Sustainability Conference Schedule

Schedule at a Glance

Thursday, June 14

Friday, June 15

Saturday, June 16

Thursday, June 14

1-5 p.m. - Registration

3- 5 p.m. - Tours (COSA and Zero Energy Demonstration Home)

6 p.m. - Networking and Dinner

Friday, June 15

8-8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m. - Opening Keynote Speaker, Debra Rowe, PhD

Education and Practical Actions for a Sustainable Future

9:45-10:15 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Remotely Controlled Experiments Via the Internet to Facilitate Education in Sustainability presented by Jack Gilbert

This session will explore MechNet Inc.’s new and innovative service to allow schools and universities to remotely operate research-grade wind tunnels via the Internet, allowing students to learn how to fabricate their own wind turbine blade to send to MechNet for special testing. This cost-effective remote method allows them access to the technology but at an affordable price.

Sustainable Community Development in the Finger Lakes Region presented by Adam Maurer, MPS, LEED green associate, project manager, Finger Lakes Institute

10:15-10:45 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Providing Under-represented Students with Access to Sustainability presented by Andrea Webster

Implementation of Sustainable Remediation Opportunities for "Win-win" Solutions for all Stakeholders presented by Eric J. Larson, operations project manager (Atlantic Richfield Company)

Recognizing the need for remediation of former Sinclair Refinery in Wellsville, NY, Atlantic Richfield Company developed a holistic, ‘win-win’ approach that provides long-term contributions to the environment, the community, local businesses, regulators, and the responsible party. This session will discuss the techniques, remedies, and the overall methodology to tackling this challenge.

10:45-11 a.m. - Opportunity to view vendor displays

11-11:30 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Corning Global Energy Management by J. Scott Ryan, CPM Energy Operations Manager, Corning, Inc.

The Role of the College Farm in Advancing Food System Sustainability - panel discussion

11:30-Noon - Concurrent Sessions

Corning Global Energy Management by J. Scott Ryan, CPM Energy Operations Manager, Corning, Inc.

Funding Sustainable Education Initiatives - panel discussion

Noon-1:30 p.m. - Lunch - Green jobs panel discussion with Vicki Colello, Project Manager, NYSERDA, and Todd Cohen, Director, SEED Initiative, American Association of Community Colleges

This session will discuss how AACC’s SEED initiative is supporting colleges in building quality clean technology programming and integrating those efforts with broader campus sustainability planning. Cohen will share, specifically, innovative ways that colleges across the U.S. are identifying green labor market needs and working with industry to respond.

1:45-3:15 p.m. - A discussion on "Implementation of Sustainability in the College Environment", Debra Rowe, PhD, and Mitchell Thomashow, PhD

3:15-3:30 p.m. - Opportunity to view vendor displays

3:30-4 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Institutionalizing Sustainability in Clean Coal Country: The Experiences of a Green Yankee in King Coal's Court presented by Robert R. Jones, PhD, REM, assistant professor of Environmental Science, Southwest Virginia Community College

Southwest Virginia Community College will discuss the challenges posed to renewable energy and green initiatives in the Appalachian coal and gas production region and the school’s implementation of a series of sustainability measures that aim to develop a living classroom project for promoting renewable energy while not estranging long-term partners and stakeholders in the region.

Completing a Special Focus on Sustainability in Tandem with STARS presented by Andrea Webster; and Dr. Valerie Luzadis, assistant provost for assessment and academic initiatives, SUNY ESF

In 2009 SUNY ESF began reaccreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, opting to conduct a selected self-study on sustainability efforts at the same time the college also participated in Sustainability Tracking Assessment and Rating System (STARS). This session will discuss the challenges and opportunities of undergoing a reaccreditation self-study on sustainability at the same time as STARS.

4-4:15 p.m. - Opportunity to view vendor displays

4:15-4:45 p.m. - Concurrent Sessions

The #1 Export to China: Waste Paper presented by Archie Beaton

Over 80 percent of the waste paper in the United States is shipped to China to be reprocessed, not to locations in the U.S. Experts in collection, sorting, deinking and papermaking will discuss ways that universities, colleges, and leaders in sustainability can help divert that export back to local facilities and create green jobs and green economies.

Building Deconstruction: An Innovative Approach to Integrating Sustainability into Construction presented by Paul Crovella, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The integration of environmental, economic, and social considerations is a foundational principle of sustainability that faces challenges in the construction/deconstruction sector, and building deconstruction can be a useful tool to teach the balance of addressing all three aspects. This session will present a case study performed by students at SUNY ESF.

5-6 p.m. - Network Reception/Vendor Displays

6 p.m. - Dinner

Saturday, June 16

8-8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast

8:30-9:30 a.m. - Keynote Speaker, Mitchell Thomashow, PhD

The Nine Elements of A Sustainable Culture provides a framework for advancing sustainable living and teaching in a variety of campus environments. It is the knowledge basis for his workshops on Organizational Leadership and Sustainability.

9:45-10:15 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Partnership Approaches to Renewable Energy and Sustainability Education presented by Mark Courtney, engineering program chair, Dutchess Community College

Using the development and implementation of renewable energy and sustainability educational initiative at Dutchess Community College as examples, this session will discuss collaborative team partnerships of organizations within the college and local community and how such efforts further research and training in the area of sustainability.

Alfred State Community Garden panel discussion presented by Calista McBride, associate professor, English and Humanities, and Green Team co-chair, Alfred State

10:15-10:45 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Starting Sustainability Programs at a Small Community College presented by Michael Fisher, Sullivan County Community College

Recognizing the need for a trained workforce to manage and maintain buildings that incorporate green technologies and LEED-certified building standards, Sullivan County Community College began an associate degree program in green building maintenance and management in fall 2008. This presentation will focus on SUNY Sullivan’s approach to sustainability education, details of the curriculum itself, and lessons learned during the implementation of this innovative degree program. 

Working with Technology Teachers on Renewable Energy Programs at the High School

11-11:30 a.m. - Concurrent Sessions

Building a Zero Energy Green Home presented by Craig Clark, executive director and dean, School of Applied Technology at Alfred State

Introducing Innovative Game Design, Creation and Play for Advanced Teaching of Sustainability Principles presented by Ben D. Radhakrishnan

With sustainability and serious teaching of the subject in engineering schools being relatively new, teaching professionals continue to research ways to attract, retain, and engage students in such programs. Radhakrishnan will discuss the concept of “Game Design Methodology” at National University’s School of Engineering, Technology and Media, where game design/creation and play is utilized in sustainability courses to reinforce sustainability principles.

11:30-Noon - Concurrent Sessions

Long Term Performance Monitoring of Renewable Energy Systems presented by Dave Kostick of IMT SOLAR

Master Planning: Cuba, NY presented by William C. Dean, professor & chair of Architecture and Design at Alfred State

Noon-1:30 p.m. - Lunch

Afternoon - Optional Outings/Departure