University News
2010 Environmental Summit
February 18, 2010
MACOMB, IL -- What exactly will a green economy look like?
That question and many others will be examined at Western Illinois University's Seventh Annual Environmental Summit Wednesday, April 7. The summit, which is open free to the public, will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in the University Union on the WIU-Macomb campus.
This year's theme is "Protecting the Planet While Creating a Green Economy," which focuses on the relationship between the environment and the economy in a way that is relevant to the residents of west-central Illinois, as well as to other rural and urban communities. The theme of the summit coincides with the 2009-2010 Universitywide theme "Dollars and Sense: Personal Finance to World Poverty."
Ron Sherga, a WIU biology and geology graduate, will present the keynote address at noon April 7 on the Macomb campus and at 7 p.m. at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA.
Sherga has been a leader in plastics recycling for 30 years in North America, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Having designed or managed 12 recycling facilities, as well as managed or owned facilities responsible for reusing two billion pounds of scrap plastics, he is an expert on improved recycling methods. Sherga is the owner of Sher-Results LLC, which assists companies and organizations with recycling and sustainability issues and processes. This includes materials reduction, alternate material usage, "upcycling" and helping to build a corporate culture that embraces the benefits of environmental stewardship.
Groups, individuals and businesses interested in hosting a theme-related display or presentation may register using the form at wiu.edu/sustainability/summit.
Sponsors for this year's summit include the University Sustainability Committee, University Theme Committee, Quad Cities Campus, Visiting Lectures Committee, Horn Field Campus, Physical Plant, Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs, Institute for Environmental Studies, Centennial Honors College, Purchasing Department, Colleges of Education and Human Services and Arts and Sciences, departments of recreation, park and tourism administration, sociology and management, Sodexo Campus Services, University Libraries and the Peace Corp Fellows Program. Community sponsors include Western Illinois Regional Council Community Action Agency, Pella Corporation and The Radish Magazine
Contact Mindy Pheiffer at (309) 833-5798 or MJ-Pheiffer@wiu.edu.
Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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