Want to see your work up on the blog? For now, just send your work to jmt34@geneseo.edu - Justine Talbot, a past intern of the office, has created the project!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Environmental Writing
Check out the new Geneseo Environmental Writing blog, being launched for Earth Week 2016! The first environmental writing workshop was held 4/12, for writers who want to connect their love of nature and sustainable initiatives with their love of creative production.
Want to see your work up on the blog? For now, just send your work to jmt34@geneseo.edu - Justine Talbot, a past intern of the office, has created the project!
Want to see your work up on the blog? For now, just send your work to jmt34@geneseo.edu - Justine Talbot, a past intern of the office, has created the project!
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Tree Mapping Update
Hi guys! Sarah and Victoria here to give you an update on our tree-mapping project!
We have been working on inputting all of the data we have collected in the past into a GIS map! Our map contains data from past research, as well as, data that we have collected on the locations of different trees on campus. The map has around 3,000 trees right now and southside and the arboreteum haven't even been mapped yet! The process is slow because we have to walk around to each tree and document where it is and then digitize it onto the map individually.
We also went to a conference in September in Minneapolis with Dan to present on what we have been doing. The conference was awesome and there were a lot of other people who had similar projects creating maps of trees on campus. We got some ideas from that are looking into the logistics of expanding our map to include certain attributes for each tree; such as CO2 sequestration.
We have been working on inputting all of the data we have collected in the past into a GIS map! Our map contains data from past research, as well as, data that we have collected on the locations of different trees on campus. The map has around 3,000 trees right now and southside and the arboreteum haven't even been mapped yet! The process is slow because we have to walk around to each tree and document where it is and then digitize it onto the map individually.
We also went to a conference in September in Minneapolis with Dan to present on what we have been doing. The conference was awesome and there were a lot of other people who had similar projects creating maps of trees on campus. We got some ideas from that are looking into the logistics of expanding our map to include certain attributes for each tree; such as CO2 sequestration.
A few weeks ago we went on a Oak Tree Savannah tour with Dave Robertson of the geography department, workers from Allegheny State Park, representatives from the India reservation, GVC members and a few others. We got to see how the big Geneseo Oaks were created, by prescribed burning by Native Americans. Today the oaks are being encroached by what's growing in around them. The oak tree savannah a were beneficial to create plains for hunting, but were man made and not natural to the area.
We're also working on getting the campus certified as a Tree Campus USA so that we can receive recognition for our diversity and get some free trees :) To do this, we are creating a Campus Tree Care Plan, and putting together a Tree Committee of faculty, community members, facilities and students.
Friday, October 16, 2015
eGarden Fly Over: Video Footage!
Check out these awesome videos flying over Geneseo's new eGarden and Solar Panel Array! We recommend turning the sound down before you get started - the Quad copter can be kind of loud!
Quad copter fly over eGarden
Solar Panel Array Fly Over!
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Changes to the GOLD Jade Certificate
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| Photo Courtesy of gold.geneseo.edu |
Great changes are coming to Geneseo's sustainability scene courtesy of Geneseo GOLD, Geneseo's Sustainability Commission, and the Office of Sustainability's interns! The GOLD Jade Leadership in Sustainability Certificate is being overhauled for the 2015-2016 academic year to include some hands-on projects and new required and optional workshops.
The new required workshops for the Jade certificate are:
Following the Money: Economy and the Environment
Unpacking Portrayals of Sustainability
Opportunities in Current Environmental Issues - Preparation
Opportunities in Current Environmental Issues - Reflection
Similar to the Sapphire certificate in volunteerism, the Jade certificate will now include a ten hour 'service' requirement, where participants can do hands-on activities with the Office of Sustainability or in their local communities. The Opportunities in Current Environmental Issues - Preparation will introduce participants to service projects in the area, and the Office blog and Facebook will also advertise service opportunities like honeysuckle pulls, bee box building, composting and more. The reflection workshop will allow participants to talk about what they did for their service, and how they can continue to be active members of the sustainability community.
