tfise summary of activities report august 2018 to october 2019 · contributing substantially to...

2019

TFISESummaryofActivitiesReportAugust2018toOctober2019

PreparedbyDr.KellyG.Pennell,InterimDirector&Ms.AliciaLandon,ProgramCoordinatorDate:October31,2019

Contents1.0IntroductionandReportOrganization.....................................................................................................1

2.0Annual/ContinuingPrograms......................................................................................................................2

2.1DesignWeek2018and2019........................................................................................................2

2.2UrbanForestInitiative(UFI)andTreeWeek........................................................................3

2.3WaterWeek2018..............................................................................................................................4

2.4KentuckyClimateConsortium(KYCC)......................................................................................5

2.5LocalFoodSummitandOtherFood-RelatedEfforts..........................................................6

2.6CATchmentRainGardenandUKStormwaterManagement...........................................7

2.7AnnualSustainabilityChallengeGrantProgram..................................................................8

2.8UKSustainabilityForum,December2018...........................................................................10

2.9SustainabilityInternProgram...................................................................................................11

2.10InstituteforSustainableManufacturingConference,October2018.....................12

3.0OtherActivities.................................................................................................................................................13

3.1FlorenceWilliams,CommunityLecture,April2019........................................................13

3.2BluegrassBirdingFestival,May2019....................................................................................14

3.3NorthAmericanAssoc.ofEnv.Educators(NAAEE),October2019..........................14

3.4K-WeekandStudentInformationResources......................................................................15

4.0Conclusions........................................................................................................................................................17

TracyFarmerInstituteofSustainabilityandtheEnvironmentSummaryofActivitiesReport,October31,2019

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1.0IntroductionandReportOrganizationTheTracyFarmerInstituteforSustainabilityandtheEnvironment(TFISE)wasoriginallycreatedin2000underthenameTracyFarmerCenterfortheEnvironment(TFCE)withavisiontoaddressenvironmentalchallengesinKentuckybypromotinghigh-qualityresearchthathadthepotentialtoaddressissuesofregionalandinternationalrelevance.In2009,thenameoftheCenterwaschangedtoTFISE.TFISEisadministrativelylocatedintheUniversityofKentucky(UK)OfficeoftheVicePresidentforResearch(OVPR),whichallowsTFISEtoeasilyengagewithfaculty,students,andstaffacrosstheUniversityinavarietyofcollegesanddepartments,including130facultyandstaffaffiliatesfrom9colleges.InJanuary2018,OVPRaffiliatedTFISEwiththeKentuckyWaterResourcesResearchInstitute(KWRRI).TheTFISEorganizationalchartisshownasFigure1andconsistsofDr.LindellOrmsbee,DirectorofKWRRIandExecutiveDirectorofTFISE,aDirectorofTFISE(vacantasof10/31/2019),andMs.AliciaLandon,TFISEProgramCoordinator.AlthoughnotformallyincludedinTFISE,theUKOfficeofSustainabilityisanimportantpartnerwithwhomTFISEinteractsoften.

Figure1.TFISEOrganizationalChart

ThisreportisdividedintofoursectionsandsummarizesTFISEactivitiesfromAugust15,2018throughOctober31,2019.Section1.0providesanIntroduction.Section2.0describescontinuousand/orannualactivities.Section3.0discussesactivitiesthatoccurintermittentlyonanon-annualbasis.Section4.0providesabriefconclusion.Note:FromAugust16,2018-May15,2019,Dr.KellyPennellservedasboththeKWRRIActingDirectorandtheTFISEActing(Executive)Director.TheKWRRIDirectorwasonsabbaticalfromAugust16,2018-May15,2019.FromMay16,2019-October31,2019,sheservedasTFISEInterimDirector.


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2.0Annual/ContinuingPrograms

2.1DesignWeek2018and2019August24,2018markedthebeginningofthe4thAnnualDesignWeekprogram.Thethemeofthe2018DesignWeekwas“BranchingOut,”whichincludedastudyoftheLexingtonTownCommonssiterestorationplan.CarolinaSegura,SeniorLecturerintheCollegeofAgriculture,FoodandtheEnvironment(CAFE),DepartmentofLandscapeArchitecture,andBarbaraYoung,LecturerintheCollegeofDesign,SchoolofInteriors,co-organizedthe2018activitieswithsupportfromTFISEaffiliatedfaculty.Eachyear,DesignWeekincorporatesatangibleexampleforstudentstowitnesssuccessfulwater-relatedplanningprojects.In2018,theColumbusRiverfrontwasusedasanexampleforthestudents.TFISEarrangedandsponsoredtravelforapproximately100studentstovisittheColumbusRiverbendCommonsinOhio.StudentsandfacultymetwiththedesignersfortheColumbusproject,MKSK(https://www.mkskstudios.com/),andlearnedaboutdesignaspectsoftheSciotoGreenways.HannahPhillips,TFISE’smediaandcommunicationsustainabilityintern,createdtheDesignWeek2018video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=K8Zbiim2mIg

