Delaware, Ohio area Sustainability Events & Activities

Just about every month the Sustainable Delaware organization publishes a list of environmental, sustainable and related events and activities in and around Delaware, Ohio.

Just about every month the Sustainable Delaware organization publishes a list of environmental, sustainable and related events and activities in and around Delaware, Ohio. The newsletter is posted here, under the Sustainability in Delaware tab above.

Sustainable Delaware is always happy to have OWU student, staff or faculty involvement. Check their web pages for more information.

OWU’s ‘Still In’ Paris Climate Agreement

President Rock Jones, Ph.D., signed the document June 5, making Ohio Wesleyan one of 183 colleges and universities to endorse the proclamation. “We Are Still In” also has been signed by representatives from 125 cities and nine states, and by 902 businesses and investors.

Source

University Among Those Supporting Paris Climate Agreement

There’s a familiar name among the 1,219 who signed the “We Are Still In” document in support of the Paris Agreement and its efforts to combat climate change.

President Rock Jones, Ph.D., signed the document June 5, making Ohio Wesleyan one of 183 colleges and universities to endorse the proclamation. “We Are Still In” also has been signed by representatives from 125 cities and nine states, and by 902 businesses and investors.

“It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities, investors and businesses,” the document states. “Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2℃ and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health.”

There are many reasons for Ohio Wesleyan to sign the document, Jones said. Perhaps most notable is the pioneering work of F. Sherwood Rowland, Ph.D., a 1948 OWU graduate.

A Delaware native, Rowland earned the 1995 Nobel Prize in chemistry for his work studying chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). His research led to significant discoveries in the field, including that chemicals in aerosol sprays, air conditioners and foam insulation were damaging the oxygen layer surrounding the earth’s atmosphere.

At a White House climate change roundtable in 1997, Rowland spoke passionately on behalf of scientists concerned about global warming: “Isn’t it a responsibility of scientists, if you believe that you have found something that can affect the environment, isn’t it your responsibility to do something about it, enough so that action actually takes place? If not us,” Rowland said, “who? If not now, when?”

Woodrow W. Clark II, Ph.D., a 1967 Ohio Wesleyan alumnus, also made an impact through his efforts to protect the environment as one of 30 members of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC was a co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, along with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, for the film “An Inconvenient Truth.”

The spirit of “We Are Still In” also connects well with Ohio Wesleyan’s academic program and the April announcement that it was creating an Environment and Sustainability Program with a new environmental science major this fall, Jones said.

The Environment and Sustainability Program will include the collaboration of nearly 20 Ohio Wesleyan faculty members who specialize in the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities. One of the program’s highlights its innovative “Conversations: Toward a Sustainable Future” course. Students will take the course twice – once as newly declared environmental science majors and once as seniors in the program – to provide both a cornerstone and capstone for their study of ecological issues.

In addition, Jones said, Ohio Wesleyan’s signature Sagan National Colloquiumlecture series also has spent a semester examining global warming.

“In 2013, the entire campus focused attention on the ‘Interdisciplinary Impacts of Climate Change’ through the Sagan National Colloquium,” Jones said. “The Colloquium’s founding vision of connecting the liberal arts with civic arts – studying a topic and taking action in response to that study – is reflected in our signing of the ‘We Are Still In’ document.”

Learn more about the “We Are Still In” initiative at http://wearestillin.com.

Environmental Studies at OWU Update Summer 2017

An update on OWU’s Environmental Studies Program as the summer of 2017 starts.

An update on OWU’s Environmental Studies Program as the summer of 2017 starts.

This is a followup to a 2015-2016 update and 2016-2017 update posted on the OWU Environment & Sustainability Blog.

First of all, the Environmental Studies Program is no longer a thin after our proposal for an expanded Environment and Sustainability Program was voted into existence at the May 2017 faculty meeting. The proposal was compiled by a group of faculty, Laurie Anderson, Ellen Arnold, Amy Downing, Chris Fink, and John Krygier, drawing from 5 years of efforts. Additional work on the Environmental Science major was done by Bart Martin.

Information about the program has been added to the OWU web pages:


Our proposed OWU Campus Sustainability Plan created by students, staff and faculty over the last few years is just about in its final form and should be heading to the administration this summer.

