Gov. Jay Inslee joined students at the University of Washington - and several other campuses around the state via videoconference - for a conversation on climate change this week.
The event, which allowed students to pose questions to the governor, was hosted by the College of the Environment and Dean Lisa Graumlich. Inslee had recently returned from the COP21 Climate Change talks in Paris, which led to an international agreement to combat climate change.
This Fall, UW Tacoma's Carbon Challenge presented a talk by zero-waste advocate Lauren Singer showcasing how people can live a zero-waste lifestyle. The event was one part of the Carbon Challenge, a Green Seed Fund project to encourage students, faculty and staff to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
If you have an idea for a campus water research project, the deadline to apply for a grant through UW's Green Seed Fund is coming up!
As you get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with friends, family and food, a little preparation can go a long way in avoiding wasted food. Nearly a third of all food produced in the U.S. ends up being thrown out. Don't let your holiday feast be part of the problem - shop with a menu in mind, and check your fridge to see if you have any food which needs to be used before it goes bad. After you enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, keep those leftovers for delicious meals instead of throwing them out.
Each quarter, the UW Farm hosts a "Farm Lunch" seminar for students interested in learning more about urban agriculture. The informal seminars can be taken for a credit, although all are welcome to join in the discussion.
For the upcoming 2016 Winter Quarter, the Farm Lunch seminar will will highlight a mix of local farmers, policy makers and deep conversations about the work of building a resilient food system. The seminars will meet Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. in Wallace Hall 120.
Long before Seattle existed, this area was home to Native Americans with deep knowledge of the abundant natural food resources of the area. This video, part of the Burke Museum's "Salish Bounty" project, shows what archeologists learned about traditional Coast Salish food from looking at 130 archaelogical sites in the area and talking with local tribal members.
For more information on the project, including recorded stories from tribal members, see burkemuseum.org/salish_bounty