September23,2019kickedoffthe5thAnnualDesignWeekprogramwithanewcollaborationwiththeDepartmentofLandscapeAgricultureandtheDepartmentofCivilEngineeringaroundathemeofRegenerativeLandscape:Conserve-Manage-Restore-Generate.AkeynotelecturewasgivenbyKellyCederberg,AssistantProfessorintheCollegeofArchitecture,Planning,andLandscapeArchitectureattheUniversityofArizona,aboutherworkredesigningformergolfcoursesusingsustainableapproaches.UKstudentscollaboratedinteamstoproduceideasandamasterplanfortheformerAndoverGolfCourseinLexington.TheAndoverNeighborhoodAssociationparticipatedineventsandstudentswereabletolearnfromcommunitymembers.StudentswerealsoabletovisittheAndoverGolfCourseandproducevideosshowinghowtheirdesignswouldemphasizecommunity-relevantfeaturesforthemanywaterandothernaturalresourcesatthesite.Waterresourceandsustainableagricultureexperts,aswellascityofficials,participatedinapanelduringDesignWeek2019toprovidecontextforsustainabledesignsthatshowcasesignificantwaterandnativespeciesasagriculturalfeatures.

Inthecomingmonths,HannahPhillips,TFISE’smediaandcommunicationsustainabilityintern,willbecreatingavideotohighlightDesignWeek2019.


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2.2UrbanForestInitiative(UFI)andTreeWeekTheurbantreecanopyiscriticallyimportantforthehealthofKentucky’scommunities,contributingsubstantiallytoecological,economic,andsocialsustainability.Increasingthequantityandqualityoftheurbantreecanopycoverenhancesitscontributiontoecosystemservices,increasesitsaestheticvalue,andpromoteshumanhealthandasenseofcommunity.TheUrbanForestInitiative(UFI),ledbyDr.MaryArthur,ProfessorinCAFE,DepartmentofForestry,andDr.LynneRieske-Kinney,ProfessorinCAFE,DepartmentofEntomology,worktoaddressthisdeficitbyinnovating,developing,andmodelingreplicableurbanandcommunityforestryoutreachprogramsoncampus,inLexington,andthroughoutKentucky,thusbuildinggreatervisibilityandfunctionofthisessentialcomponentofurbansustainability.Eachyear,TFISEprovidescriticalfundingtosupportUFI’swork.Thisfundingsupportsevents,aswellasaportionofsalaryforUFIstaff.https://www.research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment/urban-forest-initiativeTreeWeek(Figures1and2)isahighlyvisibleandwell-attendedeventsupportedbyUFIandTFISE.ItisanannualcelebrationofLexington'streesandallthewaystheyimpactourlives.Itcelebratesandsynthesizestherolestreesplaythroughcreative,informativeandfun-filledactivitiesincludingcommunitytreeplantings;treewalks;toursandhikes;educationalprogramsforyouthandadults;art,poetry,andmusicevents;outdooryoga;communityworkshopsandseminars;andtheKentuckyTreeClimbingCompetition.

Fullschedulesofeventsareavailableonline:2018:https://ufi.ca.uky.edu/treeweek20182019:https://ufi.ca.uky.edu/treeweek2019

