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UNIVERSITY�S SUSTAINABILITY LEADERS COME TOGETHER FOR FIRST
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Professors from a variety of disciplines on campus put their
heads together during the first Sustainability Roundtable on
October 21 hosted by Green UH. The group, led by two Green UH
volunteers, discussed possible research collaborations and ideas
to take UH�s sustainability mission to the next level.
Green UH plans to host the roundtables every other month as a
way to bring together campus sustainability leaders and
researchers to discuss projects, potential collaborations and
current campus challenges. Garth Williams, a recent UH graduate
receiving his Master of Architecture, and Laura Moreno, a
nutrition junior, volunteered to lead the roundtable
discussions.
�I feel the meeting went well and the participants showed a lot
of enthusiasm for the cause,� said Garth Williams, roundtable
facilitator. �I think any opportunity to gather professors from
multiple colleges on campus to talk about sustainability will
both provide short-term goals and activities for Green UH as
well as foster an environment where multi-disciplinary research
can occur in the future.�
Williams said he wanted to get involved in the Green UH mission
previously but his schedule didn�t allow it while he was a
student. However, he jumped at the chance to volunteer for the
roundtable discussion after being contacted by Green UH. Moreno
first became involved in Green UH by volunteering to work in the
campus community garden last semester.
�I really enjoyed myself last semester and I feel strongly about
Green UH�s mission. I�m determined to make a difference at the
university, as well as within the community. When I heard about
the roundtable, it sounded like a unique opportunity so I said,
�sign me up!�� Moreno said.
At the first meeting, professors and graduate students discussed
their current projects and next possible steps to encourage
sustainable initiatives on campus. They also discussed current
challenges we face as a campus community and potential solutions
to those challenges. For the next discussion, a summary of ideas
and comments from the first roundtable, in addition to an agenda
of items for discussion and action, will be provided. Professors
of various fields interested in sharing ideas or helping the
university on its sustainability mission are invited to
participate. Also, professors and students currently working on
sustainability-related projects and research can share their
progress and generate new, potentially collaborative ideas.
�I think it�s important to address the concerns from our last
meeting and to explore and have answers for their suggestions
this time around. Also, instead of just a brief introduction to
the person and a small blurb on their personal projects and
research, I think it would be beneficial and inspiring to have a
few minutes for each person to show-and-tell. It will be a great
way for the attendees to show their work and research and for
their fellow colleagues to be able to lend a hand,� said Laura
Moreno, roundtable facilitator.
The next Sustainability Roundtables are scheduled for Dec. 2,
Feb. 3, April 13 and June 1 in Cougar Village N115. For more
information, contact Green UH at
greenuh.info@gmail.com.
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