ECU’s Center of Sustainability to hold first sustainability symposium
The University’s College of Engineering and Technology and the College’s Center for Sustainability will hold its first Sustainability Symposium Feb. 20, 2017. The event’s goal is to discuss ways sustainability can be integrated into research and industry practices,
Dr. Tarek Abdel-Salam, event organizer and associate dean of research and graduate studies for the College of Engineering and Technology. (contributed photo)
especially those that will benefit eastern North Carolina. It will also promote approaches that adopt and implement inclusive views of the key dimensions of sustainability: environmental, economic and social.
The symposium will be held at the University’s Murphy Center from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
“We want to present thought-provoking examples of sustainability ideas, analyses and practices that are available to our region’s farmers and agricultural organizations so they can maintain and grow their businesses and be good stewards of the environment, as
well,” said Dr. Tarek Abdel-Salam, event organizer and associate dean of research and graduate studies for the College of Engineering and Technology.
Pam Swingle of the Environmental Protection Agency will be the keynote speaker. She is the agency’s pollution prevention program manager for the Region 4 Office of Environmental Justice and Sustainability. She is responsible
Pam Swingle, Environmental Protection Agency’s pollution prevention program manager for the Region 4 Office of Environmental Justice and Sustainability. (contributed photo)
for administering pollution prevention and sustainability programs and providing technical assistance within Region 4’s eight, southeastern states.
Symposium discussions will include:
- We know how to do this: Sustainability and Energy: Ged Moody, Appalachian State University, special assistant to the Chancellor for Sustainability
- What does food have to do with sustainability?: Rebecca Dunning, North Carolina State University, Department of Horticultural Science
- Strategies to protect water resources in agricultural watersheds: Mike Burchell, North Carolina State University, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- The vulnerable food, energy, and water system in the Caribbean: Scott Curtis, East Carolina University, Geography
- Soil Conservation and Organic Farming: Kristi Hocutt, sales manager, Triple J Produce
- Organic Feasibility: Thomas Moore, food systems coordinator, Carolina Farm Stewards
The symposium will also include a student/faculty poster session, which will cover all areas of sustainability-related research including tourism, water, energy, agriculture and buildings.
This event is supported by the Pitt County Development Commission, College of Engineering and Technology, the Center for Innovation in Technology and Engineering Outreach (CITE), and Phi Kappa Phi.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
The registration fee is $35 per person.
To register for the event visit: https://www.enrole.com/ecu/jsp/session.jsp?sessionId=17SUST0220&courseId=17SUST0220&categoryId=ROOT or call (252) 328-9198
-by Michael Rudd, College of Engineering & Technology