Figure2.TreeWeek2018and2019Flyers


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2.3WaterWeek2018WaterWeek2018washeldfromOctober15-19,2018.Dr.CarmenAgouridis,AssociateExtensionProfessorinCAFE,DepartmentofBiosystemsandAgriculturalEngineeringandAssociateDeanofInstructioninCAFE,organizedtheweekofeventsaroundthethemeofcommunityengagementandcoordinatedashoedrivewithWaterStep,anon-profitorganizationthatconductsdrinkingwaterprojectsacrosstheglobeandraisesfundsbyconductingshoedrives.https://uknow.uky.edu/uk-happenings/uk-water-week-2018-focuses-community-engagementTokickofftheweek,WaterStepFounderandCEO,SteveHogg,andWaterStepAdvisoryBoardMemberandPresidentofBluewaterKentucky,GregHeitzman,gavethekeynotelectureattheGattonStudentCenteraboutWaterStep’sprojectsandopportunitiestoimprovedrinkingwaterindevelopingcountries(Figure4).Thelecturemotivatedseveralstudentstobecomeinvolvedwiththisorganizationthroughinternshipsandtrainingevents.AshleyHall,anundergraduatestudentintheCollegeofEngineering,workedatWaterStepinthesummerof2019afterhearingthekeynotelecture.https://www.facebook.com/WaterStep/posts/please-join-us-in-welcoming-our-summer-college-interns-ashley-hall-left-and-rebe/2471597979552335/AspartofWaterWeekevents,communitymembersandstudentsconductedafulldaycleanupeventatLexmarkPark,inadditiontotheUKCATchmentraingardenclean-upunderthedirectionofDr.Agouridis.AfilmscreeningofBeforetheFlood,co-organizedwith

Figure3.TreeWeek2019LectureaboutnativespeciesgivenbyEARTHeimLandscapeDesignStudioonOctober12,2019-PhotoshowsmembersfromtheUrbanForestInitiative,LFUCG,TreesLexington,SeedLeafandTFISE


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theOfficeofSustainability,waswellattendedbyfacultyandstudents.WaterWeekalsoincludedapopularcareerpanelofwaterprofessionals,whichwasco-hostedbytheWaterProfessionalsStudentChapter.BotheventsincludeddiscussionwithexpertpanelistsfromUKandaroundthestatetoengagestudents,enhanceunderstanding,andprovideanopportunityfornetworkingandprofessionaldevelopment.

Figure4.SteveEvans,AssociateDirectorofKWRRI,introducesGregHeitzmanandMarkHogg,whodeliveredtheWaterWeekKeynoteLectureontheNGO,WaterStep.

2.4KentuckyClimateConsortium(KYCC)ClimateawarenessiscruciallyimportantinKentucky,thenationandtheworld.UK’sKentuckyClimateConsortium(KYCC)wascreatedtosupporteffortstodeveloprichandinterdisciplinaryresearchandteachingcollaborationsacrossthesciences-engineering,socialsciences,humanities,andthearts.ThisconsortiumincludesKentuckyclimateresearchersandeducators,andpromotescollaborationandinformationsharingonclimateawarenessissues,andthedisseminationofinformationtothestate’spopulation.TFISEsupportsawebsitelinkingKentucky’scitizens,students,andteacherstotheconsortium.TheleadersofKYCC,Dr.AgouridisandDr.LaurenCagle,AssistantProfessorintheCollegeofArtsand

Figure5.Webinar,August27,2019


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Sciences,DepartmentofWriting,Rhetoric,&DigitalStudies,presentedresultsfromtheirstatewidesurveyinordertoaddressthequestion:WhatdoKentuckiansthinkaboutthewaterandclimateissueswefaceintheCommonwealth?Thiseventwasintendedforcountyextensionagents,waterprofessionalsandcommunityleaderstoprovideinsightsonhowtobestcommunicatesuchissueswithstakeholdersandimprovetheeffectivenessofwaterprogramming.ThesurveyprojectwassupportedbyaresearchgrantfundedbyKWRRI.TFISEissponsoringastakeholdermeetingforKYCCthatwillbeheldonNovember1,2019from9AM-1:30PMattheBooneCenterinordertoconvenethefirstface-to-facemeetingoftheKentuckyClimateConsortium.Thiskick-offmeetinghasthreeprimarygoals:- Facilitatenetworkingandrelationship-buildingamongconsortiummembers,who

comefrominstitutionsacrossthestate;- DeterminetheKYCC’sinternalstructureanddecision-makingprocess;and- DiscusstheKYCC’soverallgoalsandopportunitiesforsupportingmembers’ongoing

researchandengagementeffortsanddeterminewhichtoprioritizethrough2020.