Sustainability_Plan_OWU_March_2017

Student Emily Howald has spent the year gathering feedback and making adjustments to the plan. The Sustainability Task Force (STF), initiated in 2008, has overseen the development of the plan. Contact Nathan Amador and let him know if you want to be added to the STF mailing list. The STF is open to all.


Student Emily Howald and faculty member John Krygier wrote a paper which is to be published as a chapter in the book Sustainable Communities Design Handbook edited by OWU Alumni Woody Clark (OWU 1967). The book should be published by Elsevier in 2018. The chapter is an overview of OWU’s approach to sustainability, called “Scrappy Sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan University.” Clark was recently presented with an OWU Alumni Distinguish Achievement Award.


The 2017 May Move Out was another success. Students donated tons of items to Goodwill as they moved off campus last month. The event, first held in 2012, is at this point relatively easy to manage and does not cost the University any money (the cost of additional storage pods for donations is offset by the need for fewer trash dumpsters).


Our reusable carryout food container program is also relatively stable after some ups and downs over the last year. We have added drop off locations for the containers, increased their size, and decreased the size of the paper, throw-away containers (thus an incentive to use the reusable containers). Students Izzy Sommerdorf and Sarah Hanes have developed a proposal for making the program even easier for students, and our campus food service, Chartwells, is evaluating their proposal.


Sustainable food on campus has moved forward on several fronts. Our campus food service has recently worked out an agreement to purchase local produce from the Seminary Hill Farm, just south of campus, beginning this fall. This outcome is based on the efforts of student Ellen Sizer.

Student Emily Howald is working on a proposal for quarter-credit OWU Activity courses focused on gardening. Students would work with a skilled gardener in a course held during the first half of the fall semester, and second half of the spring semester, to maintain our campus community garden.

Students Maddie Coalmer and Larynn Cutshaw generated a proposal to plant perennial crops (asparagus, mint, raspberries), which require minimal maintenance, on a few out-of-the-way locations on campus.


Another successful Green Week was held at the end of the 2017 spring semester:


We have expanded the number of hydration stations on campus with a half-dozen new stations being installed this summer. Most of the new hydration stations are in or around athletic facilities on campus. Athletes have tended to be one of the more significant users of bottled water. Student Dominic Orsini wrote a grant and received funding for promotional water bottles. These will be used to promote the new hydration stations to athletes when they move on campus late this summer.


Nathan Amador will take a group of 12 students to Costa Rica as part of a Travel Learning course. This will be the second time the class will travel to Costa Rica. The students will learn environmental data collection and analysis methods, then implement those methods while in Costa Rica over the semester break (January 2018). Amador and the students are working with Amy Work (OWU ’04) and her Geoporter organization. More info on Amy’s efforts are here.


Again, thanks for all the efforts on what has been a great cross-disciplinary collaboration between faculty, students, staff and alumni over the past five years.

May Move Out 2017 is Happening!

As you move off campus please drop off any usable stuff in the May Move Out pods near all of the dorms. All donations go to our local Goodwill. Recycling is also available at the pods.

May Move Out 2017

As you move off campus please drop off any usable stuff in the May Move Out pods near all of the dorms. All donations go to our local Goodwill. Recycling is also available at the pods.

Monday, May 8: noon – 8pm
Tuesday, May 9: noon – 8pm
Wednesday, May 10: 9am – 1pm
Sunday, May 14: 9am-1pm

 

 

Heart of Ohio March for Climate | Delaware, Ohio | Saturday April 29, 2017

Gathering people from everywhere in the heart of Ohio to call on Congress, our State and Local governments to take action on climate.

Heart of Ohio March for Climate

For Climate, Health and Jobs

Delaware, Ohio – Saturday April 29, 2017

Gather 9:45 – 10am at Bicentennial Park (next to Wilber Bills Fire Station)

March to Delaware County Courthouse (on sidewalks)

11:00am – Noon: Rally and program at the Courthouse

Gathering people from everywhere in the heart of Ohio to call on Congress, our State and Local governments to take action on climate.

This march is nonpartisan, open to those who are concerned about solving climate change. All are welcome. This march will be respectful of the elected officials and community leaders from across the political spectrum because these are people who are crucial in protecting the earth’s climate. We invite them to join us.

OWU’s Green Week 2017

OWU’s Green Week 2017 is a sheer delight of greenish fun all week long.

WHAT’S YOUR ECOSPHERE?

