November minutes
Attendees: Lisa Leisinger, Pablo Debenedetti, Patrick Caddeau, Andrea DeRose, Eli Bou-Zeid, Leila Shahbender, Stu Orefice, Dan Casey, Tom Kreutz, Elie Bou-Zeid, Holly Welles, Roger Demareski, Kathy Hackett, Shana Weber, Kristi Wiedemann, Judy Schedneck
I. Welcome & Introductions
Shana welcomed the group.
II. Announcements about the Kiosk
- Over 400 votes were submitted during the two week naming contest at the kiosk. This was a great turnout! Name chosen: “GreenSpace”
- The name will be grown from living moss and will take a couple of months. We will have laser-cut felt letters attached to limestone and the moss will be embedded into the felt.
- So far we have received positive feedback about the kiosk and ask that if you have any suggestions, to please let us know. We would also be happy to post sustainability events to help promote them.
- We have a live energy meter for the kiosk in real-time which students had recommended. The meter shows that we are using low energy in this exhibit space, and the digital screens go into sleep mode when not in use.
- While our first exhibit theme is “Water,” our next one will be focused on “Energy” for next semester. Steven Schultz in SEAS is helping to coordinate.
III. Sustainability Plan: External Review process
- Update on external review process: Planning is moving along. The Steering Council external review panel meeting with the PSC is on 12/6 at 11:00am. Please be sure you are each represented at these meetings, so if you cannot make it, please send someone else in your department.
- The focus of the discussion will primarily be operational vs. academic except for Campus as Lab partnership.
- When it is finalized, we will circulate a copy of the self assessment to the group, which will also be shared with the review panel ahead of time.
IV. Outcome of "Campus as Lab" discussion with Engineering School Deans
- Shana recently presented at the “DEC” meeting and luncheon, and had a good discussion about the Campus as Lab concept with Engineering School Deans.
- The importance of Campus as Lab being a vehicle for students to gain a clearer understanding of sustainability as a concept was emphasized.
V. Discussion: PSC leadership in promoting Campus as Lab across campus
- Mike McKay is the point of contact for faculty interested in getting involved with new construction projects. Funding may be available.
- Timing is very important – if involvement begins early, contributions become part of the process.
- One example of a potential project for faculty to get involved with would be focused on turning campus waste into energy.
- The Arts & Transit Neighborhood is another relevant project, but is far along, so opportunities would be limited, but perhaps still available for interior materials, such as lighting and choosing furniture, and landscaping.
- Students can get involved in projects as well through internships, junior papers, and senior theses.
- There may also be opportunities to team up with PEI and Andlinger on projects; important to not only focus on technical projects but to keep the arts in mind.
- The Development office would be a good partner in our efforts to explore funding for Campus as Lab opportunities.
Next meeting: December 12, 2012