Dr. James Boulter, associate professor of chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, will discuss sustainability and what people across campus are doing to reduce our “climate footprint” here at UW-Eau Claire. This event will take place on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. in The Commons of Towers.
Boulter will present “Sustainability on Campus: What, Why and How – and Who?” as part of Trash Talks, a lecture series hosted by Housing and Residence Life’s office of sustainability. Boulter will discuss how to be more sustainable as a part of a college campus and the way in which this effort is motivated by understanding climate change.
In his presentation, Boulter will discuss how UW- Eau Claire can be more sustainable as a campus, and what each person as an individual can do to help reduce waste.
“I believe that in order to move forward and be progressive with sustainability, we first need to understand climate change,” said Boulter.
Boulter is an associate professor in the UW-Eau Claire chemistry department, teaching courses in general, analytical, and environmental chemistry. He also currently serves as both Sustainability Fellow for the office of the Chancellor and interim coordinator of the Watershed Institute for Collaborative Environmental Studies, as well as the faculty adviser for the Student Office of Sustainability.
Trash Talks are free and open to all students, faculty, staff and the community. Housing will be hosting Trash Talks on different environmental sustainability issues the second Thursday of every month until April from 7- 8 p.m. in the Commons Room of Towers North residence hall.
For a complete list of talks, go to the Housing and Residence Life’s sustainability website at www.uwec.edu/housing/Sustainability/index.htm.
November 28, 2011
November 18, 2011
Frac Sand Mining Panel at UW Stout
Last night, Sustainable Dunn and GreenSense of UW-Stout collaborated to create a fascinating panel presentation/discussion about the expansion of sand mining in the region.
Guests included Dr. Ron Koshoshek, Emeritus Professor of Ethics from UW-Eau Claire and resident of Howard, Rich Budinger of WI Industrial Sand in Menomonie, Tom Woletz of the Wisconsin DNR, and our very own Dr. Crispin Pierce, Associate Professor in Environmental and Public Health at UW-Eau Claire, along with James Fay and Greg Nelson, his ENPH student research collaborators.
The fascinating, and consistently respectful presenters illustrated a broad range of issues including the process of sand mining, water quality (and quantity), air pollution and human disease, environmental regulations, local political strategies and insights, contributions of one mining company to the local economy and to the community, and some preliminary research results of airborne crystalline silica presented by the students on the panel.
Some interesting tidbits: WI (and MN) have the best deposits of this mineral deposit in the nation, and it's due to the unique structure and purity of the resource. There are currently about 2,500 sand mines in WI, with the mineral used for manufacture of glass, ceramics and used in construction, foundry, and water filtration industries. Recently accelerating extraction of natural gas located in shale deposits has dramatically increased its demand (and price). Look here for a special report on "fracking," or hydraulic fracturing natural gas extraction, in the next several weeks.
Fugitive dust from these operations is a source of emissions of crystalline silica, a carcinogenic particulate air pollutant linked to the disease, silicosis, and increased incidence of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although mines undergo extensive initial permitting processes, monitoring of these pollutants is currently inadequate and environmental limits are not effective or well-enforced.
Communities have options to determine their fates: these depend on local politics, existing zoning ordinances, and a certainly requiring much effort. But in the end, we must consider an ethical question: how can we reconcile a regional economic benefit with the losses incurred on our neighbors? Those neighbors may be those whose property values, quality of life and/or health is impacted by sand mining operations. Those "neighbors" may include the natural ecosystems directly impacted by mining operations or by indirectly by water contamination. And our neighbors may also be located above the Marcellus shale, deeply affected by the activities of the oil and natural gas industry.
Guests included Dr. Ron Koshoshek, Emeritus Professor of Ethics from UW-Eau Claire and resident of Howard, Rich Budinger of WI Industrial Sand in Menomonie, Tom Woletz of the Wisconsin DNR, and our very own Dr. Crispin Pierce, Associate Professor in Environmental and Public Health at UW-Eau Claire, along with James Fay and Greg Nelson, his ENPH student research collaborators.