COME LEARN ABOUT HOW ENVIRONMENTALISM RELATES TO YOU IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE!

There will be tons of fun giveaways, lots of activities, and a tabling event every day!

DAY 1: ENVIRONMENTALISM IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
(Monday April 17th)

Reduce Reuse Recycle Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/n2VZgT

DIY Green Cleaning Product Seminar: 5-7pm, Milligan Hub
https://goo.gl/LDF71p

DAY 2: GREEN@OWU
(Tuesday April 18th)

Petting Zoo on the Jay: 11-1, The JayWalk
https://goo.gl/5SakqB

OWU Beekeeper Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/0noS9q

Green@OWU Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Green@OWU at Science Research Symposium
4-7:30 pm, Science Center Atrium

DAY 3: GREEN IN OHIO
(Wedneday April 19th)

Don’t Frack Ohio Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Buckeye Environmental Network Talk: 4:30-6pm, House of Peace and Justice (94B rowland ave)
https://goo.gl/qMxTDI

DAY 4: US ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
(Thursday April 20th)

Environmental Policy Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/vdquyN

“Trees in Trouble” Screening and Directors Talk: 7pm, Science Center 163
https://goo.gl/s9aArJ

DAY 5: ENVIRONMENTALISM AROUND THE WORLD
(Friday April 21st)

Environmentalism in Other Countries Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Scrappy Sustainability Talk: 12-1pm, SCSC 161
https://goo.gl/7SeQt9

Campus Wide Trash Cleanup: 4pm, the Fountain/Jaywalk
https://goo.gl/qqeyWh

DAY 6: EARTH DAY!
(Saturday April 22nd)

OWU Marches on Science: 10-2 in DC and Columbus!
https://goo.gl/forms/VDFFHXBazyHepVvy1 to sign up!

EARTH DAY CONCERT! 6-9, the Amphitheatre by HamWil
https://goo.gl/0W0WTf

Summer 2017 Paid Internship: GIS/GPS for DelCo Water Company, Delaware, Ohio

A summer 2017 internship in Delaware, Ohio, appropriate for OWU students with some background in using GPS and GIS.

GIS/GPS Data Collection Intern: Delaware, Ohio, Summer 2017

Delco Water Company: http://delcowater.org

Reports to: GIS Manager/Engineering Supervisor, Department: Engineering

$10.00 – $14.00 per hour

To apply for this Internship, please email a current resume and cover letter to:   gis@delcowater.com

Deadline to Apply: April 4, 2017 at 4:30PM

Area of Responsibilities: Assist in the collection of the Del-Co Geographic Information System (GIS) Data. The individual will assist Del-Co personnel with information upon request.

Summary of Responsibilities: Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned as required.

  • GPS field collection of water system asset locations and attributes.
  • QA/QC of GPS data collection by Del-Co personnel.
  • Properly store and organize GIS information in relation to Del-Co standards
  • Editing of spatial data based on data acquired through as-built research and field collection. This will include correctly digitizing GIS assets and adding/updating attribute values based on corrected information.
  • Compiling of data based on user requests and presenting in requested formats such as maps, tables, etc.
  • Perform other duties as required.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Know and follow all safety guidelines and best practices for position.
  • Work as a team member and cooperate with others on group projects.
  • Maintain a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner so that you get along with customers, client, co- workers and management.
  • Know and uphold the policies, procedures and philosophies of Del-Co Water Co., Inc.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Current student or recently graduated from an accredited college/university with an area of focus in GIS or related field
  • Experience with GPS equipment and software particularly with Trimble TerraSync a plus
  • Experience with GIS web mapping applications
  • General understanding of how to read Engineering plans and As-Built Drawings preferred
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office
  • Valid Ohio Driver’s License and acceptable driving record

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

This is light work requiring the exertion of 20 pounds of force occasionally and up to 10 pounds of force frequently. Most work will be outdoors, possibly in inclement weather, and require a considerable amount of walking. The work requires visual acuity to operate computer equipment and for reviewing, checking, preparing and maintaining written and computer files. Manual dexterity is required to operate standard office, data entry, word processing and other computer equipment. Incumbent is required to have sufficient hearing ability to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Fall 2017 OWU Course on Japanese Literature & the Environment

This course will look at the relationship between Japanese literature and environmental studies. Eco-Literary criticism is a new and growing field in literary studies and one in which Japan plays a significant contributing role.

