Sustainability SeminarsWMRC Seminar Series on Sustainability
This will be a year-long series of seminars, usually one or two per month, presented by researchers, policy makers, and corporate executives on various topics related to Sustainability, Energy, and the Environment. This series will be an opportunity to share scientific research with peers in a relaxed, informal environment. Please feel free to bring a lunch. Seminars usually last about an hour and questions are welcome.
The seminars will be from 12:00 to 1:00 PM CST in the Stephen J. Warner conference room at the WMRC headquarters (directions). A link to a live video feed will be posted below approximately 15 minutes before the start of the seminar.
Upcoming Seminars
Energy Use History and Management Initiatives at the Urbana-Champaign Campus
May 5, 2008Terry Ruprecht, Director of Energy Management, UIUC
How Sustainable is Organic Agriculture?
May 14, 2008Daniel Anderson, UIUC Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Previous Seminars
Sustainability - Practical Approaches for Business and Universities
April 16, 2008
Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF.
Bill Blackburn, William Blackburn Consulting, Ltd.
Business Perspective on Sustainability Issues
March 27, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF.
Jenni Cawein, Manager of Corporate Environmental Health & Safety Engineering, Baxter Healthcare Corp.
Multi-Objective Decision Model for Urban Water Use: Planning for a Regional Water Reuse Ordinance
March 12, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF or PowerPoint.
Dr. Paul Anderson, Dept. of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology
Land Use and Sustainability
March 5, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation.
Dr. Brian Deal, Urban & Regional Planning
Feasibility of Composting Organic Residuals Generated at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign Campus
February 27, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF or PowerPoint.
Presented By: Dr. Leslie Cooperband, UI Dept. of Human & Community Development
The Business of Sustainable Development
February 19, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation.
Presented By: John Disharoon, Sustainable Development Manager, Caterpillar, Inc.
Abstract: The challenges and opportunities for Sustainable Development are endless. Caterpillar customers operate in industries—infrastructure development, mining, energy, forestry, transportation and others—that are at the heart of many of the world's sustainable development challenges. Every day, Caterpillar people look for opportunities to apply our expertise and technology to address these issues. We work to provide solutions that make our customers' businesses more viable. And we strive to make the intelligent choices that will allow both our company and our planet to prosper. Ultimately, we believe the sustainability of our world and the sustainability of our business are inseparable.
Megadisasters: Natural vs. Stealth
February 8, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Due to copyright issues, the PowerPoint presentation is not available for viewing.
Presented By: Dr. Susan Kieffer, Center for Advanced Studies, Professor of Geology and Physics
Abstract: Large-scale natural disasters--such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and floods--have occurred intermittently throughout geologic time. A unique new process is unfolding on Earth, one in which human activities are of the same, or greater scale, as natural geologic processes. Our activities, and the waste from these activities are leading to "stealth disasters", such as contamination and loss of soils and fresh water, pollution of the oceans and atmosphere, and ecosystem destruction. Unlike most natural disasters, the onset of stealth disasters is gradual, but the consequences can be relatively immediate. I will review some mega-scale processes and their effects in the past, and compare present conditions and possible outcomes. We must always live with and adapt to the inexorable course of natural disasters because we can't control the course of these events, but we have the potential to change the course of stealth disasters.
Emerging Contaminants in the Environment
January 30, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF or PowerPoint.
Presented By: Jennifer Davis, Illinois Dept. of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health
Water Quantity and Sustainability of the Mahomet Aquifer
January 16, 2008 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF or PowerPoint.
Presented By: Dr. Al Wehrmann, ISWS
Abstract: The Mahomet Aquifer stretches beneath all or parts of 15 counties in east-central Illinois from the Indiana border near Hoopeston to the Illinois River at Havana. The aquifer is the source of water to over 100 communities, about two thousand irrigation systems, and tens of thousands of domestic wells. Approximately 55 million gallons of water per day (mgd) are pumped from the Mahomet or aquifers directly overlying the Mahomet to community water systems of which 23 mgd are pumped locally to Champaign-Urbana and other Illinois-American Water Co. satellite communities. During the summer, over 340 mgd is pumped to irrigate crops on the sandy soils of Mason and Tazewell Counties.
Are such withdrawals sustainable (and what do we mean when we use the word “sustainable”)? What about future water demands? We will explore what is known and not known about the aquifer, the impacts of current and future aquifer development, and ongoing research and grass-roots planning efforts.
The Calumet Region of Chicago: Nature, Industry and Community
December 7, 2007 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Presented By: Nicole Kamins, Chicago Dept. of Environment
Abstract: Great egrets wading in the marsh by the Acme Steel plant typify the contrasts found around the Calumet region - abundant wildlife living in remnants of a once-vast wetland system, scattered among industrial properties. The Calumet area's fascinating blend of ecology, industry and community make it a the perfect setting for the future Ford Calumet Environmental Center, an environmental education facility slated to open in late 2009 at Hegewisch Marsh. For over a decade, a partnership including federal, state and local government agencies, residents, cultural and educational institutions, industrial and commercial interests, and more has worked to revitalize the region by restoring nature and attracting new, cleaner industries. Over 3,000 acres of industrial land have been slated for redevelopment, and 3,900 acres of wetland and prairie have been officially protected as the Calumet Open Space Reserve. This presentation will cover some of the interesting challenges, complexities and opportunities encountered in attempting to create a post-industrial open space system.
Sustainability, Energy, and the Energy/Water Nexus
November 28, 2007 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation in PDF or PowerPoint.
Presented By: Don Fournier, Chair Building Research Council; Program manager SEDAC
Abstract: Our current energy path is not sustainable and we may see problems in supplying our energy needs much sooner than expected. Also, climate change issues require a decarbonization of the energy system. True sustainability can only be achieved when our energy usage is based on renewable flows. These renewable flows must be accessed in a manner that does not exceed the productive capacity of the environmental systems on which we depend. Achieving this requires significant reductions in current energy intensities and uses throughout the built environment. Projections into the future of our current patterns of consumption clearly show a non-sustainable paradigm is still dominant within our culture and society. Goals and methods are available to alter our energy path in cost effective and viable ways. This talk will demonstrate the possible and show how water may actually be the limiting factor in continued growth and development. Also discussed will be the energy and water nexus showing how our energy usage also contributes to our current water problems and jeopardizes our future sustainability.
Sustainability within Illinois State Government
November 19, 2007 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Presented By: Marc Miller, IL Lt. Governor's office
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Ethanol Production
Wednesday, October 17, 2007 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Download the slides from this presentation (PDF)
Presented By: Dr. Vijay Singh, Associate Professor, UI Dept. of Ag. & Biological Engineering
Dr. Singh discussed his ethanol research and the development of a corn-milling process that increases the amount of ethanol produced per batch as well as the value of the co-products resulting from the process.
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Sustainability on the UI Campus
Friday, October 5, 2007 Watch the video archive of this presentation.Presented By: Dr. William Sullivan, Director of the Environmental Council; Associate Professor in UI Dept. of Landscape Architecture
Dr. Sullivan kicked off the seminar series by presenting an overview of sustainability research and teaching at the University of Illinois.
Webcast and Archive
The seminars will be available for viewing online live. Check this page about 11:45 AM CST the day of the seminar for a link to the video feed. Windows Media Player 9 (or newer) as well as a broadband internet connection is required to view the feed. Those watching the webcast live will be able to submit questions via e-mail and have them asked at the end of the presentation.
Archives of the seminars will be available on this page within a few days of the seminars completion.
