Download Environmental Studies Program: Woods & LaDuke Visits, Fenner Windmill & Love Canal Tours and more Study Guides, Projects, Research Environmental Science in PDF only on Docsity!
This fall, the Environmental Studies Pro- gram sponsored many visits to campus. In mid-October, Mark Woods, Environmental Philosopher at the University of San Diego gave a talk at the Environmental Studies ~ Peace Studies Lunchtime Colloquium Se- ries: “The Undergrounding of Wilderness? How not to Philosophize with a Bulldozer.” Woods also visited two Philosophy/ Envi- ronmental Studies courses (Environmental Ethics and Environmental Justice) during his visit. Earlier this month, we had another visitor to campus, co-sponsored by the Native American Studies Program. Winona La- Duke, two-time Green Party Vice- Presidential nominee and Native American Activist gave a powerful talk to a large crowd in Love Auditorium. The following day, the Democracy Matters student group led a follow-up panel at the lunchtime col- loquium to continue the dialogue that her talk spurred. This semester also brought some Alumni visitors. Jack Schramm ‘53 came in Octo-
ber for two days of activity. He gave two public talks based upon tales of his ex- perience as an Environmental Manage- ment Consultant. He also visited three classes (Environmental Hazards, ENST 201—Social Science Perspectives on Environmental Issues, and ENST 480— Interdisciplinary Investigation of the En- vironment). This month, Richard Tisch ‘70, now an environmental lawyer, came to campus where he gave a talk, "Environmental Work: Understanding Legal and Policy Issues” at the “Food For Thought” Lunch Series. He also was a guest in the Envi- ronmental Hazards classroom. The Environmental Studies Program had a combination of Alumni and other out- side guests this semester. Having Alumni come back to campus to share their ex- periences in the environmental career field after Colgate along with other out- side guests has been a great asset to this semester’s programming. The interaction with guests in the classroom has also brought depth to campus visits.
Visitors to the Colgate
Campus this Fall
Fenner Windmill Tour
Brooke Taylor Environmental Economics major, Ge- ography minor We have all read about the benefits of green energy in reducing the negative environmental effects that result from traditional energy generation. On Oc-
tober 9, I had the opportunity to wit- ness the strides that are being made towards renewable energy resources right here in Madison County. Several Colgate professors, students, and those involved in the Environmental Studies department made the short drive to Fenner, New York to attend the Wind
Inside this issue Environmental Studies Visitors (Page 1) Field trips to Fenner Wild Project and Love Canal (Page 1-3) Environmental Studies Films Update (Page 2) EarthGate Roundtable Talks this Fall (Page 3) The Green Summit Update (Page 4)
Environmental StudiesNewsletter
C O L G A T E
U N I V E R S I T Y
November 2002
Power Facility Dedication Ceremony. The 30 megawatt wind farm, composed of 20 GE Wind Energy 1.5 megawatt tur- bines, makes it the largest wind farm in New York.
Photo of Madison Wind Project, another local Wild Power Site.
The dedication ceremony included a welcoming by those from a wide range of professions. Energy Company execu- tives from CHI Energy and Community Energy provided an overview of the project. Local school children from Cazeno- via, Canastota, and Morrisville Eaton provided a patriotic performance. Special thanks came from those including Madison County Supervisors Russ Cary and Rocco DiVe- ronica, Assemblyman Bill McGee, and NY Senator Nancy Hoffman. Joseph Visalli from NYSERDA provided the Key- note Address.
To me one of the most encouraging aspects of the dedication was the cooperation between local land owners, government officials, and the energy companies. This union has yielded a
new source of revenue for farmers, boosted the local tax base, attracted tourists, and provided a new source of re- newable energy to the East Coast. The wind project uses only 1% of the total 1,536 acre land area, so the land is still viable for agricultural production. The Fenner Plant is esti- mated to produce 89,000 megawatt hours each year, which is enough energy for 10,000 average American homes. After the dedication, guests were taken on a tour of one of the windmills, which stands 328 feet tall, weighs 95 tons, and encompasses a 38 foot wide octagonal base. It is an amazing sight to stand underneath one as it revolves and see the other 19 as they dot the beautiful hillsides that we call home. I always feel a quiet peacefulness as I see the gigantic structures rising above the landscape. Several institutions and universities received awards at the ceremony for their involvement in the project and for pur- chasing the wind power generated in Fenner. With univer- sities like University of Buffalo and Hobart and William Smith College showing their support, it would be a great opportunity for Colgate to show its support for renewable energy that is being produced right in our own backyard. Not only would this support the local economy in Central New York and help to decrease pollution from fossil fuel emissions, but it would also demonstrate that Colgate is a leader in progressive thinking. For more information, visit www.fennerwind.com. Also, look for more events next semester connected to Colgate’s potential investments into Clean Energy Projects. There will likely be a talk by someone at Native Energy. Native Energy is a company with a desire to help develop domestic renewable energy resources by featuring Native American projects, which create social, economic and environmental benefits for reservation com- munities.
