Sustainability
Sustainable development and sustainable living broadly encompass multiple areas of policy and practice, affording numerous opportunities for education. Environmental Sustainability is an emerging initiative of the Urban Environment Program. Here are several efforts underway:
Cornell Course on Sustainability in Historic Preservation, offered June 2008 in New York City
Preservation: Sustainability is a program of four short courses on the vital link between historic preservation and a sustainable future, to be held June 2-5, 2008 in New York City. Presented by Cornell University's Historic Preservation Planning Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension - NYC, these one-day classes are intended for design professionals in private practice, government and non-profit agencies, and students in architecture, landscape architecture, planning and historic preservation. Each one-day course addresses a different aspect of sustainability - green building, environment, equity and economics through the strategies, tools and ethos of historic preservation. Classes are limited in size to facilitate site visits and interaction. Courses can be taken individually.
Instructors will include practicing architects, planners and engineers, and experts from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, National Vacant Properties Campaign, Association for Preservation Technology, US Green Building Council, Regional Plan Association, Bronx River Alliance, Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, Beczak Center for Environmental Education, Jackson Heights Beautification Group, City of New York, City of Yonkers, and the faculties of Cornell University, Columbia University, and Pratt Institute.
The program is co-sponsored by the New York Landmarks Conservancy, the Regional Plan Association, the Historic Districts Council and the Neighborhood Preservation Center.
The four courses are:
- Monday 6/2, Green Building: Tools and Strategies for Sustainable Re-Use
- Tuesday 6/3, Equity: Historic Districts and Fluid Communities: Jackson Heights
- Wednesday 6/4, Economics: New Life for Vacant and Abandoned Housing: The Bronx
- Thursday 6/5, Environment: Rivers Lost, Resources Rediscovered: Bronx and Sawmill Rivers
For more information and to register for the program, please visit: www.preservation-shortcourse.org
Sustainable Living Guide - a new education tool is now available!
The guide, titled "Living Sustainably: It's Your Choice," was developed by the National Network for Sustainable Living Education (NNSLE). "The National Network for Sustainable Living Education improves quality of life and reduces environmental degradation by fostering new consumption patterns and sustainable lifestyles through Cooperative Extension Service programs at land-grant institutions." This project represents the first effort of the group, which is supported by the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, a national professional association of Extension Educators involved in environmental and natural resources education.
Click here to order the guide or to download a free copy!
The guide is published by Oregon State University, EC 1614, February 2008.
Research to Support Future Program Development
Sustainable development and sustainable living broadly encompass multiple areas of policy and practice, affording numerous opportunities for education.
CUCE-NYC recently collaborated with University researchers in conducting research to establish fundamental components of environmental sustainability to inform program development. Cornell researchers and Extension educators implemented a concept mapping effort involving scientists and practitioners addressing sustainability to map the components of a comprehensive professional curriculum in the science and practice of sustainability. Following analysis of the data collected, the map will provide research based scaffolding informed by subject area experts of the big ideas, key concepts and best practices in sustainability education. The resulting map can also be used as a framework for curricula and evaluation protocol development for scientists and teacher training, professionals, community members and students, Extension and other informal education programs, and others with professional or personal interests in the science and practice of sustainability. Professional development and training, focused on sustainability and means of minimizing environmental impact, will be offered in future programs to businesses, not-for-profits, government and the public; informal education programs will also be implemented.
For more information, please contact Urban Environment Staff.