2.5LocalFoodSummitandOtherFood-RelatedEffortsFoodSystemsInitiative(FSI)isacross-collegegroupoffacultyandstaff,that:strengthensandcreatesUniversity-levelprograms;providesleadershipandsupportforvariousfood-relatedscholarshipatUK;promotesformalandinformaleducationaboutfoodsystems;andmobilizesresourcestoaddressfood-relatedissues.FSIpartnersheavilywiththeFoodConnection,aunitatUKestablishedtofacilitateacademicintegrationonsustainablefoodsystemsissues,fundedbyanendowmentthroughUK’sprivatediningservicespartner,Aramark.FSIalsohasmanyothercollaborators,includingtheJamesB.BeamInstituteforKentuckySpiritswhichwasestablishedin2019.https://www.research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment/food-systems-initiativeTheFoodConnectionhostedthesuccessful2019LocalFoodSystemsSummit(Figures6and7)andisplanningtohostanotherLocalFoodSystemsSummitinearly2020,aswellastheUniversitiesFightingWorldHungerSummitin2020.TFISEisinvolvedwiththeseeffortsthroughitsinvolvementwithFSI.ThefirstlocalfoodsummittookplaceonMarch27,2019attheGattonStudentCenter.TFISEprovidedfinancialresourcesfortheevent.TheeventwasorganizedbyrepresentativesfromTheFoodConnection,theLexington-FayetteUrbanCountyGovernment’sBluegrassFarmtoTableinitiative,andBluegrassTomorrow.Therewere


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140attendeesandtheagendaincludedsessionsonthetopicsofresearch,programsandbestpractices,foundationalknowledgeandroundtablediscussions;spanningthemainareasofagriculture,marketdevelopment,communitynutrition,andpolicy.AreviewpraisingthesuccessoftheeventwasfeaturedinUKNowonApril5,2019(https://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/first-local-food-summit-uk-deemed-big-success).

Figure7.March2019KentuckyLocalFoodSystemsSummitSponsoredinpartbyTFISE

2.6CATchmentRainGardenandUKStormwaterManagementTheCATchmentRainGardenwasestablishedin2014withfundingprovidedbyanLFUCGstormwatergrant,theStudentSustainabilityCouncilandTFISE.LocatedbehindtheGluckEquineResearchCenter,theraingardenisalivinglearninglaboratoryforsustainablestormwatermanagement.AdedicatedadvisorygroupofUniversityofKentuckyfacultyandstaffoverseesthemanagement,maintenance,anduseofthegarden.TFISEadministersclean-upoftheCATchmentRainGardentwiceannually.Figure8showsasign-uppageontheTFISEwebsiteforservice-learningopportunities.InMay2018,UKfiledaNoticeofIntenttocontinuemanagingstormwaterdischargesassociatedwiththeirmaincampus’MS4pursuanttogeneralpermit(#KYG200000)issuedbytheKentuckyDivisionofWater.UKwasissuedcoverageunderPhaseIIMS4generalpermit(#KYG200052)bytheKentuckyDivisionofWater.AStormWaterQualityManagementPlan(SWQMP)isassociatedwiththispermitanditcontainsdescriptionsandschedulesforvarioustasksrequiredbytheirpermitforUK’smaincampus.TFISEislistedinthepermitascollaboratingonvariousactivitiesrelatedtoimplementingtheUK2018-2023StormwaterQualityManagementPlan,specificallytheMinimumControlMeasures(MCM).

Figure6.Attendeesatthe2019LocalFoodSummit


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AnMS4StakeholderAdvisoryCommitteehasestablishedseveralactivitiesthatneedtobecompletedaspartoftheStormwaterQualityManagementPlan.TheMS4StakeholderAdvisoryCommitteeiscurrentlyledbyCharles“Kevin”Lewis,WaterQualityComplianceManagerwithintheUKEnvironmentalManagementDepartment(EMD).Dr.AgouridishasbeenrepresentingTFISE-affiliatedfacultyandcarriesouttaskscoordinatingcloselywithMr.Lewis.

Figure8.TFISEService-LearningOpportunitiesattheCATchmentRainGarden

2.7AnnualSustainabilityChallengeGrantProgramTheUKSustainabilityChallengeGrantProgramisacollaborativeeffortofthePresident’sSustainabilityAdvisoryCouncil,TFISE,andtheOfficeofSustainability.Itwas


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collaborativelydesignedtoengagemultidisciplinaryteamsfromacrosstheUniversitycommunityinthecreationandimplementationofideasthatwillpromotesustainability. In2019,sevenSustainabilityChallengeGrantswereawarded:

1. ImprovingBicycleInfrastructureUsingSPINBike,ShareTripData($27,500)

Teammembers:NicStamatiadis,CivilEngineering;CarolinaSeguraBell,LandscapeArchitecture;EricGreen,KYTransportationCenter