There will also be a whole host of exciting workshops offered by sustainability interns, faculty, commission members, administration, and more! Just a few of the workshops lined up for the year are:
- Evaluating Agriculture's Environmental Impact
- Biological Problems - Invasive Species
- Biological Problems - Deforestation
- What is Eco-Feminism?
- Building and Sustaining Organizations
- Persuading the Powerful
- Your Happiness and the Environment
- Happiness, Materialism, and Intentional Living
- Earthship Biotechture + Sustainable Development
And that's just a taste of what we've got lined up! If you're interested in teaching a workshop, or leading a hands on activity, talk to our GOLD coordinator intern, Meghan Barrett (mrb21@geneseo.edu).
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Black Soldier Flies
Diana Li here to talk about my work with black soldier flies.
Black soldier flies (BSFs) are typically found in subtropic and warm temperate climates. BSFs are utilized by many agriculturalists, as the grubs are voracious feeders and are known for their ability to incorporate high amounts of food into biomass. Adult flies are benign to humans, since they cannot bite.
The use of BSF larvae as an instrument in waste management has two benefits. Fixation of carbon from food scraps into high quality BSF larvae reduces carbon emissions. The on-site treatment of food waste also alleviates monetary investment in waste disposal.
Creating a self-propagating system in the New York climate is a major concern for the implementation of a large-scale system. The goal of this project is to define efficient environmental conditions for a BSF composting system at the college. We have purchased a BioPodTM and several thousand larvae. Food waste from the dining halls serves as feed. By monitoring environmental conditions and growth rates, we aim to determine if this system can reduce carbon emissions of food decomposition at Geneseo.
Recently, we have begun implementing composting of the flies’ leachate. We have also determined that the flies can handle animal products, as we have begun including meat and dairy in their food supply with positive results.
An adult fly enclosure has been constructed and, hopefully, the adult flies will emerge soon.
As I am about to graduate, Ashley Peppriell will be taking over the project with Dan DeZarn this summer and next fall.
The use of BSF larvae as an instrument in waste management has two benefits. Fixation of carbon from food scraps into high quality BSF larvae reduces carbon emissions. The on-site treatment of food waste also alleviates monetary investment in waste disposal.
Creating a self-propagating system in the New York climate is a major concern for the implementation of a large-scale system. The goal of this project is to define efficient environmental conditions for a BSF composting system at the college. We have purchased a BioPodTM and several thousand larvae. Food waste from the dining halls serves as feed. By monitoring environmental conditions and growth rates, we aim to determine if this system can reduce carbon emissions of food decomposition at Geneseo.
Recently, we have begun implementing composting of the flies’ leachate. We have also determined that the flies can handle animal products, as we have begun including meat and dairy in their food supply with positive results.An adult fly enclosure has been constructed and, hopefully, the adult flies will emerge soon.
As I am about to graduate, Ashley Peppriell will be taking over the project with Dan DeZarn this summer and next fall.
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Public Relations Internship
Hi there! Justine here, to talking about my recent experience interning with the Office.
Now that the semester is wrapping up, things have picked up at the Office of Sustainability. There has been more of a push to make progress on projects, especially as several of the interns are leaving and looking to get their positions filled by newcomers.
I’ve spent the spring 2015 semester as a public relations intern at the office. This position has involved attending a host of sustainability-related meetings as well as calling a few of my own, corresponding with different people and organizations involved in sustainability-related projects, and finding ways of communicating news of these projects to the student body, faculty, and more. The chief method of getting the news out has been through The Lamron, Geneseo’s student newspaper. I have served as a liaison between the office and The Lamron, for which I simultaneously worked as Arts & Entertainment Editor. News of the E-Garden, the Green Map, and many more office projects have been published in The Lamron this spring.
Other methods of raising awareness have included social media, press releases, emails, discussions with professors, and word of mouth. I have also helped maintain the office blog (this beauty right here!) by creating posts about our internship opportunities. This internship has given me a lot of insight into the often long and frustrating process of making change happen. Over the course of the semester, I’ve learned a lot about the different sustainability-oriented projects on campus. I also learned a lot about real-world concerns, including funding and grants as well as communication with an administration and campus facilities.
