November 2024
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Register for Spring SUS Courses
At Weber State University, sustainability is woven into the fabric of a wide range of academic disciplines. Whether you're studying English, economics, geology, psychology, education, or beyond, there’s a course for you that incorporates sustainability themes. Sustainability concepts, issues and/or challenges, which relate to the interconnected environmental and socio-economic realms, are integrated into the learning outcomes of SUS-attributed courses, helping students understand how course material connects to broader global and environmental issues.
To explore these courses, simply use the advanced search options in the registration portal and look for the SUS attribute. It’s a great way to engage with sustainability across various fields of study and gain a deeper understanding of how these important topics relate to your academic interests. A full list of SUS courses, with descriptions, for Spring 2025 is also available here.
Feasting for the Future: A Plant-Based Thanksgiving That Nourishes the Body and the Planet!
Celebrating Thanksgiving with a plant-based diet not only enhances the health benefits of this traditionally indulgent feast but also sparks important conversations about the environment. Adopting a plant-based approach offers several key health advantages, such as increased fiber intake, reduced saturated fat from meat-based dishes, and improved heart health. Additionally, it can lower overall calorie consumption while boosting the intake of antioxidants and vitamins from fruits and vegetables.
Thanksgiving can significantly contribute to carbon emissions. With over half of Americans participating in this tradition, it’s estimated that approximately 103 pounds of CO2 are emitted per household. By incorporating more plant-based foods into the holiday spread, families can help reduce their environmental impact while still honoring cherished traditions.
The goal is to introduce plant-based options that promote a healthier diet and a smaller carbon footprint without sacrificing our traditional Thanksgiving dishes. By making these simple changes, families can enjoy the feast while contributing to a more sustainable future.
Zero Waste Lunch and Learn
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Weber State University is committed to reaching its zero waste goals by diverting 50% of waste from the landfill by 2030 and over 90% by 2040, and is working toward this through composting, reducing food waste, reusing items, and recycling. Currently, WSU’s waste diversion rate is 25%. Help is needed from every member of the campus community to reach 50% within the next six years.
The Energy and Sustainability Office at Weber State University recently hosted a Zero Waste Lunch and Learn event, offering students, staff, and faculty an opportunity to explore the university’s recycling and waste reduction programs. These informative sessions provided participants with insights into the recycling processes at WSU and guidance on where to find designated recycling bins across campus, making it easier to contribute to waste diversion efforts.
The Zero Waste Lunch and Learn is designed to highlight WSU’s commitment to environmental sustainability, showcasing the university’s leadership in waste reduction initiatives. The event also provided an opportunity for social engagement, allowing attendees to connect with others while deepening their understanding of waste’s environmental impact.
Looking to reduce your waste footprint or simply learn more about WSU’s sustainability efforts? You can learn more, and earn a Zero Waste Badge through WSU’s Green Badge program.
Hurst Artist in Residence, Alice Boyd
Alice Boyd is a British composer, sound artist and audio producer. Her work primarily explores our interconnectedness with the natural world, often using the voice, ambient electronic textures and novel field recording techniques to unveil the hidden sounds of our environments. Boyd will be on the main Ogden campus November 18-22, as a Hurst Artist in Residence, leading sound recording field workshops, composing original music inspired by the Wasatch Front, and sharing a compilation of what she records during her residency. She’ll share the outcomes of her visit on November 22 at the event: "Listening to Lakes and Mountains: A Multidisciplinary Concert of Utah's Found Sounds"
Date/Time: Friday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Location: WSU, Val A. Browning Center, Allred Theatre
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All are welcome to attend this free event!
Seeding Change: The Power of Conscious Commerce
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November Sustainability Film!
This month join SPARC for a screening of Seeding Change: The Power of Conscious Commerce.
Date/Time: Thursday, November 21, noon - 1:15 p.m.
Location: Shepherd Union, Wildcat Theater (room 208)
The film examines businesses that consider the social, environmental and financial impacts of their companies and addresses some of today’s most challenging issues. It empowers viewers to think before they buy.
