Sustainability expert to discuss local goalsNov. 3, 2009 KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University is bringing an international expert on sustainability to campus Nov. 12-13 to speak at two public presentations about measuring the progress of sustainability projects in the community. Maureen Hart, owner of Sustainable Measures in West Hartford, Conn., will discuss the area's vision for the future and the role of projects to track progress to reach theses goals. She will speak at a public lecture, "Community Sustainability Projects: History and Progress," at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in Brown Auditorium of Schneider Hall. A reception will follow the speech. Friday, Nov. 13, Hart will conduct a free, open workshop, "Developing a Citywide Community Sustainability Indicators Project," from 8 a.m. to noon in Room 1040 of the Fetzer Center. A complimentary breakfast will be served. Maureen Hart is the author of the "Guide to Sustainable Community Indicators" and a Web site on measuring sustainability, www.sustainablemeasures.com. The guide and Web site are widely used by organizations and communities working to understand and measure progress toward sustainability. She co-founded and directed the International Sustainability Indicators Network, a non-profit network of sustainability indicator practitioners and experts, and is widely sought as a consultant. She has worked on sustainability issues with communities; non-profit organizations; foundations; businesses; federal, state, regional, and local governments, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Interagency Working Group on Sustainable Development Indicators, and numerous state and local environmental agencies. Hart earned a master's degree from Tufts University and a bachelor's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Event co-sponsors include the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Southwest Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, WMU Office of the President, Office of the Vice President of Business and Finance, Environmental Studies Program, Western Student Association and Students For A Sustainable Earth, School of Public Affairs and Administration, Office of Faculty Development and the I.D.E.A. Association. For more information, visit sustainablemeasures.com or contact Samantha Cooper at samantha.l.cooper@wmich.edu or (810) 923-5956. Media contact: Deanne Puca, (269) 387-8400, deanne.puca@wmich.edu WMU News |
