Our program featured in Inquirer article

Villanova got the headline, but our program in Environmental Sustainability was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article about sustainability degree programs. It also mentions our innovative Masters program in Sustainable Design, citing Philadelphia University as a regional leader in sustainability education.

Read the article here: http://www.philly.com/philly/living/green/81082267.html

Panelists discuss energy issues for the Philadelphia region

On Wednesday, November 11th, the Environmental Sustainability program hosted a panel discussion entitled "Green Power: Renewable Energy in Philadelphia's Sustainable Future." Our guest experts, Katherine Gajewski (Director, Mayor's Office for Sustainability), Kate Houstoun (Green Jobs Coordinator, Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia), and Eric Cheung (Clean Air Council), outlined the role of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the city's plans for the future. Over 80 people turned out for the event, which was moderated by Ned Rauch-Mannino (Temple University and the Urban Industry Initiative) and Tom Schrand (Chair, B.S. in Environmental Sustainability, Philadelphia University).

Touring Schuylkill River Ecosystems by Kayak

On October 4th, our Sustainability students spent a beautiful fall afternoon on an environmental kayak tour of the Schuylkill River. The Schuylkill, which flows through the heart of Philadelphia, has a long environmental history as a shipping lane, a source of municipal drinking water for Philadelphia (Charles Dickens and Mark Twain both wrote in admiration of the technology and beauty of Philadelphia's water works), and as a disposal system for industrial waste. Major efforts in the past couple of decades to improve the water quality have begun to show results, with native species returning to the river. Students on the tour rowed upriver to get a close-up view of the historic water works, and then floated downstream to see some of the industrial facilities that are still discharging into the river, while their guide explained the history of the river's water quality and ecosystems.

Promoting sustainability education at GreenFest Philly

This past Sunday, September 14th, our degree program in Environmental Sustainability helped staff a booth at GreenFest Philly to promote the sustainability education options available at Philadelphia University. In addition to our innovative program, we also had representatives from our Masters program in Sustainable Design, our Bachelors degree in Environmental and Conservation Biology, and our Landscape Architecture program.

Students like Meghan and Stefanie (in the picture) helped staff the booth and answered questions from the attendees at the GreenFest. We also toured the festival, to learn more about sustainability solutions and to keep an eye out for "greenwashing." Is a doggie raincoat really sustainable if it is made out of recycled materials, or is an example of one of the Seven Sins of Greenwashing: "The Lesser of Two Evils?"

Organic farming with Weaver's Way

In April, our Organic Food Chains class paid a working visit to the organic farming operation run by Weaver's Way co-op in Mt. Airy. The farm is located in Germantown's Awbury Arboretum, and after a tour of the greenhouses, we got our hands dirty by planting some onion seedlings and raking out some new raised beds.

Our thanks to David Siller, the farm educator at Weaver's Way!

Dinner at the White Dog with Judy Wick

After reading about the White Dog Cafe in Peter Singer's book, The Way We Eat, our Sustainable Food Chains class had dinner at the restaurant and met with its founder, Judy Wick (center, against the wall). It was an inspiring moment with a pioneer for sustainable foods and communities!

Eco-consulting as a career

"Make Me Greener, Please:" This New York Times article surveys the growing career opportunities in environmental consulting for homeowners who want to live more sustainably. You can even become an "eco-broker:" a real estate agent who specializes in properties with environmental advantages.