the UW Sustainability blog
the UW Sustainability blog
In March 2018, UW Botanic Gardens and the Burke Herbarium co-hosted the second annual Washington Botanical Symposium with an exciting new, lower-carbon way to attend: via livestream.
UW EDGE, a co-sponsor of the livestream event along with UW Sustainability, set up a conference livestream, brought in all the necessary equipment, and managed online access for about twenty (out of 158 total registrants) remote attendees from Washington, Oregon and British Columbia. Participants...
Spring quarter is now in full swing! With Earth Day just around the corner, our sustainability events calendar is packed with new events. We've listed a few of the top options this week below, and you can always check out our calendar for a comprehensive listing of events. You can even subscribe to get weekly emails to keep up to date on all the sustainability events happening around UW!
This has been a busy year for the UW EcoReps. To be honest, we’ve already done so much that it’s hard to boil it all down to a few paragraphs. As a new member and first time officer, I’ve learned a lot about sustainability from working with this group. EcoReps started off the year with only two members, and slowly grew to the 15 volunteers that represent us today. It’s been quite a journey, but one that was well worth the effort! So far we've focused on broadening our notion of sustainability, providing professional development...
Photos by Rosemary Reyes
The new Life Sciences Building under construction next to the Burke Gilman Trail features floor-to-ceiling windows all along the south side. The windows allow the sun to naturally light the space, but that sunlight also presents a problem.
In the summer, direct sunlight would overheat the building. Instead of relying on air conditioning, the team behind the building’s design found a unique solution.
Vertical glass fins along the side of the building include...
It's time for the next Green Certification Workshop Wednesday!
Join us for the upcoming Green Certification Workshop Wednesday on April 4 from 1:30-2 p.m. in Gerberding Hall room G26 (one floor down from the Red Square entrance).
These Green Certification workshops are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Everyone is welcome to join and learn more about our Green Office and Green Laboratory certification programs. We'll have a brief presentation, answer questions about the...
The 2018 Washington and Oregon Higher Education Conference (WOHESC) was a great success! The three-day conference was held at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon and drew more than 400 attendees from across the region. More than 100 speakers discussed sustainability efforts, best practices and ways forward. Keynotes, panels discussion and sessions all generated excitement and enthusiasm, and we’re sure everyone went home after hopefully learning something new from their fellow colleagues.
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The Summer Institute on Sustainability and Energy (SISE) is a two-week "boot camp" for future decision makers eager to join the sustainability and energy revolution happening around the globe. Held annually since 2011, the program is held at the at the University of Illinois at Chicago. During weekdays, SISE'ers participate in high-level talks, visit energy and sustainability sites, and network. During evenings and weekends, they work collaboratively on a research project and enjoy exploring Chicago.
Participants are chosen from a highly competitive...
The UW Sustainability Action Network is looking for artists interested in showcasing work during the UW Earth Day celebration on April 20. The Earth Day event this year is focused on bridging the gaps between Environmental, Social, Economic and Political sectors to create an intersectional display of what sustainability means.
The Sustainability Action Network has funding available for creative art projects that engage these topics. To apply, send a 1-2 page proposal to uwearthday@gmail.com. Use that email...
The Special Olympics USA Games will be coming to Seattle this summer July 1-6. More than 4,000 athletes and coaches will be staying in the North and West residence halls on the UW Seattle campus and eight of the fourteen Special Olympics USA Games events will be held on campus. Special Olympics USA Games needs volunteers to make sure that the USA Games are a success and that the athletes, their families and spectators have a great time.
There are many volunteer opportunities during the games,...
The new U District Link Light Rail Station is scheduled to open in 2021. This is an exciting investment in our neighborhood that will significantly change the way many people get around. The U District Mobility Group, a community-led effort of neighbors, stakeholders, public agencies and nonprofit organizations, is holding a series of community workshops to collect community members’ ideas on barriers, opportunities, and potential solutions. The goal is a community-driven, holistic, multimodal U District station area mobility plan.
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