The 2009 Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit, which runs Feb. 11-13 at the University of Colorado at Boulder, will provide a learning and networking forum for participants from campuses in the Rocky Mountain region to advance sustainability.
Institutions of higher education have a crucial role to play in creating a sustainable society and addressing the climate crisis, according to Marianne Martin of the CU Environmental Center. Successful initiatives -- whether in research and education, operations, outreach or administration and finance -- can have enormous societal impacts by helping to shape the future actions of students, and by setting examples for the larger community.
The summit will feature keynote addresses by leading experts, campus administrators and government officials. Speakers include renowned science writer Richard Preston, whose new book is "Panic in Level 4," and Jerome Ringo, environmental justice champion and president of the Apollo Alliance. Called the "most interesting environmental leader in the United States" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Ringo is a worldwide leader in environmental justice and community organization.
A Green Products Expo will share the latest sustainable products and services available, providing a valuable link between universities and businesses and fostering the use and innovation of sustainable and socially responsible products. The summit will include numerous sessions, workshops and facilitated discussions on topics including:
o Green curricula
o Environmental justice leadership training
o Sustainable dining
o The youth climate movement
o Green jobs
o Transportation
o Zero-waste campuses
The 2009 Rocky Mountain Sustainability Summit will help students, faculty, staff, administrators, community members and state leaders learn from each other, replicate successful initiatives and innovate effective programs to make the region's higher education institutions national leaders in campus sustainability and climate action.
For a complete schedule and registration information visit .