[SustainableTompkins] March 2008 Happenings at the Finger Lakes Institute

[senecajean at aol.com]

Sorry for the late notice on tomorrow's-I just saw this

Jeanne



March 2008 Happenings at the Finger Lakes Institute

Events

March 4, How to create a sustainable community? 

March 6, Why should the United Nations Climate Negotiations concern you? 

March 11, Can Geothermal Energy Systems really work in the Finger Lakes region? 

 March 27, How can geospatial technology be used in the classroom? How can features of the regional environment be incorporated into science curriculum?

Announcements

HWS Students leave for an Ohio River Clean Up this month! 

Save the Date! Science on Seneca Teacher Training 

Save the Date! Finger Lakes Ecology Workshop 

High school students apply today! Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute 

Priority Waterbody List Information Sharing and Discussion Meeting Details are online! 

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FLI Events













March 4, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom
Diane Brandli, ASID, CID, LEED AP, Director of Interior Design, Ashley McGraw Architects, P.C.
Peter J. Arsenault, AIA, NCARB, LEED-AP, Principal - Stantec Architecture, National Vice President 2008 - 2009 - The American Institute of Architects
The Green Building Industry and Sustainable Communities: From the “Big Picture” to the details 
>From building interiors to the building site, to the greater community, to the economy that supports them and the natural environment surrounding them, “people, planet and profit” are intricately intertwined and cannot exist with a piece of the puzzle missing. In this presentation, Diane Brandli and Peter Arsenault, both LEED accredited professionals and members of the US Green Building Council, will provide an overview of the green building industry and an explanation of the larger piece of the puzzle, creating sustainable communities, a sustainable economy and a healthy surrounding environment. Will what we view as the “silver bullet” today turn out to be an even bigger problem tomorrow? This presentation will inspire thoughtful inquiry and action for building more sustainable businesses, homes and communities. This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested by calling (315) 781-4382 or email fli at hws.edu. Learn more about GreeningUSA, a Syracuse-based organization whose mission is to advocate sustainable environments to the benefit of local economies and communities, at http://www.greeningusa.org/. 

March 6, 7:00 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom

Courtney Wilson, William Smith Student ‘08

United Nations Climate Negotiations: A First Hand Account













The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty aimed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and thereby prevent global warming. As a signatory of the UNFCCC, the United States is committed to a voluntary "non-binding aim" to reduce greenhouse gases. Courtney Wilson, a senior at William Smith College, recently attended United Nations Climate Change Negotiations in Vienna, Austria and Bali, Indonesia to learn of the conversations, process, and framework used to assess the progress made in dealing with climate change at a global scale. Discussions at these climate change conferences paved the way for a new post-2012 international climate change policy. Participants in this event will learn about Courtney’s unique experience at the conferences and hear her first hand account of the conversations between international policy negotiators and climate researchers. This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested by calling (315) 781-4382 or email fli at hws.edu. 

March 11, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom

Lisa Turturro and Paul Tornatore, Haley and Aldrich, Inc. 

Geothermal Energy - Using Lessons from the Past to Plan for the Future 













The issue of sustainability and the emergence of "green" thinking have brought a renewed focus on how we can serve as stewards of our natural resources. Within the energy sector, geothermal energy is often viewed as a way to substantially achieve green goals - but after system installation, geothermal users are often disappointed with the results. Through geothermal practice, Haley & Aldrich has learned that it takes more than the industry rules of thumb and the "geothermal cookbook" to get it right and make it work. In this presentation, Lisa and Paul will explore how the use of geothermal energy can support overall campus sustainability programs and will discuss what they have learned about how to design geothermal applications in a way that fulfills expectations. Haley & Aldrich meets an array of strategic environmental, engineering and management challenges working with clients throughout the United States and internationally. Headquartered in Boston, the firm has 475 professional and support staff in 21 offices nationwide including Rochester, NY. This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested by calling (315) 781-4382 or email fli at hws.edu. 

