Sustainability

Sustainability is a complex and multifaceted issue that extends further than environment and climate. Today’s society is faced with challenges in all three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and environmental. According to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainability focuses on “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

Penn State Brandywine is committed to the goal of promoting and supporting sustainability. Brandywine is working to fulfill the University mission of incorporating sustainability into the campus landscape, classrooms, and architecture, as well as performing faculty and student research related to this area. To this date, the campus has organized environmental workshops, celebrated Earth Day each year, invited speakers to campus, implemented an Environmental Inquiry minor option, integrated sustainability into the LEED-certified residence hall and student union buildings, obtained a “pollinator-friendly” certification for the campus, collaborated with other institutions, shared student work on sustainability at the annual undergraduate research conference, designed an award-winning organic garden, among other activities. At Brandywine, there are a number of opportunities to learn, research, collaborate, and take action towards the issue of sustainability.

TEDxPSUBrandywine

Wednesday, November, 17, 2021   |  Student Union Building

Penn State Brandywine’s Civic & Community Engagement Club partnered with TEDx Countdown – a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis, turning ideas into action – to present TEDxPSUBrandywine on Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021, in the Student Union Building.

That evening, Penn State Brandywine faculty, staff and students spoke on climate change solutions through their lens of expertise. Brandywine students, faculty and staff members were encouraged and invited to attend! The event was also open to the public.

The featured speakers were:

• Mark Boudreau, Associate Teaching Professor of Biology
• Laura Guertin, Professor of Earth Sciences
• Lynn Hartle, Professor of Education
• Brisa Luzzi Castro, Second-Year Student, Global and International Studies
• David Macauley, Associate Professor of Philosophy & Environmental Studies
• Mary Frances McLaughlin, Reference Librarian, Vairo Library
• Margaret L. Signorella, Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies
• Julie V. Stanton, Professor of Business
• Vippy Yee, Rosenberg Director, Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement

The Civic & Community Engagement Club organized this event with support from Brandywine’s Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement, the Chancellor’s Commission on Sustainability and the Sustainovation Team.

The first 20 non-PSU registrants received a free copy of the book “All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis,” thanks to funding received by Brandywine’s Sustainovation Team from the Pepsi Challenge Mini-Grants in support of the Sustainable Communities Collaborative at Penn State.

Questions about TEDxPSUBrandywine should be directed to bw-engage@psu.edu.

To learn more about TEDx Countdown, visit countdown.ted.com.

Event Program

Listen to This!

From April through July 2020, we brought together members and friends of Penn State Brandywine, Tyler Arboretum, and the 500 Women Scientists Philly Pod. Every two weeks, this group listened to a selection of podcasts around a nature/sustainability theme and came together online for a virtual discussion with some guided questions.

This program, titled Listen To This!, allowed individuals that were required to remain physically distanced come together and form a new community.

The podcasts listening lists are still available for exploration, along with an expanded list of additional recommended episodes.

Topics:

• World Biomes
• Water
• Earth Day 2020
• Citizen Science
• World Bee Day
• Sustainable Gastronomy Day
• Flowers Across the Globe
• National Forest Week
• Making a Difference for Nature

Campus Programs

Climate Impact Teach-In. A full day of informational sessions, open to students, staff, and community members, designed to educate participants on climate science and how changes in climate impact people and the environment. 

Earth Day Celebration. Brandywine’s Sustainability Committee and Sustainovation Club annually celebrate Earth Day with outdoor activities and events. Earth Day is an international event occurring annually since 1970 devoted to understanding and appreciating our environments and the value of our natural resources. 

Earth Science Week Photo Contest. A week long photo contest designed to highlight the beauty and diversity of our planet. This event integrates Earth Science into the community while presenting technology as an extension of art and education. 

Thanksgiving Day Fixing Challenge. A friendly competition between student clubs and teams to raise the highest quantity of a selected Thanksgiving-related food item. The food items are later donated to the Media Food Bank. 

Tyler Arboretum. One of our leading community partners in the Sustainable Communities Collaborative. 

• Water Testing with Tyler
• Air Quality with Tyler 
• International Story Time with Tyler 

Uncanny Competition. A friendly innovative design competition where student or community teams create sustainability-themed structures made entirely from donated food items. The food items are later donated to the Media Food Bank. 

*Contact Dr. Laura Guertin for information/questions regarding Sustainability programs or activities. 

Key Faculty 

David Macauley, dmm53@psu.edu.

Julie Stanton, jvs11@psu.edu.

Karen Theveny, kct13@psu.edu.

Laura Guertin, uxg3@psu.edu. 

Mark Boudreau, mab90@psu.edu. 

Related Majors 

Biology 

Business 

Communications 

Clubs and Committees 

Center for Social Impact. The Center develops pathways for students to become active citizens and engage with their local communities. The Center holds events such as MLK Day of Celebration, Social Justice Fair, voter registration and awareness drives, and more. The Center also provides students with resources and outlets for volunteer and part-time work, engagement opportunities in the community and on campus, and more. Director: Vippy Yee

Community Engagement Club. This club is for any individuals who are inspired in giving back to the community through volunteer work. The club is meant to encourage students to serve humanity without financial reward, to develop a stronger understanding of humanitarian needs, and to promote the practice of good citizenship and right conduct. Club Contact: Naimah Dristi at ntd5131@psu.edu

Fair Trade Committee. Raising awareness of the Fair Trade Movement on campus and beyond. 

Sustainability Committee. A Brandywine committee of faculty dedicated to making a more sustainable campus. Chair: Dr. Mark Boudreau.

Sustainovation Team. This team strives to meet and maintain Penn State’s sustainability mission, which is to improve the well-being and health of individuals and communities through integrated programs of teaching, research and service. Brandywine’s Sustainovation Team plans to build upon established connections in the local community and develop sustainability-themed programs and activities that benefit students and the community as a whole.