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Awards ceremonies haven’t been fully the identical for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, however OU has nonetheless discovered methods to acknowledge its college students, employees and group members.
The Sustainability Awards are offered yearly to acknowledge those that have been nominated due to their contributions to a sustainable group.
Sam Crowl, affiliate director of the Ohio College Workplace of Sustainability, has labored on the awards since its starting. He mentioned the awards had been the brain-child of the previous director of sustainability, Annie Laurie Cadmus.
“She realized that recognition for folks on our campus who do great issues for sustainability but hardly ever if ever get observed was long-overdue,” Crowl mentioned. “She began this award program to guarantee that folks knew about our school and the issues they had been doing with sustainability analysis.”
The awards this 12 months are open to a number of totally different teams, together with school members and college students of the Workplace of Sustainability, employees all through the college, departments and Athens space members. These chosen by the judging board will likely be introduced because the winners by a particular message from OU President Duane Nellis on Earth Day.
Though the award does look for individuals who are persevering with sustainable motion of their on a regular basis life, Crowl says that sustainability at OU isn’t simply concerning the atmosphere.
“The true educational, Ohio College definition of sustainability isn’t just concerning the atmosphere, it’s additionally concerning the folks,” Crowl mentioned. “We don’t wish to simply save the world after which not save society or not assist society. Individuals are simply as essential because the atmosphere.”
College students and employees alike who’ve been nominated for the award or have received have mentioned they really feel that the award is affirmation that their work is performing some actual good and making a change.
“I feel it’s actually useful as a result of I feel it encourages folks to maintain doing the work that they’re doing,” Allison Shryock, a senior learning geography and environmental research, mentioned. “I do know that a few of my small-work tasks don’t essentially get observed, however I personally know that they’re making a distinction. It’s good to get that reinforcement that the work you’re doing is essential and that individuals are noticing it.”
Man Riefler, a professor of civil engineering, and John Sabraw, a professor of artwork, won the faculty award in 2020 for his or her work creating paints from acid mine drainage.
“Round right here, acid mine drainage is a major downside,” Riefler mentioned. “It’s one thing that’s not likely being addressed as a result of there’s not some huge cash for it. We stay in a area that doesn’t have lots of political clout, so nobody actually cares that our streams are polluted.”
Since successful the award, Riefler mentioned he has been capable of attempt for extra funding for his and Professor Sabraw’s mission.
“I’m very appreciative to the college and to the sustainability workplace for having the award and for elevating consciousness on the college by the award,” Riefler mentioned.
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