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Poster Session Submissions

PERC Fall Conference 

October 29th, 2013 

PDF of this list here

(Click project's title to view a PDF of poster)


    • Title of Project: Hyper-Local Food Production and On-Campus Foodscaping
      • Conference attendee: Kerstin Martin
      • Brief description: Allegheny demonstrates environmental sustainability and green design through small scale food production. Located on campus, the Carr Hall Garden produces organically grown fruits and vegetables, which are delivered to the dining hall, 500 feet away. One mile away, an industrial composter processes scraps from the dining halls into fertilizer, which is then applied back onto the beds. This closed-loop system minimizes transportation and waste, and provides fresh produce to the dining halls. Allegheny uses other edible landscaping, such as blueberry bushes in replacement of ornamental shrubs, and hops, which grow up the vertical space of walls and building pillars.
      • Names of all contributors: William Chappel, Brittany Iafrate, Kerstin Martin, Alex Rice, Rachel Wang
      • Contact information: Kerstin Martin, Carr Hall Garden Manager, 814-332-2787, kmartin@allegheny.edu
    • Title of project: Food for Sustainability
      • Conference attendee: Samantha Laurence
      • Brief description: The goal of the Food for Sustainability project at Allegheny College is to increase public understanding of sustainable systems by promoting sustainable values, attitudes, and practices.  The integration of food production into campus operations along with faculty-student research and service-learning opportunities has supported a whole-systems approach to achieving campus sustainability.  The benefits of this approach include increasing interactions and partnerships across the campus and local community that support real-time problem solving.
      • Names of all contributors: Samantha Laurence; Thomas Eatmon, PhD
      • Contact information: Samantha Laurence, laurences@allegheny.edu 
  • Cabrini College
    • Title of Project: Sustainability and Values at a Small Catholic College
      • Conference attendee: Dr. Eric Malm
      • Brief description: As a small, tuition-driven institution Cabrini strives to deliver affordable values-based education. By focusing on the Triple Bottom Line (monetary, social, and environmental concerns) we have made significant reductions in energy use and many improvements to the sustainability of our campus. In addition, the Green Team has brought together faculty, students, and staff from across the college to work on further improvements of campus sustainability; approval of academic programs linked to sustainability; and education of students, alumni and local community about sustainability efforts. These efforts have been tied to the college’s mission through the signing of the St. Francis Pledge.
      • Names of all contributors: Dr. Caroline Nielsen, Biology Department; Mr. Robert Iodice, Facilities; Mr. Howard Holden, Facilities; Dr. Eric Malm, Business Department
      • Contact information: Bob Iodice, bi722@cabrini.edu / Eric Malm, eric.malm@cabrini.edu
  • Dickinson College
    • Title of project: Solar Charging Station
      • Conference attendee: Justin McCarty
      • Brief description: The proposed solar charging station was thought up around the idea of creating a connection for community members between solar panels converting solar radiation to electricity and then the utilization of that renewable non-carbon source of energy. For this reason the station will be placed in a highly trafficked plaza on Dickinson College’s campus, along with seating and a table area for use while being plugged into the array. The array will also offer the benefit of a 840W grid-tied solar array, adding renewable electricity to the grid and providing a payback for the College.
      • Names of all contributors: Justin McCarty, Tyce Herrman, Anna McGinn
      • Contact information: Justin McCarty, mccartyj@dickinson.edu , 330-770-8674
    • Title of project: Dickinson College Biodiesel
      • Conference attendee: Yuzhi Xi
      • Brief description: The Dickinson College Biodiesel Program is a student-managed production operation that creates educational opportunities for the community and provides the College with a sustainable, alternative fuel source. The current biodiesel plant was built by a former Dickinson student during his senior year. Waste vegetable oil from the college dining service and community members is collected and used to produce biodiesel by primarily base transesterification method. The college farm’s tractors run on the biodiesel produced by the shop. A co-product of biodiesel production, glycerin, is used to make soap. Besides daily maintenance and production, students are also working on individual projects to improve the overall performance of the shop.