A Fall 2017 course that can count as an Environmental Studies elective:

Comparative Literature (CMLT) 323 Elegance and Brutality: Topics in Modern Japanese Literature

The course will meet T/R from 2:40 – 4:00. It is a writing option course and meets diversity.

Instructor: Dr. Anne Sokolski

This course will look at the relationship between Japanese literature and environmental studies. Eco-Literary criticism is a new and growing field in literary studies and one in which Japan plays a significant contributing role. Japan is a country known for its sublime beauty as well as its mystifying brutality. It is a small island nation with a rich cultural history but little in the way of natural resources. While the religion of Shintoism and the philosophy of Taoism revere nature, Japan must also often transgress nature for the sake of economic development and global survival. The result is that Japan has both a reverent as well as pragmatic relationship with its environment. Fukushima is a recent example of the consequences of Japan’s industrial development. So how does a modern economically developed country balance its love for nature with its need to exploit it to compete in the global industrial world? These are the questions we will explore in this course as we study eco-literary criticism and the role of Japanese literature in this new field of environmental studies.

Contact Dr. Sokolski for more information.

OWU Talk: Translocal Relations and Climate Change in East Asia: March 28

Why do local governments become actively engaged in the issue of global climate change? How do global factors influence local governments’ choices, policies, and interactions? These questions are puzzling in that local governments have been regarded as public service providers in the domestic arena; and studies on cities and climate change have primarily focused on domestic drivers to explain local governments’ climate change policies.

taedong-lee-lecture

Translocal Relations and Climate Change in East Asia

Tuesday, March 28 — 7:00 p.m. — Merrick Hall 301 Ohio Wesleyan University

Guest Lecturer: Taedong Lee

Why do local governments become actively engaged in the issue of global climate change? How do global factors influence local governments’ choices, policies, and interactions? These questions are puzzling in that local governments have been regarded as public service providers in the domestic arena; and studies on cities and climate change have primarily focused on domestic drivers to explain local governments’ climate change policies. In this talk, I discuss translocal relations of cities that have made an international effort to collectively tackle climate change. Compared to state-centric terms, inter-national or trans-national relations, trans-local relations look at policies, politics, and interactions of local governments in the globalized world. Using the framework of translocal relations, I argue that the level of global cityness and local political attributes are primary driving factors for local governments’ engagement in global climate governance in Asia as well as around the world.

Taedong Lee is associate professor at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Yonsei University, Seoul. He received his Ph.D. at University of Washington, Seattle and was an assistant professor at the City University of Hong Kong from 2010 to 2013. His areas of research include global and sub-national environmental politics and policy, NGO politics, and social network analysis. Professor Lee recently published his book, Global Cities and Climate Change: Translocal Relations of Environmental Governance (Routledge, 2015). His articles have appeared in journals including Policy Sciences, Review of Policy Research, Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, Policy Studies Journal, Energy Policy, and Global Environmental Politics.

Lecture is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the East Asian Studies Program, the Departments of Politics and Government and Sociology/ Anthropology, and the Office of the Provost.

taedong-lee-lecture-poster

OWU Travel Learning Course to Costa Rica, Fall 2017

Interested in visiting the tropics? In January? Fall 2017 Travel Course: Geography 347TL: Environmental Alteration, Dr. Amador Rowley

Interested in visiting the tropics? In January?

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Fall 2017 OWU Travel Course

Geography 347TL: Environmental Alteration, Dr. Amador Rowley

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Locations throughout Costa Rica, focusing on a small, coastal town: Bahia Ballena

Assess human impacts on natural environments in Delaware, OH (Fall ‘17) and coastal Costa Rica (Jan. ‘18), putting it into a regional and global context.

Collaborate with Amy Work, OWU Alum (‘04), and her community organization, Geoporter, and work with local citizens in a developing ecotourism region.

screen-shot-2017-03-09-at-10-56-56-am

Activities Include:

  • Visiting Palm Oil & Pineapple Plantations
  • Coffee Plantation
  • Coastal Community Mapping Using Drone
  • Biological Nature & Toucan Reserves
  • Visit Bat Sanctuary
  • Testing Water Quality
  • Kayaking through Mangroves

Contact: Dr. Nathan Amador Rowley with any questions (nsamador@owu.edu)