Chico State Explores the Way to Sustainability
By This Way to Sustainability lead student coordinators Michelle Libman, Senior, Recreation Administration, and Brittany Williams, Senior, Environmental Science
This Way to Sustainability is a student-run conference that hosts more than 100 speakers and 1,400 participants at California State University, Chico. It provides a forum to discuss current issues that are relevant to us all and includes workshops, seminars, posters, and facilitated discussions. The eighth annual conference is happening this Thursday and Friday, March 7 and 8.
A student-chaired conference steering committee is responsible for determining the themes of each year’s conference. The Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) hosts the conference steering committee, whose membership consists of student leaders from campus organizations, faculty advisors, and ISD staff.
We were chosen to be the two lead student coordinators to execute the day-to-day functions and planning, and to coordinate other volunteers. This event requires over 100 volunteers each year. Teri Randolph, assistant to the director of ISD, aids the student coordinators with planning, logistics, and coordination of the conference.
Many students also work behind the scenes aspects to make this conference happen. Students coordinate all the session moderators. Students who work with AS Catering to provide participants with food and beverages. Students organize all the smaller events within the conference—planning the entertainment, the decorations, the activities, and the flow of a particular event.
Without the help of students, this conference would not happen. Chico State students are passionate about sustainability and work year-round to make this conference possible.
While there is so much going on at the upcoming This Way to Sustainability VIII, we are both very excited to see Chris Jordan’s keynote presentation. We are captivated by the way he incorporates mass consumption and waste into beautiful pieces of art. They provide a dramatic, yet moving, illustration of how we as humans are affecting the world we live in.
Chico State is known for being a sustainable campus, but do you know all the reasons why? Many people are probably unaware of the numerous outstanding sustainability programs, many of which are student started and student run. During the conference, we will be showcasing these organizations in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium from 8–10 a.m.
This Way to Sustainability VIII is open to the public. Registration is free for all students and $20 a day for all other registrants. Online registration is currently closed, but you can register the day of the event. Registration includes continental breakfast, over 70 workshops, featured films, and much more. Individuals can view our full conference program by visiting our website or download our mobile app by visiting http://my.yapp.us/BDZLBH on their mobile device.