March 27, 6:30 pm, Finger Lakes Institute Classroom

Greg Dlubac H’08, Courtney Wilson WS ‘08, and Emily Golson WS’08

Student Presentations: GIT Ahead and Regional Science Education













Throughout each academic semester the FLI has students conducting research on the Finger Lakes region. Topics of research pertain to the Institute's four core initiatives: research, education outreach, community outreach and public service, and economic development and regional planning. For this event, three presentations will be given to provide and overview of student accomplishments within GIT Ahead, a program that aims to incorporate geospatial technology (GIS, GPS) into the classroom, and the FLI’s Education Outreach, as it works to introduce FL geology into teaching and curriculum development. This event is free and open to the public. Registration requested by calling (315) 781-4382 or email fli at hws.edu.

FLI Announcements














HWS Students leave for an Ohio River Clean Up this month!
They are rolling up their sleeves and getting ready to get dirty! Sixteen HWS students will join Chad Pregracke and Living Lands and Waters this month for a fun week of hard work clearing pollution from the riverbanks of the Ohio River in Louisville, KY. During the trip, students will travel by boat to clean the shores of the Ohio River, participate in an educational ecology workshop, and tackle exotic bush honeysuckle invading the river’s islands. Students will reflect on their experience with journal entries, photography, a website or blog. Stay tuned to the FLI website to learn of their experiences! 

Save the Date! Science on Seneca Teacher Training, April, 8:00 am- 3:00 pm













This training event is free for teachers in the region that are interested in bringing their students onboard The William Scandling, HWS's 65 foot research vessel on Seneca Lake. During the training teachers learn how to use the limnological research equipment to collect chemical, biological and sediment data from the lake environment. After attending the one-day training event, teachers are able to register to bring their students on a field trip during the academic year for a minimal fee of $15.00. Contact Barb Halfman bhalfman at hws.edu at HWS to register for the training. 

Save the Date! Finger Lakes Ecology Workshop, July 8-10













Hosted by the Finger Lakes Institute and Montezuma Audubon, this 2 1/2 day workshop is for environmental educators that want to incorporate information and facts about the Finger Lakes into their lessons. Participants will be engaged in several hands-on activities taken from a variety of curriculum including My Place in the Finger Lakes, Audubon Bird In Your Backyard Citizen Science, and Project WET. There are a number of field trips including once on Seneca Lake, a canoe trip in the Montezuma Wetlands Complex, and a visit to a local vineyard. Space is limited so sign up early. Contact Sheila Myers for more information at (315) 781-4380 or email smyers at hws.edu. 

Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute, July 13-26

http://academic.hws.edu/enviro/index.html













http://academic.hws.edu/enviro/index.htmlhttp://academic.hws.edu/enviro/index.htmlThe Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute provides high school students with a college-level, hands-on learning experience that explores the many disciplines, tools and approaches demanded by complex environmental problems. We welcome students with a range of interests and academic preparation, recognizing that all can contribute to the success of the Institute, whether their background is in the arts, the humanities, the natural sciences, or the social sciences. Participants in the Institute will work closely with a diverse group of Hobart and William Smith faculty, such as artists, economists, political scientists, geologists, biologists, chemists, writers and philosophers. Much of the student’s work will be in the field— water quality sampling on the Colleges’ 65-foot research vessel the HWS William Scandling, stream discharge measurements in local watersheds, using photography to establish a “sense of place,” habitat surveys of Adirondack lakes, investigating plant communities in a quaking bog and more. College credit is awarded upon successful completion. The dates of this summer’s Institute are Sunday, July 13 through Saturday, July 26. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The program is limited to 34 students so we urge students to apply as soon as possible. The Institute’s program fee is $1,950 which includes tuition, room and board, and all materials. A few partial scholarships are available for those who will need financial assistance to attend the Institute. For more details on ESSYI or scholarship information, please send the high school student’s name and address to essyi at hws.edu or contact Prof. Jim MaKinster, ESSYI Director, at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Dept. of Education and Environmental Studies, 300 Pulteney St., Geneva, NY 14456 or call (315)781-4401. 

Waterbody Inventory/Priority Waterbody List Information Sharing and Discussion Meeting Details online!

On February 6, Jeff Myers, of the NYSDEC Bureau of Water Assessment and Management’s Water Quality Assessment Section, was hosted by the Finger Lakes Institute to discuss the most recent draft edition of the Finger Lakes Basin’s Priority Waterbody Listing. Read about the meeting discussion here!
PowerPoint Presentation
Comments from the Audience
Meeting Notes
Read the December 2007 WI/PWL Document