Fisher Hosts Sustainability Talks
Are you a sustainability major? Do you care about the environment? Do you like learning new things? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should attend the Spring 2022 Sustainability Seminar Series!
This seminar series—which was created for two courses, but is open to all students, faculty, and staff—has already featured some great speakers and will continue to provide its audience with information from experts in the field of sustainability. Attendees will leave with details about the myriad sustainability efforts in the Rochester area and a new awareness of jobs available in the field.
The first two seminars in this series were given by Jim Howe, senior policy advisor for the Freshwater Network, and Adrienne Perovich, associate director for Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School. Howe spoke on the sustainability of water in Rochester, while Perovich spoke on socio-environmental issues and her work in New York City giving aid to underserved communities leading their own efforts.
Future seminars include:
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Sustainable Materials Management in NYS
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Basil 205 or via Zoom (https://sjfc.zoom.us/j/92074454448)
Kate Walker, executive director, New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management
In this seminar, Walker will focus on New York State’s experiences with sustainable material management including food waste management, recycling, and economic systems. Walker will demonstrate the importance of recognizing the limitations of materials and how her work has allowed for change.
Monday, March 14
Sustainability in Practice and in Policy
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Basil 205 or via Zoom (https://sjfc.zoom.us/j/92074454448)
Suzanne Hunt, co-owner, Hunt Country Vineyards; policy director, Generate
Having been involved in both large policy and small-scale efforts, Hunt will touch on the changes she has seen in each field. She has worked on sustainable policies in Washington D.C. and in Albany. Her family farm, Hunt Country Vineyards, implements a variety of sustainable practices which she will speak to in this seminar.
Wednesday, March 23
Fisher Goes Green Fair!
Noon – 4 p.m. in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy/Integrated Science and Health Sciences Building Atrium
Fisher Goes Green Fair is back! Students can expect to find a wide variety of local organizations, campus efforts, and planet-friendly food. Further details will be sent out as the date approaches.
Tuesday, March 29
Ecological risk assessment of pesticides at the U.S. EPA
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Basil 205 or via Zoom (https://sjfc.zoom.us/j/92074454448)
Gretchen Dykes, Ph.D., biologist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
St. John Fisher College alumna Dr. Gretchen Dykes ’14, who graduated with a bachelor’s in chemistry, will speak about her work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This seminar will be focused on the issue of pesticides on the environment. Students interested in government work with sustainability will gain some insight into working in the field.
Monday, April 4
Feeding a College while Helping the Planet
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Basil 205 or via Zoom (https://sjfc.zoom.us/j/92074454448)
Joel Kraft, executive chef, and Wade Griffin, chef de cuisine, Fisher Dining Services
Executive Chef Joel Kraft will speak about his experience in St. John Fisher College’s dining services. Fisher makes efforts to utilize local food and create a more sustainable process to feed a large community. Kraft will give more specifics on this process in his talk.
Tuesday, April 19
Sustainability of Roof-top Solar
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m., Basil 205 or via Zoom (https://sjfc.zoom.us/j/92074454448)
Ryan Loysen, GreenSpark Solar
Ryan Loysen, outreach and engagement manager at GreenSpark Solar, will talk about the use of solar energy in Rochester. Loysen provides a complex insight into solar energy, showing both its benefits and its downsides.
For more information on the series, or the sustainability major at Fisher, email Dr. Mike Boller, associate professor and program director, at mboller@sjfc.edu.