UNIVERSITY PARK,Pa. — Penn State students will showcase their semester-long projects at the Campus and Community Sustainability Expo from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 24, at the State College Municipal Building. During the spring semester, these students partnered with local government and community organizations to research and propose sustainable solutions addressing various needs in the surrounding communities. This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.
Twenty-eight student projects will be showcased that directly address sustainability challenges unique to Bellefonte, Muncy and State College boroughs; Ferguson and Walker townships; State College Area and Bellefonte Area school districts; Mt. Nittany Health and Centre Health; and Clearwater Conservancy.
These projects address the sustainability challenges of renewable energy, stormwater management, waste and recycling, employee engagement and diversity, pedestrian and traffic safety, food access and nutrition, resiliency and disaster recovery, parks and recreation and more.
“The responsibility of enhancing sustainability in a community does not rest within a single organization or entity,” said Michele Halsell, director of the Sustainable Communities Collaborative. “It takes local governments, school districts, nonprofits and the private sector to make the community more sustainable.”
Five of the 28 projects will showcase their contributions to the recent county-wide initiative Centred Outdoors, an 11-week program designed to encourage individuals and families to spend time outdoors at nine different sites in Centre County. The students did much of the foundation work for the initiative including graphic design, surveys, a human health assessment and a public-relations campaign.
The general public is invited to explore the poster session and learn more about the projects from the students. In the days leading up to the expo, a panel of judges will select three exceptional posters based on factors such as content, organization and visual appeal. The winning posters will be announced during the event.
Speakers will include:
- Neil Sharkey, vice president for Research, Penn State
- Tom Fountaine, manager, State College Borough
- Student representatives, Sustainable Communities Collaborative and Penn State’s Student Farm
The Expo is an effort supported by Sustainable Communities Collaborative, Green Teams and Sustainable Food Systems Program.
For event details, contact Michele Halsell at mwh16@psu.edu or 814-867-4578. For information about sustainability efforts at Penn State, visit sustainability.psu.edu.