      • Names of all contributors:  Louisa McIver, Yuzhi Xi, Justin McCarty, Hattie Cowles, Anna McGinn
      • Contact information: Yuzhi Xi,  xiy@dickinson.edu, 717-713-5490
    • Title of project: Biking @ Dickinson
      • Conference attendee: Jack Marcus
      • Brief description: The Biking @ Dickinson initiative plays an important role in sustainability at Dickinson by promoting sustainable transportation, building community, and providing biking education to the campus. Biking @ Dickinson has a few initiatives that have seen much success recently. The Handlebar is an on-campus teaching bike repair shop, which was founded by students and is run by students. The Green Bike program is a semester long rental program for students in need of a bike. The Red Bike program is a daily rental service for students in need of a short-term bike loan.
      • Names of all contributors: Mariah Murphy, Anna McGinn
      • Contact information: Mariah Murphy, murphmar@dickinson.edu , 412-302-9267
    • Title of project: Eco-Reps at Dickinson
      • Conference attendee: Anna McGinn
      • Brief description: The EcoReps program strives to create a community of leaders in sustainability, who in turn work to empower students to make sustainable change in their lives and in their communities through peer education, programming, and outreach. The Dickinson EcoReps program is focused predominately in the residence halls where they act as a connection between the residents and sustainability initiatives on campus. They upkeep composting and plastic bag recycling in their assigned residence halls, maintain a blog, and host events. During meetings EcoReps attend workshops and lectures designed to inform them of sustainability initiatives on campus and build marketable skills.
      • Names of all contributors: Christine Burns, Anna McGinn
      • Contact information: Christine Burns, burnsch@dickinson.edu , 215-435-3757
    • Title of project: Estimating the Impact and Correlates of College Employee Commuting
      • Conference attendee: Dr.  Andy Skelton
      • Brief description: We conducted telephone and online surveys of a representative sample of Dickinson employees (N=239). The purpose was to obtain data about (1) the proportion of employees who use various modes for commuting, (2) the CO2 output of commuter vehicles, and (3) willingness to modify commuting habits. 85% of respondents drove to work during the preceding five workdays, including half who live within 1 mi of campus. More than one-third drive vehicles that get < 20 MPG. The mean annual CO2 output of employee-owned vehicles was 6.9 T (US) per vehicle. Our data are useful for estimating Dickinson’s commuter carbon footprint.
      • Names of all contributors: Michael Fogler, Bailey Kirkpatrick, Claire Preble, J.A. Skelton
      • Contact information: J.A. Skelton, Ph.D. skelton@dickinson.edu , 717-245-1309
  • EPA and Philadelphia University
    • Title of project: Creating An Economics of Goodness: From Islands to Archipelagos            (part 1 & part 2) http://www.pagreencolleges.org/Resources/Documents/EPA%20-%20Creating%20An%20Economics%20of%20Goodness%20(part%201).pdf
      • Conference attendee: This poster will not be presented at the conference
      • Brief description: The University City District(UCD) is a small neighborhood in Philadelphia. But it disposes of about 1,750,000 pounds of wholesome food every month. Most of this goes to the landfill, some down garbage disposals while precious little reaches the plates of food insecure people or is transformed locally into soil.  Yet, while numerous volunteers are hard at work to reduce food waste, they tend to function as though they are alone. This poster describes a UCD project to unite these community organizations, churches, colleges and university groups together on a common mission to divert food from landfills.
      • Names of all contributors: Thomas O’Donnell, PhD
      • Contact information for lead author: odonnell.tom@epa.gov; odonnellt@philau.edu; 215-814-2874, 215-704-2087(c)
  • Franklin & Marshall College
    • Title of project: The Sustainable Diplomats!
      • Conference attendee: Nora Theodore
      • Brief description: We will be showcasing a poster which highlights the college’s sustainability efforts in the areas of waste reduction (no more water bottles, composting), local foods, activism, green energy, building policy, and much more!
      • Names of all contributors:Nora Theodore, Kevin Dean, Sarah Dawson
      • Contact information: Nora Theodore, 207-720-0875, ntheodor@fandm.edu
  • Lycoming College
    • Title of project: Lycoming College Sustainability Committee Campus Initiatives
      • Conference attendee:Samantha Hewitt
      • Brief description: A summary of campus sustainability initiatives, with reference to future plans. 
      • Names of all contributors:Samantha Hewitt, Emily Vebrosky, Lynette Dooley, Chelsea Brewer, Ryan Adams and Melvin Zimmerman
      • Contact information: Dr. Ryan Adams, adamsr@lycoming.edu
    • Title of project: Lycoming College Sustainability Committee Food Initiatives
      • Conference attendee:Emily Vebrosky
      • Brief description: A summary of campus sustainability initiatives related to food, with reference to future plans.
