Furman University
ER-T2-6: Sustainability Events

Furman is committed to providing sustainability programming and bringing high-profile speakers and events to advance awareness of sustainability on campus. In Spring 2011 and the 2011-2012 academic year, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation sponsored a sustainability speaker series, including: - Dr. Robert Bullard, Ware Professor of Sociology and Director of the Environmental Justice Resource Center at Clark Atlanta University, spoke about health, sustainable development, and justice issues. -A panel discussion, “A Water Ethic for South Carolina,” featuring newspaper and magazine journalist Dr. Cynthia Barnett; Furman Earth and Environmental Sciences professor Brannon Andersen; Chief Executive Officer of Greenville Water David Bereskin; Director of Operations at Renewable Water Resources Glen McManus; and Gene McCall, a Greenville attorney practicing water and environmental law. -Dr. Will Wilson, associate professor of biology at Duke University, who addressed the value of urban green space. -Dr. Kari Norgaard, associate professor of sociology and environmental studies at University of Oregon -Polar explorer Eric Larsen -Chef and author Martha Hall Foose, who spoke about her Southern cooking experiences and the importance of local food traditions. -Author and entrepreneur Diane MacEachern, founder of biggreenpurse.com, whose lecture focused on consumer purchasing power and its impact on the existence and success of sustainable production in the global market. -Mushroom researcher Tradd Cotter, whose presentation “Biological Allies for Humans” explored the uses of fungi and provided unique insights into the cultural understandings of the use of mushrooms in society. - Spelman College Environmental Sciences and Studies Post-Doctoral Fellow Dr. Shereitte Stokes, whose presentation “Air Quality is a Human Right” examined the sources of atmospheric pollution, the types of atmospheric pollutants, the socio-demographics of the 5 historically black colleges in Atlanta and the surrounding community, and the health of the population in this community. -Furman’s Shi Center for Sustainability and local magazine edible Upcountry co-hosted a workshop entitled “The Great Backyard Chicken Chat.” This workshop on backyard chicken keeping delved into the practical topics of breed, feed, and coop, but also the larger impacts of backyard chicken keeping on communities. During the workshop, participants gained an understanding of how chicken keeping fits into a local food economy, as well a further understanding of the benefits of chickens and eggs raised sustainably.