UW-Green Bay to host Green Innovations conference on food, energy sustainability
The Environmental Management and Business Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will host its fifth annual Green Innovations Symposium, “Urban Agriculture and Community Sustainability,” Monday, April 22-Wednesday, April 24 on the University campus at 2420 Nicolet Drive.
The 2013 symposium will focus on the issues of food industry sustainability, from foods locally produced to sustainable food transportation, bioenergy crop potential and opportunities; local “green” public and private campuses and energy opportunities; and partnerships with students to achieve sustainability. The event is a natural fit for EMBI, which works with public- and private-sector partners to solve environmental concerns in a sustainable manner.
Among the many highlights of the symposium will be a keynote address from noted sustainability speaker David Orr, who will present on “The Oberlin Project,” a joint effort of the city of Oberlin, Ohio, Oberlin College and private and institutional partners to improve the resilience, prosperity and sustainability of that community through economic revitalization, environmental improvements, local agriculture and more. Orr’s public talk will take place from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 in the Phoenix Room of UW-Green Bay’s University Union. It is free and open to the public. Orr also will offer the keynote address Wednesday, April 24 during the portion of the symposium for which registration is required.
“For our fifth annual Green Innovations conference, we have the honor of hosting David Orr as the keynote speaker,” said John Arendt, associate director of EMBI. “Orr’s active leadership driving community sustainability in Oberlin, Ohio, demonstrates that business and communities can come together to make sustainable concepts a reality.”
Additional highlights of the 2013 Green Innovations event will include a screening of filmmaker Jeremy Seifert’s latest work, “GMO OMG,” which explores the consumption of genetically engineered food in the United States. That event will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, April 22, in the University Union’s Phoenix Room, and will be followed by an 8 p.m. question and answer session with Seifert. On Tuesday, April 23, the University will host the 10th annual Lower Fox River Watershed Monitoring Program Student Watershed Symposium from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in the Phoenix Room. The event is free, but separate registration is required. Please contact program coordinator Annette Pelegrin at pelegria@uwgb.edu or (920) 465-5031 to register.
Registration is required for the final day of the Green Innovations Symposium, which will feature a number of panel and breakout sessions, Orr’s afternoon keynote and the lunchtime presentation of EMBI’s 2013 Earth Caretaker Award. This year’s honor goes to 2001 alumnus Ryan Stockwell, who will share how his UW-Green Bay experience has proven beneficial to his work as the Agriculture Program Manager for the National Wildlife Federation. The Earth Caretaker Award annually recognizes UW-Green Bay graduates who have distinguished themselves in their professional field and are widely recognized for their career accomplishments in the areas of sustainability, environmental management, environmental policy or related areas.
Established in 2008, EMBI helps strengthen UW-Green Bay’s leadership position in the promotion of environmental awareness and eco-friendly initiatives. The annual Green Innovations conference, a component of its primary mission, features international experts and local panelists who provide insight on topics including sustainability in transportation, wind energy and regional health and sustainability.
To register for Green Innovations 2013, or for more information on the event, visit www.uwgb.edu/embi, or call (920) 465-2955. EMBI can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EMBI.uwgb, and you can follow the institute on Twitter, @UWGBEMBI.
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