The UC Sustainability office puts on a series of events each and every semester to engage with and educate the university community. These events can typically be broken up into several different types:
Films/Lectures - on a nearly bi-weekly basis we try to offer a film or lecture which gives attendees a deep dive into some aspect of the world of sustainability. Our films typically consist of documentaries from blockbusters like Before the Flood to much smaller independent films and always have something unique to offer. Lectures are led by experts in certain fields with some speakers traveling from all over the country to share their expertise.
Field Trips - one of the best ways to learn is to experience something for yourself. Keeping this in mind we go on a variety of field trips every semester to experience different sectors of the green economy. Rotating field trips always include the Civic Garden Center in Avondale, Rumpke Recycling in St Bernard, and the landfill in Colerain.
Volunteer Opportunities - we also offer several ways to volunteer with our team! Several times a year we host garden work days to allow a chance to get your hands dirty in our Soiled Hands Learning Garden. We also help with recycling at football tailgates and throughout games at Nippert stadium, as well as FC Cincinnati while it is still here in Clifton. Other opportunities are more infrequent, but always offer a behind the scenes look at interesting programs around the university and city!
PACES Meetings - Finally, the simplest way to connect what you’re already doing sustainably with the greater community here at the university is to attend our PACES Meeting. PACES stands for the President's Advisory Council on the Environment and Sustainability. At these meetings we always offer information about what the office is doing around the university and upcoming events, while allowing for different student organizations like Clean Up Cincy or the Ornithology Club to share their own plans and needs!
This semester we are operating a little differently in light of the current conditions with COVID-19. All events will be social-distancing friendly, and most, if not all, are entirely virtual. The full calendar is pictured at the top of this blog, and can be found at this link here: https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/get_involved/programming_outreach/events_calendar.html .
Within that schedule you will see our regularly programmed PACES Meetings and a couple lecture/discussion series including Living in the Neighborhood and Environmental Literacy. Each of these series will be held over Webex virtual meetings, the link to which can be found on our Facebook page or by emailing green@uc.edu. Living in the Neighborhood sees the Office of Sustainability partnering with UC Public Safety and Center for Community Engagement to educate students on being proactive and welcome parts of the Uptown neighborhoods surrounding UC. These events will happen once a month, exploring different topics as noted, on September 22nd, October 20th, and November 24th. The Environmental Literacy discussions are part of our non-credit bearing certificate allowing students to earn evidence of their knowledge relating to topics of sustainability. Learn more about that program on our page here: https://www.uc.edu/af/pdc/sustainability/get_involved/environmental_literacy.html
We will also be hosting four films, each of which will host a different theme revolving around sustainability. This is a great way to become educated on sustainability around the globe and inform yourself on some of the issues that the world of sustainability faces, from racial justice to climate change. These films will be hosted online where you can join us on YouTube Watch Party. The links for these events can be found on our Facebook and Twitter. Email green@uc.edu if you’re having trouble accessing these links.
One special event we will be holding this semester is a panel called “Life as a Sustainability Advocate” on November 16th at 6 pm. This event will be hosted over Webex and will include a panel of our student sustainability advocates who work at the Office of Sustainability to promote sustainability on UC’s campus. Come out to meet them and ask them questions about the work they do for the community! Links to the Webex meeting will be included on Facebook, or you can email green@uc.edu if you are having trouble accessing them.
Even though we aren’t able to get together in person, participating in these events is a great way to stay engaged with campus life and meet new people! Please join us for these events as we explore sustainability at UC and how to make our community a better place.
-Kyle and Bridgette