2. NaturePlayscapeandNativeLandscapeattheChildDevelopmentCenteroftheBluegrass($36,000)

Teammembers:JordanPhemister,AdinaCox,NedCrankshaw,andChrisSassfromLandscapeArchitecture;RickDurhamandRobertGeneve,Horticulture;MaureenDreckman,FacilitiesInformationServices;HeatherErwinandMarilynCampbell,KinesiologyandHealthPromotion;AliciaFedewa,Psychology;JackieGallimore,Arboretum;JerryHart,PPDGrounds;MelissaRueandClaudeStephens,ChildrenatPlayNetwork;JasonScroggin,Architecture;NikkiSextonandHeatherShaw,ChildDevelopmentCenteroftheBluegrass

3. JustFood:EngagingUKinRaciallyEquitableFoodSystemsDevelopment($34,648)

Teammembers:ChhayaKolavalli,CenterforEqualityandSocialJustice;ChristiaSpearsBrown,Psychology;SarahLyon,Anthropology;LilianBrislen,FoodConnection;RosalindHarrisandKarenRignall,CommunityLeadershipDevelopment;PriscillaMcCutcheon,Geography;MiaFarrell,DiversityandCooperativeExtensionHR;AshleyHolt,Diversity;AuyannaWright,MANNRS

4. TreeCATS($19,871)

Teammembers:MaryArthur,NicWilliamson,andMikaylaRogers,Forestry;LynneRieske-Kinney,Entomology;BryanKist,NRES;BriannaDamron,Nursing;StacyBorden,Arboriculture;EllenCrocker,ForestHealthResearchCenter

5. SustainabilityModuleforFirstYearExperience($11,000)

Teammembers:AliRossi,CommunityLeadershipDevelopment;HelenTurner,Interiors;RyanVoogt,History

6. OrganicWasteCompostingPilotProject($36,094)

Teammembers:SteveHiggins,AnimalandEnvironmentalCompliance;LeeMoser,CooperativeExtension;JoannaAshford,Recycling;CarolynGahn,UKDining

7. KentuckyIntegratedBiorefinery($34,887)


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Teammembers:JustinMobley,MarkCrocker,BertLynn,andMarkMeier,Chemistry;RachelSchendel,FoodScience;SethDebolt,Horticulture;SueNokesandJianShi,BiosystemsandAgEngineering;MattWeisenberger,CAER;MichelleSchardein,BusinessOfficer

Alistofpastprojectsandabstractsfrom2015-2019areavailableonline:https://www.uky.edu/sustainability/sustainability-challenge-grantsIn2019,TFISEusedSciValtoevaluatethepublicationhistoryoftheresearcherswhowereawardedsustainabilitychallengegrantsatUKfrom2015-2018.SciValisapublicationmetricanalysisresourcethatanalyzes38millionpublicationrecordsfrom21,915journalsof5,000publishersworldwide.Collectively,thesustainabilitychallengegrantsrecipientsincluded50authorswhopublished345scholarlyworksduringthistimeperiod.Thesescholarlyoutputshavebeencited1,687timesandhaveanaverageof4.9citationsperpublication.Thefield-weightedcitationimpactfactorforthisgroupofresearchersindicatesthatthesepublicationsarecitedneartheaverageofotherscholars.Additionally,13%oftheresearchershavepublicationsthatareamongthetop10%mostcitedpapersworldwide,and32.4%ofpublicationsbythisgroupareinthetop10%ofthemostcitedjournalsindexedbyCiteScore.TheresultsoftheSciValanalysisissignificantbecauseitdemonstratesthegrantreceiptsperformwellinexistingresearchareas,whileatthesametimetheydevoteeffortstoemergingareasofinterest,outreach,andengagement.ThisgroupofresearchersisimpactingtheUniversityasawholebycontributingtomultidisciplinaryactivitiesthathavebroad,meaningful,qualitativeimpacts,aswellasachievingthestrongquantitativescholarshipmetricsmeasuredbySciVal.

