OCT. 15, SAN RAFAEL, CA - On October 15th, CSSC partnered with AASHE and Second Nature to produce a one-day pre-conference intensive on sustainability in higher education in conjunction with Bioneers, the largest environmental and social justice conference in the US. Approximately 75 students, educators, community members, and campus staff were present, sharing in powerful discussions about how to raise the bar on sustainability at our campuses, and really prepare our campuses and society for the coming climate changes we will surely see in the next few decades.
A major theme that emerged throughout the day was the importance of project-based learning, in which students can actually get course credit for solving the problems at the same time as they are studying them (like our Education for Sustainable Living Program). Another key theme included the need to engage faculty to incorporate sustainability into all course curricula, so that no student graduates from college without a holistic understanding of the human and planetary challenges facing our generation.
The remainder of the Bioneers conference also proved to be incredibly inspiring (as usual), with remarks from the likes of Michael Pollan, Jim Garrison, Joanna Macy, and Annie Leonard, among many others.
Over the course of two days, I myself had the distinct honor of participating in panels with some of the most amazing leaders in this field, including David Orr of Oberlin College; Tony Cortese, one of the originators of the Talloires Declaration; Julian Keniry of the National Wildlife Federation; and Kenny Ausubel, one of the founders of Bioneers.
This was a major opportunity for CSSC and has strengthened many existing relationships with some of our students, partners, and mentors, as well as brought us into contact with many new ones.
Bioneers is by far one of the best conferences I have ever been to, and has become the place where I go to replenish my soul and fuel my passion. Bioneers is one of the few conferences - possibly the only conference - that truly encompasses the full breadth of the challenges we are facing, addressing the personal and the political, the environment and social justice, indigenous wisdom and emerging technologies. It is brilliant and I hope you will all join me there next year.
