Global Sustainability Opportunities at PSU

Susannah Barsom, Ph.D.Associate Director, Center for Sustainability

Today’s Discussion:

The Setting:PSU sustainability initiatives and strategic plan

Center for Sustainability’s role:Course information and intercollege minor in sustainability leadership

Advising on global opportunities in sustainability

“Sustainable development is

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

It contains within it two key concepts:

the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor…..

….the idea of limitations…..on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.”

Our Common Future (Brundtland Report) -- 2007

“We are charging a University

Sustainability Council to draft a

Strategic Plan for

Sustainability…

…that will identify broad goals

and opportunities to leverage

and link the many sustainability

initiatives already

occurring. . .and to recommend

new thrusts.”

-Rodney Erickson

March 23, 2011

Sustainability is:

Video from Penn State Public Broadcasting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHDrfWvjf6U&feature=player_embedded#!

http://live.psu.edu/youtube/NHDrfWvjf6U

Identify and broaden sustainability curriculum – working with students and faculty

*Everything is connected – (e.g., Kate’s journey)*Understanding place – local and global/local as global

Course inventoryhttp://www.cfs.psu.edu/resources/sustainability-courses.html

Minor

Develop new tools for transforming curriculum

Center for Sustainability tasks:

Minor in Sustainability Leadership

Designed to be flexible:-One required course in Sustainability

LeadershipSUST 200

-Five elective courses, that will vary by major

…and by campus course offerings

Minor: SUST 200 +9 credits sustainability courses:

focused vs. related

3 credits immersive experience in sustainability

Of these 12:

3 credits at 400 level

3 credits leadership coursework

Also:

3 credits capstone: research and/or hands-on

Global opportunities:

Sustainability courses – perspective—interconnectedness/systems

Immersive experience – may be abroad or in US

Capstone – applying that understanding

Sustainable State: Work in Progress

Infrastructure for sustainability transformation

Online meeting space for discussion of global sustainability :

-Across PSU Campuses

-PSU and Professionals

-Across Global PSU

Long-term vision: Include links to Penn Staters abroad, to alumni, professionals, educators, etc.

http://sustainablestate.psu.edu/

Working to Link our Penn State Community

Brandywine

Altoona

Hazleton

ErieErie

Campuses planning to offer SUST 200

Questions or suggestions:

Dr. Susannah Barsom: shb2@psu.edu

Center for Sustainability: http://www.cfs.psu.edu/

now part of new Sustainability Institute

Sustainable State: http://sustainablestate.psu.edu/