Greening Class Projects Fall 2008
The process and stories behind the Greening Class projects in the Fall of 2008 are listed here. Each group also wrote content for the Campus Sustainability site about the environmental topic their projects addressed, links to their work are provided.
Group Members: Sarah Levy, Hannah Saltman, Allison Simon, Ben Rifkin and Zach Slavin
Project Summary: The goal of our project is to clean up and protect the stream behind H-lot to facilitate better, cleaner water flow, thus avoiding pollution of nearby drinking water supplies and preventing back-flow into campus buildings. We will accomplish this goal by removing trash and invasive species from the area, changing the engineering of the road from the Chapels and the edge of the stream to filter the water and divert it to other preferable, nearby locations and educating the Brandeis and Cedar Hill communities about the importance of wetland species and the harmful effects of storm water pollution.
Project Information: Clean Streams, Action Plan
'DeisBikes: Bicycle Sharing Program
Group Members: Susan Paykin '11, Caroline Cappello '11, Lisa Frank '09, Lea Giddins '11
Project Summary: The goal of our project was to create an alternative and fuel-free means of transportation for Brandeis students. Biking is such an easy, accessible, and environmentally-friendly way of getting around campus and into Waltham, we decided it would be a perfect solution. The 'DeisBikes: Brandeis Bicycle Sharing Program will be free and open to all undergraduate students from November to March (not open during breaks), and will be based out of the Brandeis Library
Project Information: 'DeisBikes Pages, F.A.Q., Policies,Safety Tips, Additional Resources
Environmental Education in Waltham Public Schools
Group Members: Jessalyn Michaels, Erica Traub, Sammi Feldman
Project Summary: The Environmental Education group visited three after school programs in Waltham on two occasions per school, to show children their impact the environment through various activities. The goal of the Environmental Education Project is to aid school-age children in gaining a basic environmental awareness by teaching them through hands-on activities. After reading Last Child in the Woods and learning about the tragedy of Nature Deficit Disorder in today’s youth, we decided to do our best to ensure that Waltham children are given every possible opportunity to connect to the environment.
In addition, considering the enormous ecological footprint that this country has, we presented the children with an interactive curriculum that demonstrates how everyday choices can help achieve a “greener” lifestyle. Focusing mainly on recycling, energy conservation, and pollution, the kids learned fun facts and ways to help the environment.
The success of the Environmental Education project was evident from its first day. After learning about the importance of reusing materials, one young girl approached us with a paper plate she had used and then turned into an art project. Another child ran up to his father when he arrived to pick him up to ask him if their family recycles, and, if not, ensure that they immediately pick up recycling bins.
Group Members: Lauren Kruas, Anum Irfan Khan, Michael Camp, Carrie Watkins
Project Summary: The mission for this project was to create an accessible presentation that provides faculty and administrators at Brandeis information about ways to make their offices and classroom practices more energy efficient and paper friendly. We researched facts and presentations given at other universities and compiled our own power point presentation - one for faculty members and one geared toward students - based on our findings.We wanted to utilize a top-down, bottom-up approach in reaching out to faculty and staff, targeting both demographics to ensure overall program success. We have had the opportunity to speak at two faculty department meetings as well as the Student Union's weekly meeting, and are scheduled to present for five academic departments next semester, as well as for a few classes in the HSSP department. We hope to arrange even more presentations as the semester progresses.
To arrange a presentation for your department/group e-mail sustainability@brandeis.edu.
Project Information: Reduce & Reuse, Office Sustainability, Energy Reduction PowerPoint Presentation
Group Members: Lea Giddins, Tzipora Hait, Michael Riccobonno, Emilie Schuler
Project Summary: We created a club to organize and support the Brandeis Farmer's Market and promote the advantages of buying local food. In addition, the club seeks to connect students to nature and promote natural living habits by providing trail maps of the Waltham area and holding workshops on natural cooking methods.
Project Information: Farmers Market, Trail Maps, Facebook Group
Public Transportation
Group Members: Kevin Lowenberg (2011), Lisa Frank (2009), Lauren Ehrlich (2010), Debra Fricano (2010), Julia Marder (2010)
Project Summary: As members of Professor Laura Goldin’s Greening the Campus and Community class, we have focused on educating people about public transportation. This goal has lead us to pursue the possibilities of a shuttle which would run from downtown Waltham along South St., stopping at Brandeis and other businesses, and ending at Riverside Station. While the future of this shuttle is uncertain, we are optimistic about the prospect of it, and it will help to further reduce Brandeis’ dependence on automobiles. There have been several discussions between members of the 128 Business Council, Waltham Transportation Officials, Local Industries , Brandeis Administration regarding the desire and feasibility to create a private community shuttle to Riverside.
Project Information: Public Transportation, Public Transit Brochure (PDF), How to Use the MBTA Guide, Directions to Places of Interest.