In This Issue

Lunchtime Sustainability Conversations

GVSU’s Sustainable Community Development Initiative invites students, faculty, and staff to join us for lunchtime conversations on sustainability. We will watch a brief TED talk and follow up with a discussion. No RSVP necessary. Just stop by, enjoy the food and join the conversation.

Friday, February 25
12pm - 1pm
Room 2201, Kirkhof Center
Light lunch provided.

Nic Marks: The Happy Planet Index
Statistician Nic Marks asks why we measure a nation's success by its productivity -instead of by the happiness and well-being of its people. He introduces the Happy Planet Index, which tracks national well-being against resource use (because a happy life doesn't have to cost the earth). Which countries rank highest in the HPI? You might be surprised.

View full list of dates and talks

Down on the Farm Dinner + Benefit

Spend an evening learning about the sustainable agriculture efforts at GVSU. Entering its fourth year, the project has grown tremendously and is currently expanding its goals and objectives. Following a brief presentation on the project, Mike Hamm, CS Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture at MSU will be speaking on local and sustainable food systems in Michigan.

Thursday, March 3, 2011
5:00 Cocktail Hour + Auction | 6:00 Dinner
L.V. Eberhard Center, Room 215
Robert C. Pew Grand Rapids Campus

Guest Speaker, Mike Hamm
C.S. Mott Professor of Sustainable Agriculture MSU

Tickets | $30.00 | $10.00 students

Click here to Register

For more information contact Levi Gardner:
gardnele@gvsu.edu
616.331.7366

Nichols Sustainability Scholarship: Now Accepting Applications

We are now accepting application for the Nichols Sustainability Scholarship Fund. This endowed fund has been established by Nichols, Inc. Muskegon, Michigan for providing scholarships to undergraduate students in their junior and senior years who are seeking sustainability related education such as with a sustainability emphasis, theme, or certificate.

More information and application form.

Application deadline: May 31, 2011

Recyclemania 2011 Competition Off to Optimistic Start

By ANYA ZENTMEYER | Grand Valley Lanthorn

Just three weeks into the Recyclemania 2011 competition, Grand Valley State University already sees notable improvements in recycling and composting numbers from last year’s competition. “We’re off to a great start,” said Steve Leeser, operations supervisor for Facilities Services.

With 66,886 pounds in 2010 and 99,388 pounds in 2011, GVSU has seen a 49 percent increase in recycling. 2011’s compost totals so far at 62,754 pounds, a 102 percent increase from 2010’s third-week total of 31,056 pounds.

Read full article.

Taking the Steps: Grand Valley updates Climate Plan to reduce carbon footprint

By MOLLY WAITE | Grand Valley Lanthorn

The plan, which has received strong support from the sustainability community, was orchestrated to keep with the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, an agreement coordinated by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education and signed by GVSU President Thomas J. Haas in March 2009.

Bart Bartels, project manager of the SCDI and coordinator of the Climate Action Committee, said part of the Climate Commitment is to send updated versions of the Climate Action Plan to the AASHE every other year. This year, SCDI updated the greenhouse gas report. Read full article.