2.8UKSustainabilityForum,December2018EachyearTFISEorganizesandsponsorsauniversity-wideSustainabilityForumtohighlighttheaccomplishmentsoffacultyandstudentcontributionsrelatedtosustainability.The2018UKSustainabilityForumtookplaceonDecember4thfrom4-7PMattheHillaryJ.BooneCenter.TFISEhasorganizedthisforumthroughcoordinationwiththeOfficeofSustainabilityandtheUKCenterforAppalachianStudies.The2018postersessionfeatured22posters:includingthesixsustainabilitychallengegrantsawardedthepreviousyear.Theeventconcludedwithanawardsceremonywhereposterwinnersforgraduateandundergraduatestudentswereannounced.Inaddition,the2019SustainabilityChallengeGrantprojectrecipientsfortheupcomingyearwereannouncedbyMr.ShaneTedder,UKSustainabilityCoordinator.Figure9showsmembersoftheTreeCATSteamaftertheannouncementthattheirprojectwouldbeawardedfunding.


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Figure9.Fromleft,Dr.KellyPennell,NicWiliamson,Dr.MaryArthur,StacyBorden,BriannaDamron,andShaneTedderattheSustainabilityForumawardsceremony,December2018

2.9SustainabilityInternProgramTFISEcollaborateswiththeOfficeofSustainabilityandtheStudentSustainabilityCounciltoprovideundergraduateinternshipopportunities.TFISEtypicallyprovidesfinancialresourcestosupportfiveinternsperacademicyear.TheOfficeofSustainabilitycoordinateswithadditionalpartnersincludingtheStudentSustainabilityCouncilandpartnerstosupportadditionalintern.TheOfficeofSustainabilityprovidesadditionalpeermentorshiptopromotemeaningfulopportunitiesforthesestudents.TFISE-fundedinternsareassignedtoworkwithfacultyintheUrbanForestInitiative(UFI),TFISE,theFoodSystemsInitiative(FSI),WaterSystems,andwithfacultywhoorganizeDesignWeek.In2019,resourcesforawatersystemsinternwerebeingallocatedthroughUKEnvironmentalManagementDepartmentaspartofUK’sStormwaterManagementPlans(SeeSection2.6).

Figure10.TFISEIntern,HannahPhillips,AASHEConference,October2019


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InOctober2018,TFISEprovidedadditionalfundingtosupporttravelforsustainabilityinternstoattendthenationalAnnualConferencefortheAssociationfortheAdvancementofSustainabilityinHigherEducation(AASHE).In2019,theAASHEAnnualConferencewasheldinSpokane,WA(October27-30,2019).TheTFISECommunicationsandMediaIntern(undergraduateatUK)HannahPhillipspresentedaposterattheconference(Figure10).Herposterhighlightedtheworksheisconductingwithvideos,socialmedia,andtherolethat“bridgesandbrokers”haveinsharingideasacrossdisciplineswithinTFISE.

2.10InstituteforSustainableManufacturingConference,October2018TFISEhasbeenalong-timesupporterofUK’sInstituteofSustainableManufacturing’s(ISM)conferencesbycoordinatingwithISMfacultytofundthesehigh-impactevents.OnOctober2-4,2018,ISMhostedthe16thGlobalConferenceonSustainableManufacturinginLexington,KY(seeFigure11).Theconferencewasattendedby160peoplefrom28differentcountries.TFISEwasrecognizedasabronzelevelsponsoroftheevent.

Figure11.TFISESponsored16thGlobalConferenceonSustainableManufacturing


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3.0OtherActivities

3.1FlorenceWilliams,CommunityLecture,April2019OnApril3,2019,TFISEpartneredwiththeUFItohostafreecommunityeventfeaturingjournalistandauthorFlorenceWilliams.Williamsspoketoanaudienceofover300peopleaboutherexperiencesinwritingherbook,TheNatureFix:Whynaturemakesushappier,healthier,andmorecreative.Figure12capturestheengagedaudienceattheevent.Forthislecture,TFISEreachedouttohealth-relatedresearchers,includingUK-CenterforAppalachianResearchinEnvironmentalSciencesandtheUK-SuperfundResearchCenter.BothCentersset-uptablesandsharedresearchmaterials,alongwithUFI’smanycommunitystakeholderswhoalsohadtables.TheNationalInstituteofEnvironmentalHealthSciencessharedaphotofromthisUKeventintheirmonthlynewsletterasthePhotooftheMonth(Figure13).

Figure12.AudienceattheCommunityLecture,FlorenceWilliams.