forts and Bunches of Five , Harvest of Fear; Fury for the Sound: Women of Clayoquot Sound ); Peter Klepeis ( Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring , Trade Secrets ); Karen Harpp ( Building Bombs ); and Emily Boyd ( Lessons of Darkness —with Dara Ekster ; Drumbeat of Mother Earth ).
The series will officially end on December 3rd with a screening of Baraka.
Supporters of select films included: Women’s Studies, Peace Studies, and Native Heritage Month Events.
This semester, the Environmental Studies program ran an 11 part film series which was organized by visiting pro- fessor of Philosophy and Religion Robert Figueroa and Program Assistant Emily Boyd. This event took place at Base Camp, the building used by Colgate’s Outdoor Edu- cation Program. Films were preceded by refreshments from the Hamilton Whole Foods Store and coffee; films were followed by discussions led by Colgate faculty.
Contributing faculty included: Robert Figueroa ( In Our Own Backyard: The First Love Canal , Creature Com-
Page 2
Fenner Wind, Cont...
The Environmental Studies Film Series
E N V I R O N M E NT A L S T U DI E S NE W S L E T T E R
Spring 2003 Environmental Studies Courses:
ENST 201 —Social Science Perspectives on Environmental Issues
ENST 480 —Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Environment
CORE 114 – Ecology, Ethics, and Wilder- ness
- Also check out the variety of other courses being offered through our affiliated academic programs: Biology, Economics, Geography, and Geology. (http://departments.colgate.edu/envir_stud/C ourses/s2003_courses.html)
The Environmental Studies Program is designed to enhance students’ awareness of the seriousness and complexity of re- gional and global environmental problems and to underscore the consequences and impacts of the human experience on the habitability of planet Earth. Environmental Studies concen- trators learn to think, speak, and write clearly and articu- lately about environmental issues from a variety of perspec- tives.
The Environmental Studies program is located within the Di- vision of University Studies with teaching faculty coming from a number of departments, and applying their knowledge and expertise to teaching and research endeavors that cross disci- plinary boundaries. The concentrations in Environmental Bi- ology, Environmental Economics, Environmental Geography, and Environmental Geology all have a required core of ENST courses that insures a common experience and an interdisci- plinary flavor to the curriculum. At the same time, students gain depth in a particular discipline by taking a specified suite of courses in biology, economics, geography, or geology.
implemented. This shared vision will enable the University to leverage its physical, financial and human resources in order to reduce environmental impacts in a collaborative manner, from inception to action. Initiatives contained in the Green Print will be targeted at two levels: University-wide policies and opera- tions (e.g. use of organic fertilizers), and educational efforts about green choices that can be made in day-to-day life at an individ- ual level. Comprised of both short- and long-term initiatives, the Green Print will outline steps to be taken as well as corre- sponding timelines for implementation. Various organizations, departments, offices and individuals will take responsibility for implementing initiatives. Once a Green Print initiative is implemented into action, it becomes a Green Stride. ENST 480 will do a special presentation of their semester work on a campus audit at the December 13 colloquium lunch titled: “Anticipating the Green Summit”. For more information, e-mail greensummit@mail.colgate.edu.
The purpose of the Green Summit is to bring together students, faculty, staff, and administrators in order to establish a shared vision for building the environmental future of Colgate.
The Green Summit will serve to increase communication and collaboration between participants who represent a wide range of organizations, departments and operating areas within the University. An additional goal of the Summit is to build community through an experiential process that necessi- tates interactive problem solving and shared intelligence.
During this two-day “think tank”, partici- pants will work together to create a Green Print for Colgate that will promote greener day-to-day operations at both the University and individual levels. The Summit is inten- tionally designed as a “think tank” rather than as a retreat, conference or committee meeting, in order to facilitate efficiency in creating the Green Print.
The Green Print is a strategic plan that will outline the environmental path of the Uni- versity including prioritized initiatives to be
The Green Summit Update
http:// departments.colgate.edu/ envir_stud/
Colgate University Environmental Studies Program, 2002- Bob Turner, Program Director ~ Emily Boyd, Program Assistant
