Sustaining (and Renewing) UT
UT is buzzing about the plans for a School of Alternative and Renewable Energy based at the Scott Park Campus and about the promise of more green jobs for our graduates. Our institution is joining a growing list of universities that are preparing students for a world sorely in need of graduates with broad-based and holistic knowledge of the challenges posed by the goal of a sustainable future. But as important as our efforts toward renewable energy are, improving our College Sustainability Report Card Grade at UT will involve not just study, but local action throughout the university, from students to faculty, and from the dining halls to the board rooms.
There is nothing wrong and everything right with continuing to build UT’s reputation as a leader in the research and development in renewable energy. But an increasing number of scholars who work on issues related to sustainability recognize that we can not simply power our way out of our current economic and environmental quagmire by turning to alternative sources of energy. That’s because “sustainability” means a lot more than “sustaining consumption.” But that raises the question that we really need to ask if we are going to begin to think sustainably. What is “sustainability”?
Big question! This is the first in what will be a series of entries that address “sustainability” as a UT priority. What do we think about “sustainability” as a UT community? What are we already doing in our classrooms, corridors, dining halls and dorms to create a sustainable future for UT, and what can we do better? UT is students, families, cooks, faculty, support staff, lab techs, nurses, administrators, web designers, to name a few. Armed with my new digital recorder I am on a mission to find out how some of you would answer the question, “what is sustainability,” especially as it relates to your daily routine, but also ways it relates to a larger national and global community dedicated to thinking and acting sustainably. Stay tuned…
Tags: green jobs, renewable energy, sustainability
Ashley Pryor is an Associate Professor of Women's and Gender Studies. Last year her work on sustainability, contemplative studies pedagogy, Buddhism and feminist philosophy, took her to Viet Nam and Mongolia. She will return to Viet Nam again this year to teach workshops on sustainability and mindfulness. When she is not in the classroom, or at the computer writing, you can usually find her covered in dirt, hanging out with friends in the new UT Outdoor Classroom Garden.
June 10th, 2009at 11:36 pm
I am so excited for this journal! I hope it gets the attention it so sorely deserves. Thank you for your good work and that of your colleagues.
June 11th, 2009at 1:36 pm
Ashley,
Your blog is a great addition to the group! Thanks for mentioning the new School of Solar and Advanced Renewable Energy and the Scott Park Campus for Energy and Innovative, two parallel exciting new initiatives. The School will be interdisciplinary and engage faculty from multiple colleges (Arts and Sciences, Business and Engineering). While it won’t be housed on the Scott Park Campus, at least initially, the activities at Scott Park will be linked to the school. More details to follow!
Thanks for helping us think more deeply about sustainability.
Rosemary Haggett
June 11th, 2009at 3:31 pm
Ashley,
Lovely thoughtful piece. Look up Betsy Damon’s work at:http://www.keepersofthewaters.org/ Bowling Green had her come for a talk 2 years ago. She is awesome and gifted. I think you will enjoy her work. Barbara
June 11th, 2009at 3:43 pm
I think it’s a great idea to have a use for the tired old Scott Park campus and thus it makes it sustainable development through its reuse and reconfiguration. However, I think it was a bit premature for the University to install lightpost banners all over the Scott Park campus claiming that it is the Scott Park Campus of Energy and Innovation when there is NOTHING GOING ON HERE at the moment. A little bit of a cart before the horse to the point of almost being embarrassing. Let’s hope the funding comes through and that the plans materialize to make it all happen!
June 11th, 2009at 6:55 pm
Dr Pryor,
We, in Student Government, would really like to make a bigger impact with the student body in our university’s go-green efforts. This year we have made a position in the Cabinet devoted to making UT ecologically friendly. We are looking for direction and support though. Where can we get more information about the university wide efforts? Could you connect us with faculty that would be willing and interested in getting involved with the student driven efforts in this area?
Thanks so much for your post! I look forward to seeing more!
Krystal
June 15th, 2009at 9:19 am
Dr. Kissoff:
I wanted to call you attention to the article in today’s Blade that addresses some of the projected plans for the Scott Park campus. Look for my entry on this issue later today or tomorrow!
June 15th, 2009at 11:19 am
I read today’s article and the plans are admirable, but the federal funding is still in limbo. I hope the funding comes through! I hope we are able to turn this campus into something really neat! My only point was that I think it would have been a bit more prudent to wait until the funding comes through until the signs were put up touting that the campus is the Innovation & Energy Campus. I understand that the whole thing doesn’t hinge on receiving the federal funding, but it’s going to be really tough to do what is planned without it. The funding is what will drive the bus, not the name or the signs or an energy audit. I guess I like to see the substance before the glitz.
August 29th, 2009at 11:32 am
[...] Green Gossip with Ashley Pryor » Blog Archive » Sustaining (and … – UT is buzzing about the plans for a School of Alternative and Renewable Energy based at the Scott Park Campus and about the promise of more green jobs for our graduates. Our institution is joining a growing list of universities that are … [...]
August 29th, 2009at 11:38 am
[...] Green Gossip with Ashley Pryor » Blog Archive » Sustaining (and … – UT is buzzing about the plans for a School of Alternative and Renewable Energy based at the Scott Park Campus and about the promise of more green jobs for our graduates. Our institution is joining a growing list of universities that are … [...]
August 29th, 2009at 11:39 am
[...] Green Gossip with Ashley Pryor » Blog Archive » Sustaining (and … – UT is buzzing about the plans for a School of Alternative and Renewable Energy based at the Scott Park Campus and about the promise of more green jobs for our graduates. Our institution is joining a growing list of universities that are … [...]
October 20th, 2009at 2:19 am
Why not consider using halogen heaters in place of less efficient heating options this winter. If everyone simply heated the areas of the house they actually used with direct heat provided by radiant heaters, there would be so much to be gained in the form of reducing our footprint.
November 2nd, 2009at 2:22 am
By the way here is a good site with information http://www.halogenheater.net