The fascinating, and consistently respectful presenters illustrated a broad range of issues including the process of sand mining, water quality (and quantity), air pollution and human disease, environmental regulations, local political strategies and insights, contributions of one mining company to the local economy and to the community, and some preliminary research results of airborne crystalline silica presented by the students on the panel.
Some interesting tidbits: WI (and MN) have the best deposits of this mineral deposit in the nation, and it's due to the unique structure and purity of the resource. There are currently about 2,500 sand mines in WI, with the mineral used for manufacture of glass, ceramics and used in construction, foundry, and water filtration industries. Recently accelerating extraction of natural gas located in shale deposits has dramatically increased its demand (and price). Look here for a special report on "fracking," or hydraulic fracturing natural gas extraction, in the next several weeks.
Fugitive dust from these operations is a source of emissions of crystalline silica, a carcinogenic particulate air pollutant linked to the disease, silicosis, and increased incidence of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although mines undergo extensive initial permitting processes, monitoring of these pollutants is currently inadequate and environmental limits are not effective or well-enforced.
Communities have options to determine their fates: these depend on local politics, existing zoning ordinances, and a certainly requiring much effort. But in the end, we must consider an ethical question: how can we reconcile a regional economic benefit with the losses incurred on our neighbors? Those neighbors may be those whose property values, quality of life and/or health is impacted by sand mining operations. Those "neighbors" may include the natural ecosystems directly impacted by mining operations or by indirectly by water contamination. And our neighbors may also be located above the Marcellus shale, deeply affected by the activities of the oil and natural gas industry.
November 13, 2011
Dirty Work
Menomonie's Mabel Tainter Theater was packed last Thursday night as community members gathered together for the locally produced film, Dirty Work.
The film chronicles the story of Elsie's farm, a heartfelt and inspiring tale emphasising the importance of Community Supported Agriculture in a world full of factory farms and grocery super centers. The film encompasses a year in the life of Don and Joni on their local CSA, where Interns, WOOFers, and aspiring growers came together to create and nurture some of Mother Nature's most delicious treats. The film bewitchingly preserves the memories and experiences of the people involved with Elsie's Farm. Unfortunately, the story isn't all sunshine and rainbows. In the end, Elsie's Farm was laid to rest. Agricultural run off from a near-by dairy farm polluted the water table and the crops could no longer be considered certified organic. Forced to relocate yet unable to shake a lifelong relationship with plants, Don and Joni continue to grow on their 1 acre lot of land.
Dirty Work captured the beauty and essence of farm life and illuminated the playfulness of human nature. In the film, youth and age work together hand-in-hand growing and producing food for the surrounding community. The people in this film seem to possess an intrinsic ability to create something out of nothing, a talent that should never be swept aside or forgotten. Dirty Work is an ispiration, a truly admirable story about the struggles and spontaneity of life on Elsie's farm.
The film chronicles the story of Elsie's farm, a heartfelt and inspiring tale emphasising the importance of Community Supported Agriculture in a world full of factory farms and grocery super centers. The film encompasses a year in the life of Don and Joni on their local CSA, where Interns, WOOFers, and aspiring growers came together to create and nurture some of Mother Nature's most delicious treats. The film bewitchingly preserves the memories and experiences of the people involved with Elsie's Farm. Unfortunately, the story isn't all sunshine and rainbows. In the end, Elsie's Farm was laid to rest. Agricultural run off from a near-by dairy farm polluted the water table and the crops could no longer be considered certified organic. Forced to relocate yet unable to shake a lifelong relationship with plants, Don and Joni continue to grow on their 1 acre lot of land.
Dirty Work captured the beauty and essence of farm life and illuminated the playfulness of human nature. In the film, youth and age work together hand-in-hand growing and producing food for the surrounding community. The people in this film seem to possess an intrinsic ability to create something out of nothing, a talent that should never be swept aside or forgotten. Dirty Work is an ispiration, a truly admirable story about the struggles and spontaneity of life on Elsie's farm.
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