The 50-minute film will be followed by a discussion about practices that can help you and WSU move closer towards our zero waste goals.
The film complements this month’s WSU Green Badge theme of “Zero Waste.” The event is open to all and includes free popcorn!
A Creative Exploration of Poetry and Printmaking
This semester WSU students enrolled in cross-listed and sustainability-attributed English and printmaking courses, under the instruction of faculty Laura Stott and Andrew Rice, have been immersed in exciting and innovative printmaking projects. In one project, students created zines, featuring a unique collaboration between poetry and visual art. Students wrote 6-word poems, and paired them with an original image for the zine’s 8-page spread. The poems were carved into a single linoleum block, and the text was printed as a relief print. After the ink dried, the paper was carefully folded into small, hand-crafted books, showcasing the students' creative expressions.
Another captivating project merges the traditional art of cyanotype printing (a photographic printing process that creates rich, deep-blue images) with modern digital techniques. For this project, students wrote poems, used Photoshop or Illustrator to digitally manipulate the text before transferring it onto woodblocks with a laser engraver. These laser-engraved blocks were used to create intricate relief prints, combined with the cyanotype. The result is a series of striking, one-of-a-kind artworks that blend poetry, technology, and printmaking.
Together, these projects offer a glimpse into the diverse ways our students are exploring the intersection of language, visual art and sustainability.
Share Your Vision - Ogden's Growth Scenarios Survey
You are invited to participate in envisioning Ogden’s future. Plan Ogden is a visionary policy document shaped by input from our community. Those who live, work or play in Ogden are invited to review the City’s growth scenarios in the Visions Scenario Online Workshop, and share input on a questionnaire.
The new Plan aims to make sure the policies and programs can handle the changes that come with growth, all while supporting the City's goals. It addresses various aspects of Ogden’s future, such as growth and economic development, how land is used and developed, planning for important infrastructure and facilities, creating green spaces, and working with surrounding areas.
Help shape Ogden’s future here today!
Green Badge Program Update
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Participate in the Green Badge Program and start earning your badges today! November’s Green Badge is “Zero Waste.” Learn how to integrate the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle into your daily life.
Results from last month's Green Badge: 11 people earned October’s “Social Sustainability” Badge. Way to go!
Does Your Department Have a Green Team?
Form a Green Team today! The Green Department Program empowers faculty and staff to explore strategies for enhancing sustainability within their departments or offices. Green Teams collaborate to earn points and recognition by implementing changes and completing tasks outlined in a Green Team checklist. Stay tuned for the upcoming Version 4.0!
Upcoming Events & Important Dates
Community Input for Plan Ogden
Share your vision and ideas for Ogden's future
Visit Plan-Ogden.com to take the questionnaire regarding Ogden's General Plan for 2050
Food Recoveries
Shepherd Union, Einstein Bros
Tuesdays and Thursdays
12:00 – 1:15 p.m.
More Info
Organizing Your Digital Footprint: For Impactful Professional Personal Brand Identity
Shepherd Union, Room 316
Monday, November 18
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
See Events Calendar
Sustainability Screenings Series
Shepherd Union, Wildcat Theater
Thursday, November 21
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
See Events Calendar
Native Symposium Film Screening: Rez Metal (A compelling story of the heavy metal scene on Navajo reservations)
Stewart Library, Hetzel-Hoellein Room
Thursday, November 21
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
See Events Calendar
Zero Waste-Athletics-Football
Stewart Stadium
Saturday, November 23
1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sign-Up Here
ONC's Wellness Through Nature Series
Ogden Nature Center
September – December
Learn more here
News & Resources
No Matter Who Wins, The Real Work of Sustainability Will Continue - Reasons to be Cheerful
How Bad Are Gas Stoves for My Health? | The New York Times
Hundreds of Volunteers Help Restore Site of Bear River Massacre | Utah Public Radio
CEO of Exxon Mobil urges next administration not to pull out of Paris climate agreement | Fortune
Heat Pumps Were Supposed to Save the Planet. But They've Run Into a Bump
