From Oct. 7-13, NC State celebrated Sustainability Week, dedicated to learning about sustainability and how NC State is taking action to be sustainable.
The week is dedicated to raising awareness on how to become more sustainable and activities involving sustainability around campus. Sustainably is characterized as balanced, ethical solutions that are economically viable, environmentally sound and socially just so as to positively affect later generations to come, according to Carla Davis, communications coordinator for the NC State University Sustainability Office.
NC State celebrates Sustainability Week every year in October, in addition to Earth Day that takes place April 22.
“For many years, NC State has celebrated Earth Month in April to coincide with Earth Day and raise awareness about sustainability in general, as well as sustainability on campus, but Earth Day was just so late in the year, we decided to start Sustainability Week,” Davis said.
NC State, being an agriculture-intensive school, with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences being one of the largest of the 12 colleges, offers many classes and majors that incorporate environmental science and sustainability.
Athletic events helped kick off and end the week. Volleyball held a Sustainability Night on Oct. 8 and men’s soccer held their Sustainability Night on Friday.
Learning opportunities to gain information and knowledge about sustainability were available through workshops and lectures held throughout the week. Activities included a lecture about Yellowstone National Park’s natural resilience and a workshop on using hands-on techniques to create sustainable technologies.
Lunch and Learns provided students the opportunity to eat lunch with sustainability professionals and learn about living sustainably and making a career in the field of sustainability, while the Sustainability Fair featured booths from more than a dozen sustainability-related student organizations.
Students across campus appreciated NC State’s work to address sustainability, including Hanna Derboghosian, a first-year resident in the EcoVillage studying criminology.
“I enjoyed Sustainability Week and the events that happened because I think sustainability is important and needs to be addressed everywhere,” Derboghosian said. “I am glad NC State dedicated a whole week to sustainability and think we are moving in a good direction.”
The EcoVillage is a sustainability-focused Living and Learning Community within University Housing.
“Living in the EcoVillage means we have to attend a certain amount of meetings, create programs for State that reflect the environment, and do activities and seminars,” Derboghosian said.
NC State is continuing to integrate sustainability into campus life and working towards a sustainable future.
“As NC State integrates sustainability in its operations, academics and research, the university aims to improve efficiency and stewardship while also developing leaders and innovations for a more sustainable future,” Davis said.
