The conference will highlight the work of staff, faculty and students in addressing sustainability issues on campuses. These forward-thinking sustainability programs can help engage the full university community and foster solutions that can be taken back to campuses and spread throughout the state.
With more than 850 participants, the conference is expected to be largest event of its kind in the short history of the global sustainability in higher education movement. All 10 UC campuses will be represented, together with 20 CSU campuses, 29 California community colleges and 10 universities from neighboring states.
The conference is unique in bringing together administrators, staff, faculty and students, and highlighting collaboration across each of these stakeholder groups within the campus community. The forum has expanded to include 11 different tracks and a total of 45 topic sessions ranging from green building to student life to sustainable food systems.
"This conference recognizes, highlights and celebrates the campus sustainability best practices from energy efficiency to waste management to curriculum that already exist on UC campuses and throughout the state,"Â said Matt St. Clair, UC systemwide sustainability manager and one of the event's organizers. "It demonstrates a large scale commitment by California colleges and universities to come together in partnership and demonstrate higher education's role in moving society in a more sustainable direction."Â
Many new developments have emerged from previous conferences, including UC's Policy on Sustainable Practices, the CSU system's registration with the California Climate Action Registry, and the Los Angeles Community College District's launch of an extensive green power program with a new solar electric system and micro turbines.
In addition to presentations and discussions, the conference will honor the 2007 Higher Education Energy Efficiency Partnership Best Practice Award winners. This year, 22 honorees were selected in areas such as building retrofits and operations, green buildings, sustainable transportation and student sustainability programs. For a list of winners: www.geog.ucsb.edu/sustainability/conference/awards.php
The conference will also feature keynote speakers including UC Santa Barbara's chancellor, UC Santa Cruz's acting chancellor; the LACCD's chancellor, a UC regent and two student speakers along with Eban Goodstein, co-founder of Focus the Nation, and Michael McGonigle, co-author of "Planet U: Sustaining the World, Reinventing the University."Â
Special pre- and post-conference events are also planned this year. -University of California