      • Names of all contributors:Emily Vebrosky, Samantha Hewitt, Lynette Dooley, Chelsea Brewer, Ryan Adams and Melvin Zimmerman
      • Contact information: Dr. Ryan Adams, adamsr@lycoming.edu
  • Mercyhurst University
    • Title of project: Fresh Face Forward
      • Conference attendee: Brittany Prischak
      • Brief Description: The organizational leadership/sustainability studies graduate program at Mercyhurst University has partnered with Pennsylvania Sea Grant to launch Fresh Face Forward, a yearlong social change campaign to raise awareness on campus about toxic chemicals that can be found in many cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs) and the effects they have both on the health of people, but also the environment. The campaign was designed by students taking Organizational Leadership – Environmental Community during Spring 2013 and will be launch this fall.
      • Names of all contributors: Elissa Reitz, Alyssa Littin, Amanda Martin, Leann Krysiak, Javi Cubillos, Brittany Prischak, Courtney Olevnik, Valentina Carillo, Anne Zaphiris (faculty), Anna McCartney (PA Sea Grant), and Marti Martz (PA Sea Grant)
      • Contact information: Brittany Prischak, bprischak@mercyhurst.edu, 814-824-3829
  • Messiah College
    • Title of project: Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Sustainable Innovation: A Biodiesel Case Study
      • Conference attendee: Bethany Bender and Andrew Gates
      • Brief description: The office of Sustainability at Messiah College is seeking to catalog the greenhouse gas emissions that the college produces in the form of transportation, heating and cooling, electricity, and international travel. The student-run biodiesel program here uses a closed carbon cycle to fuel on-campus vehicles and heat campus buildings. The emissions created by fueling and heating applications are offset by the sunflower plants used in oil production, which in turn is the main reactant in creation of biodiesel, thus completing the carbon cycle. This system serves as an example for innovative systems on campus. Systems such as these portray innovative reasoning in college operations.
      • Names of all contributors: Bethany Bender, Andrew Gates
      • Contact information: Bethany Bender, bb1286@messiah.edu , 814-442-7861
    • Title of project: Waste Diversion and Creative Composting
      • Conference attendee: This poster will not be presented at the conference
      • Brief description: Here at Messiah we are working to emphasize the fact that waste equals food for another system. Because of that we are focusing on our internal composting efforts by collecting pre and post-consumer waste in our dining facilities. We are also developing a program for selling compost to offset the cost of switching from foam to compostable to-go containers.
      • Names of all contributors: Andrea McIntosh
      • Contact information: Andrea McIntosh, am1493@messiah.edu, 717-418-3814 
  • Millersville University
    • Title of Project: It Takes a ‘Ville-age to Live Sustainably: Millersville University’s Center for Sustainability
      • Conference attendee: Dr. Nadine Garner
      • Brief Description: The poster highlights the ongoing work of Millersville University’s Center for Sustainability. Featured will be initiatives that educate MU about all 3 pillars of sustainability (environmental protection, social justice, and economic equity). Thousands of students have participated in the campus’ TerraCycle program entitled, “It Takes a ‘Ville-age to Save a Child.” Money generated from upcycling common household waste saves a child’s life, when MU provides cleft lip and palate surgeries through the SmileTrain. The poster will also highlight the ‘Ville-age Garden, an organic campus garden that teaches students to grow their own food and donate to the campus food bank.
      • Names of all contributors: Dr. Nadine Garner and Julia Dunn
      • Contact information: Dr. Nadine Garner, nadine.garner@millersville.edu , 717-872-3097
  • Pennsylvania State University
    • Title of project: Green Paws Program
      • Conference attendee: Lydia Vandenbergh
      • Brief Description: Our program is designed to answer the question, “What can I do to be more sustainable?” The Green Paws Certificate Program engages faculty in a self-guided checklist to “green their office space”. Our dissatisfaction is that our program does not answer the question of “why is this important?” and, “what is the impact our actions have?” Therefore, we have piloted two online platforms that answer these questions. Our poster will highlight what we have learned from them to progress to innovating our program to be as effective as possible.
      • Names of all contributors: Lydia Vandenbergh, Katie Tartaglia, Jill Zankowski
      • Contact information: Lydia Vandenbergh, 814-863-4893, lbv10@psu.edu
  • Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
    • Title of project: Rain Garden
      • Conference attendee:Taylor Minkus
      • Brief description: Two Rain Gardens were planted on the Behrend campus this summer as part of a Growing greener grant. One garden is in the open while the other is between buildings. The gardens are also pollinator gardens and butterfly gardens. They are best management practices (BMPs) for storm water. Future research can be to assess water quality after a storm event from water that percolated through the rain garden.
