Sept. 9, 2003

CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine (724) 738-4854; e-mail: gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC –

SRU TO SHARE ITS EXPERTISE IN ENVIRONMENT DURING FALL LECTURE SERIES

           SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – The mission of sustainability is supporting projects that are ecologically sound, economically viable and socially just – concepts Slippery Rock University excels at and will share with the public during a fall lecture series.

           The Sustainable Systems Seminar Series, free and open to the public, will feature a lecture on a different topic from noon to
 1:30 p.m. each Wednesday Sept. 10 through Dec. 3, in Room 130 of SRU’s Physical Therapy Building.

            A wide range of topics will include wildlands recovery, ethics for a finite world, Pennsylvania bats, ecological health, campus greening, wartime atrocities, and science and the quest for cosmic purpose.

     “This seminar series is one of our ways to connect with others on our campus and in our community,” says Dr. Steven Doherty, assistant professor of parks and recreation/environmental education.  “Invited speakers include students involved in thesis research and campus greening projects, former students employed in community service and sustainable business, faculty members and professionals in public and private sector service.”

    Lectures are sponsored by SRU’s Institute for the Environment in the College of Health, Environment and Science. The schedule:

    Sept. 10:The Meadville Community Energy Project: A College/Community Collaboration Promoting Sustainable Energy Usage; speaker, Kathleen Greely, co-director, Meadville Community Energy Project, Allegheny College.

    Sept.  17Explaining Wartime Atrocities; speaker, George Brown, SRU associate professor government and public affairs. Lecture focuses on why atrocities occurred.

    Thursday, Sept. 18:Science and the Quest for Cosmic Purpose; John Haught, professor of theology at Georgetown University. Time, 12:30-1:30, Spotts World Culture Building auditorium. Co-sponsored by SRU’s philosophy department.

    Sept. 24:Pennsylvania Bats, The Role of Artificial Roosts, and a Look at the Endangered Indiana Bat. Speaker, Cal Butchkoski, wildlife biologist, Pennsylvania Game Commission.

    Oct. 1:Wildlands Recovery and Sustainable Forest Uses: Contradictory or Complementary Goals?peakers, Dave Bonta and Jennifer Chesworth, Pennsylvania Wildlands Recovery Project.

 Oct.  8:Local Agriculture as National Defense: The Cuban Experience --Speaker, Brian Snyder, executive director, Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture.

Oct. 15:Green Practices at Carnegie Mellon; --Speaker, Barb Kvitz, environmental coordinator, Carnegie Mellon University.

 Oct. 22:The Environmental Principle: Ethics for a Finite WorldSpeaker, Herschel Elliott, emeritus professor of philosophy, University of Florida.

 Oct. 29:The Pennsylvania State Forest Resource Management Plan

Speaker, Shawn Lehman, forest program specialist, resource inventory and analysis section, Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry.

 Nov. 5:Sustainable Forestry Practices: Benefits to the Future of Forest Resources -- Speaker, Kenneth Manno, program manager, Sustainable Forestry Initiative of Pennsylvania.

 Nov. 12:Sustainable Progress Indicators for Slippery Rock UniversitySpeaker,  Joanne Harman, master of sustainability graduate student at SRU.

 Nov. 19:Biomonitoring for Watershed Assessment: Fundamentals of EPA's Rapid Bioassessment Protocols and an Acid Mine Drainage Impact Case Study -- Speaker, Mike McCafferty, SRU parks and resource management graduate student;Dr. Robert Hedin, president, Hedin Environmental, Pittsburgh.

 Dec. 3:Design Graphics and Problem Solving: Student Presentations -- Speaker, SRU’s Chris Leininger, instructor, parks and recreation/environmental education