While being an advocate for the environment is not always easy, it is certainly rewarding—especially considering how many things have been accomplished since the office was created last semester! Looking ahead to the fall, my new role as News Editor of The Lamron will prevent me from returning to my intern position. Still, I am confident that news coverage of sustainability-related projects, issues and events will remain considerable.
Justine Talbot
Now that the semester is wrapping up, things have picked up at the Office of Sustainability. There has been more of a push to make progress on projects, especially as several of the interns are leaving and looking to get their positions filled by newcomers.
I’ve spent the spring 2015 semester as a public relations intern at the office. This position has involved attending a host of sustainability-related meetings as well as calling a few of my own, corresponding with different people and organizations involved in sustainability-related projects, and finding ways of communicating news of these projects to the student body, faculty, and more. The chief method of getting the news out has been through The Lamron, Geneseo’s student newspaper. I have served as a liaison between the office and The Lamron, for which I simultaneously worked as Arts & Entertainment Editor. News of the E-Garden, the Green Map, and many more office projects have been published in The Lamron this spring.
Other methods of raising awareness have included social media, press releases, emails, discussions with professors, and word of mouth. I have also helped maintain the office blog (this beauty right here!) by creating posts about our internship opportunities. This internship has given me a lot of insight into the often long and frustrating process of making change happen. Over the course of the semester, I’ve learned a lot about the different sustainability-oriented projects on campus. I also learned a lot about real-world concerns, including funding and grants as well as communication with an administration and campus facilities.
While being an advocate for the environment is not always easy, it is certainly rewarding—especially considering how many things have been accomplished since the office was created last semester! Looking ahead to the fall, my new role as News Editor of The Lamron will prevent me from returning to my intern position. Still, I am confident that news coverage of sustainability-related projects, issues and events will remain considerable.
Justine Talbot
Friday, May 1, 2015
Tree Mapping Project
Hi! Interns Sarah and Victoria here to talk about our Interactive Field Guide!
The interactive tree mapping project has recently picked up speed in the last few weeks with the arrival (finally!) of spring. Buds are beginning to appear, which makes trees a lot easier to identify.
In general, the tree mapping project is an attempt to create an interactive field guide using geographic information system (GIS) mapping technology paired with in-depth knowledge about the trees, their interactions in the ecosystem, and various other facts about their use and history. The field guide will hopefully allow students to learn more about their surroundings and connect with nature on a deeper level.
We started the project at the beginning of the spring 2015 semester. Since then, a majority of the work has involved field experience in a winter setting, which included identifying bark types and the shape of trees out in the snow. Now that the snow is gone we are moving full speed ahead. We have begun to list all the trees on campus in a database with specific information that we will use in the future for the field guide application.
If you happen to see us walking around looking at trees, don’t hesitate to ask us about what we are doing. We have already learned so much more about trees that we thought possible and would love to share our newly acquired knowledge with you!
Sarah Kowalski and Victoria Roberts
The interactive tree mapping project has recently picked up speed in the last few weeks with the arrival (finally!) of spring. Buds are beginning to appear, which makes trees a lot easier to identify.
In general, the tree mapping project is an attempt to create an interactive field guide using geographic information system (GIS) mapping technology paired with in-depth knowledge about the trees, their interactions in the ecosystem, and various other facts about their use and history. The field guide will hopefully allow students to learn more about their surroundings and connect with nature on a deeper level.
We started the project at the beginning of the spring 2015 semester. Since then, a majority of the work has involved field experience in a winter setting, which included identifying bark types and the shape of trees out in the snow. Now that the snow is gone we are moving full speed ahead. We have begun to list all the trees on campus in a database with specific information that we will use in the future for the field guide application.
If you happen to see us walking around looking at trees, don’t hesitate to ask us about what we are doing. We have already learned so much more about trees that we thought possible and would love to share our newly acquired knowledge with you!
Sarah Kowalski and Victoria Roberts
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