MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (3/25/08) – The Institute on the Environment has awarded more than $20,000 in grants to student organizations across the University of Minnesota. The grants will support projects or activities in spring 2008 that promote sustainability and the environment.
The Institute sought proposals from official student organizations on all University of Minnesota campuses. The primary criteria for funding included project feasibility, innovation, reach, the quality of the project, and the potential impact in the community and/or on campus. (read the RFP)
“Our goal is to build on the important environmental work that many student groups are already engaged in,” said Elizabeth Wilson, an Institute on the Environment founding fellow and head of the review panel.
“After receiving such a great response to our first call for proposals, we’re now looking at ways the program might grow in the future to support research projects, travel grants and other campus sustainability initiatives.”
In total, the review panel selected six groups to receive the full amount requested, and provided partial funding to six additional groups. The projects will be featured on the Institute Web site and the awardees may be asked to present their final reports at an upcoming Institute-sponsored event.
The 12 grant awardees include:
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Active Energy Club for the Institute of Technology Energy Audits: The club will buy the equipment necessary to gather data on the energy usage of a typical University building, and use the results to promote more economic energy use.
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Cedar Humphrey Action for Neighborhood Collaborative Engagement (CHANCE) Center for Integrative Leadership for the Bluff Street Park Walking Tour and Dialogue: Participants can join a walking tour as well as a facilitated conversation to learn about efforts to preserve this space as a park.
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Council of Graduate Students Committee for the Promotion of Sustainability for travel to and accommodations during the 2008 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference in College Park, Md.
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Compassionate Action for Animals (CAA), EcoWatch and Minnesota Public Interest and Research Group (MPIRG) for the event, From Farm to Fork: The Environmental Impacts of Animal Agriculture
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Corporate Environmental Management (CEM) Network for the event, Workforce Development – Developing a Green Economy: A panel of speakers will discuss how the transition to a green economy has affected the desired skill sets of university graduates, through the eyes of industry.
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University of Minnesota, Duluth Earth Club for the Respect Your Mother Earth Day Festival: Now in its third year, this event includes music, vendors, artists and activities to celebrate and promote environmentalism in the local community.
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Engineers without Borders for Uganda Water Supply, Sanitation and Renewable Energy: This project aims to provide adequate, hygienic, locally sustainable rain water harvesting; ecological dry composting sanitation; and solar-powered energy supply for the Hope Integrated Academy in Mulobere, Uganda.
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Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Club for the Sarita Wetland re-vegetation: This project will include the planting of shrubs and other wetland plants.
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The University of Minnesota, Morris Gardening Club for an on-campus organic farm: The funding will go toward seeds, equipment and tiller rental.
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University of Minnesota, Crookston Horticulture Club for a Native Plant Demonstration Area: This hands-on learning opportunity will show students and the community how to implement sustainable practices by using native plants in landscaping.
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Minnesota Public Interest and Research Group (MPIRG), Biology Club and Organic Garden Club for a pilot composting project on the Morris campus
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Substance at UMN for an environmentally themed sustainable music festival and poetry slam