      • Names of all contributors: Taylor Minkus (student) Ann Quinn (faculty)
      • Contact information: Taylor Minkus, tam5362@psu.edu    
    • Title of project: Penn State Behrend Energy Management Team
      • Conference attendee: Kerri Mild and Alexandra Sorce
      • Brief description: Behrend is continuing to decrease our carbon footprint. This year the PSB Energy Management Team would like to monitor Dobbins Dining hall October 14th- October 28th to see how much energy can be conserved. By using last year’s meter readings, we will be able to see how this October compares to last October’s Energy and Water statistics. Our plan is to create advertisements that will describe how students can make a difference in eliminating waste and conserving energy/water. Additionally we would like to implement minor changes during this two week period to see if it would affect overall energy/water consumption.
      • Names of all contributors: Paul Lukasik (student) Ann Quinn (faculty)
      • Contact information: Paul Lukasik, pdlukasik@gmail.com 
  • Shippensburg University
    • Title of Project: Integrating Campus Sustainability, Undergraduate Research, and Helping Community Members in Need with a Campus Farm.
      • Conference attendee: Heather Sahli
      • Brief description: A group of faculty, students, and staff at Shippensburg University started a campus organic farm in Fall 2012. Students from a variety of courses have participated in sustainable agriculture at the farm through class research projects, independent student research projects, and service learning activities. All food grown on the campus farm is donated to the local Shippensburg Produce Outreach, providing community members in need with fresh, local, organic produce, or is sold to the campus Dining Services, increasing campus sustainability. The start-up of the campus farm and details on projects taking place at the farm will be discussed.
      • Names of all contributors:Heather Sahli, Julia Russell, Julia Saintz, Brian Schilling, Sarah Komisar, Lindsey Wayland, and Joshua Levitsky
      • Contact information:Heather Sahli, hfsahli@ship.edu 
    • Title of Project: Earth Day Celebration Progress
      • Conference attendee: Sarah Komisar
      • Brief description: Shippensburg University Environmental Club hosts an Earth Day Celebration annually. This celebration has more than doubled the in number of participating on-campus groups since 2010. It has also brought in a variety of community organizations to showcase environmental initiatives taking place throughout the state. The Earth Day Celebration is a great example of an event that a university of any size is able to accomplish.
      • Names of all contributors: Sarah Komisar
      • Contact information: Sarah Komisar, sk0454@ship.edu , 814-592-1235
  • Susquehanna University
    • Title of project:Participating in the EcoChallenge as a Means of Boosting Sustainability at SU
      • Conference attendees: Brian Zuidervliet/ Eric Lassahn
      • Brief description: The Northwest Earth Institute's EcoChallenge inspires and challenges people to change one habit for the planet. Susquehanna University has entered a team in the EcoChallenge for the third year in a row. Participation in the EcoChallenge is promoted by our Center for Civic engagement because we believe the event is a great way for students, staff, and faculty to reflect upon and hopefully reduce their carbon footprints. The EcoChallenge is ideal for a college campus because it is run from an online platform, is interactive, meets participants where they are, and runs for short time. For more information, please visit: http://www.ecochallenge.org/register_to_participate/430/3303
      • Names of all contributors: Brian Zuidervliet, Chelsea Gowton, Andrew Budsock, Danny Palmer, & Eric Lassahn
      • Contact information: Brian Zuidervliet, zuidervlietb@susqu.edu  / Eric Lassahn, lassahn@susqu.edu
    • Title of Project: SU Campus Garden
      • Conference attendee: Danielle Palmer
      • Brief Description: The Garden strives to create a community on campus devoted to the production of organically-grown, nutritious, local food; while providing opportunities for experiential learning, service, and community outreach. We also use this community and our products as a means to create a partnership with the residents and organizations of Snyder county. Through these objectives we hope to not only create an environment focused on healthy food systems, but also to support the three pillars of Susquehanna University; Achievement, Leadership, and Service.
      • Names of all contributors:Danielle Palmer, Chelsea Gowton, Dr. Alissa Packer, Carla Hine
      • Contact information: Danielle Palmer, palmerd@susqu.edu , 541-868-4784

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