Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of February 16, 2009

News From Across the USM Campuses

Shady Grove and the Camille Kendall Academic Center will be featured during the month of February on Access Montgomery's Think Green television show. Think Green is a show designed to educate Montgomery County residents about ways to protect and sustain the environment. The show will be broadcast throughout February on the following schedule: Saturday 2/7, 2/14, 2/21 and 2/28 at 3:00 PM, and Thursday 2/12, 2/19 and 2/26 at 10:30 PM.

"Alternative Energy and Green Development: Economic Realities for Maryland" is the theme for RESI's 2009 Economic Outlook Conference, scheduled for February 20, 2009, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Columbia Sheraton Hotel (Towson University Newsroom, 2/6/09)

Atmospheric Bromine: Sources, Distribution, and Photochemistry, Professor Ross Salawitch, University of Maryland, College Park. Thursday, February 19, 2009, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Auditorium (Rm. 2400) on the 2^nd floor of the New Wing of the Computer and Space Science Building, University of Maryland, College Park.

Sustainability Speaker Series: Maryland's Emerging Green Economy Wednesday, February 18, Noon-1pm in Tydings Hall 0117, University of Maryland, College Park (Note the change of location from last semester)

Tipping Point: Restructuring Our Broken Socioeconomic System for a Just and Sustainable Future Monday, February 16, 5:30pm in BioPsych 1243, on the University of Maryland, College Park campus. The discussion will be led by some of the most respected academics from University of Maryland, College Park: Professor John Pease - "Poverty and Inequality in America," Dr. Martha E. Geores - "Environmentalism as a Lifestyle," Dr. Herman Daly - "Can Business and Industry Be Just?" and Professor Robyn Muncy - "Trickle UP Change"

University of Maryland, College Park currently Ranked #1 in America's Greenest Campus Competition - Thanks to many of you (students, faculty, staff, and alumni), the University of Maryland is currently ranked FIRST in America's Greenest Campus competition!  I am very excited that of the 341 colleges and universities participating in the contest, it's Maryland on the top of the leaderboard! The competition lasts until October 4, so we have a long way to go, but you can continue to improve our ranking by using the "Reduction Center" to reduce your carbon footprint! If you have not yet signed onto the America's Greenest Campus web site, please do so using your umd.edu email address.  

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

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Frostburg State University's Learning Green, Living Green Meeting schedule for 2009 is available on the FSU Learning Green, Living Green web site.

Bowie State University launches recycling competition The Bowie State University campus joins over 500 colleges and universities in the 2009 RecycleMania tournament to promote waste reduction activities to their campuses. Campus residential facilities competing include Alex Haley Hall, Lucretia Kennard Hall, Towers Residence Hall, Holmes Hall and Harriet Tubman Residence Hall. Students and officials will demonstrate a recycling activity at the event.

University of Maryland, College Park plans to develop woodlands (By Derby Cox, Diamondback Online, 2/13/09)

Towson University holds green competition - The Energy Conservation Contest is being held throughout all residence halls (By Alissa Katz, The Towerlight, 2/9/09)

University of Maryland, Baltimore - Energy use article - Demand Response Case Study: University of Maryland Reduces Consumption by 20 Million kWh (2/09)

State of Maryland News

Montgomery County launches green task force (By Vandana Sinha, Washington Business Journal, 2/13/09)

Governor O'Malley Names Recipients of Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund Grants Eight Counties and Baltimore City to Receive Funding for FY 09 and FY (Governor's Office Press Release, 2/11/09)

State takes a new look at Gude Landfill contamination: Toxins are polluting Rock Creek; officials discuss ways to stop leaching (By Nathan Carrick, The Gazette, 2/11/09)

O'Malley says Maryland could help shape US environmental policy: Bill in legislature is meant to curb global-warming pollution in state (By Gadi Dechter, The Baltimore Sun, 2/11/09)

Bill Would Work to Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions (WBAL-TV Baltimore, MD, 2/11/09)

O'Malley again pushes climate change legislation  (By Lisa Rein, The Washington Post - "Maryland Moment,"  2/10/09) [Scroll down linked page to view story]

Howard starts environmental leadership institute (By Josh Kowalkowski, The Examiner, 2/8/09)

National and International News

Stimulus bill expected to restart mine cleanup (By Joan Lowy, The Associated Press as reported in The Washington Post, 2/15/09)

Can One Household Save the Planet? No, but planet can't be saved without it. (By Liz Mundy, The Washington Post, 2/15/09)

Scientists: Pace of Climate Change Exceeds Estimates (By Kari Lyndersen, The Washington Post, 2/15/09)

Critics plan Valentine's Day demonstrations against Appalachian coal techniques: Appalachia mountains' destruction cited by environmentalists (The Associated Press as reported in The Baltimore Sun, 2/14/09)

Biofuels may speed up, not slow global warming: Study (By Mira Oberman, Yahoo News, 2/14/09)

Environment (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 2/14/09)

As Planet Warms, Bird Species Move North: Survey: Half of Bird Species Spend Winter Further North Than They Did 40 Years Ago (CBS News, 2/10/09)

Scientists plan emergency summit on climate change (By David Adam, The Guardian, 2/9/09)