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3.2BluegrassBirdingFestival,May2019TFISEengagedwiththeFarmerfamilytoparticipateinthe6thannualBluegrassBirdingFestival.AkeynotelecturefromNateSwickoftheAmericanBirdingAssociationkickedoffthefestivalonMay10,attheLivingArts&ScienceCenter.OnSaturday,May11,UFIledanaturewalkthatincorporatedbirdingandUrbanForestInitiative’s(UFI’s)Adopt-a-Treeprogram.ThiseventwasoneofthefirsteventsinyearsinwhichTFISEwasabletoconnectwiththeFarmerfamilyaroundcommongoalsrelatedtotheinstitute’smission.http://uknow.uky.edu/campus-news/uk-s-tracy-farmer-institute-supports-birding-festival-weekend

3.3NorthAmericanAssoc.ofEnv.Educators(NAAEE),October2019The48thAnnualNorthAmericanAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators(NAAEE)ConferencewasheldattheLexingtonConventionCenterfromOctober16-19,2019.ThethemewasEducatingforaJustandSustainableFuture.TFISEattendedtheconferenceasanexhibitor,alongwithseveralothermajoruniversities(CornellUniversity,ArizonaStateUniversity,OhioStateUniversity,UniversityofWisconsin,etc.).TFISEhasbeenalong-timesupporterofenvironmentaleducationandisamemberofKentuckyAssociationofEnvironmentalEducators.ParticipatinginconferencesandraisingthevisibilityofTFISEhasbeenarecentgoalasTFISEshiftstoincreasingitsreputationbeyondUK’scampus.

Figure13.PhotooftheMonth(May2019)fromNIEHSNewsletterfeaturingtheUFI/TFISEEvent


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Figure14showstheTFISE’sboothatNAAEEthatcanbeusedatotherpubliceventsinthefuture.DuringNAAEE,conferenceattendeesexpressedconsiderableinterestinsustainabilityandenvironmentalprograms/activitiesatUK.

3.4K-WeekandStudentInformationResourcesOnAugust23,2019,TFISEparticipatedinaninteractiveanddynamiceventtopromotesustainabilityandenvironmentintereststoincomingundergraduatestudentsthatwasorganizedbyOfficeofSustainability.ThiswasthefirsttimeasustainabilitythemedK-Weekeventwasheld.InadditiontoTFISE,representativesfromtheDepartmentofNaturalResources&EnvironmentalSciencesandtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalStudies,thePresidentSustainabilityAdvisoryCouncil,andtheStudentSustainabilityCouncilalsoledbreakoutsessions.Approximatelyfortyundergraduatestudentsattended.TFISEpreparedresourcesforstudentsabouttherangeofsustainability-relatededucationalandresearchopportunitiesavailableatUK.AttheFall2019K-Week,studentswereparticularlyinterestedbyTFISE’slistofsustainability-relatedgraduateandundergraduatestudentcertificates.Certificateprogramsprovidestudentsawaytogaincross-disciplinaryknowledgethroughaclusterofcourses.Certificatesenhancetraditionaldegreeswithcontextualknowledgeaboutatopicofinteresttoastudent,andoftenrequirelesscreditsthanaminor.Oncestudentscompletetherequirementsofacertificate,theyarelistedonastudenttranscript.Therefore,certificatescanbeameaningfulandconvenientwaytoadvanceastudent’seducationalandprofessionalgoals.

Figure14.TweetsfromTFISE’sExhibitBoothatNAAEE,October2019


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TFISEhashandoutsavailablewithsustainability-relatedcertificatelistings,andalsomaintainsalistingonitswebsite.https://www.research.uky.edu/tracy-farmer-institute-sustainability-and-environment/courses-sustainability-environment


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4.0ConclusionsTFISEservesasacriticalumbrellaharnessingapowerfulnetworkofcommittedfaculty,staff,andstudentswhocarryoutarangeofsustainability-relatedactivitiesacrossUK’scampusandbeyond.AsTFISEcontinuesforwardtowardits20thyear,itisexcitingtoseethesustainedeffortsandimpactsofsomanypersistentanddynamiccollaborations.BecauseofexpressedinterestfromTFISE’sstakeholdersandfriends,UKPhilanthropyestablishedagivingportalwhichisnowaccessibleontheTFISEhomepage(http://bit.ly/2IU41Dt),seeFigure15.Pleaseconsiderspreadingthewordand/ordonating.

“Whenwetrytopickoutanythingbyitself,wefindithitchedtoeverythingelseintheUniverse."

-JohnMuir

Figure15.TFISEGiftFundWebpage(Screenshot)

tfise summary of activities report august 2018 to october 2019 · contributing substantially to...

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