Service Learning and Campus Operations: Student Projects to Integrate Food, Food Waste and Energy Production at Clarkson University Susan E. Powers, PhD, PE Clarkson University Potsdam NY

Sustainability Strategic Plan Clarkson students graduate with an understanding of the concepts of sustainability and the skills to shape a sustainable future – By 2015, X% of students engage in community service for XX hours per year as volunteers or through service learning projects in classes Opportunities that students have to engage in sustainability experiences through student life and co-curricular activities are pervasive – By FY2014, at least XX clubs or organizations include campus or community service as part of their activities The campus and the community are used for effective experiential learning and research to enable students to contribute to the planning and implementation of projects to create a more sustainable campus – Identify and support current and create X new on-campus and off- campus experiential learning sites – Expand the Sustainability fund to support at least 10 projects per year

Furthering the Concept: Experiential Learning Sites Anaerobic Digester Zero emission snowmobile Algae Biodiesel Entrepreneur Coffee Engineers without Borders Devil’s Thumb Ranch Beacon Institute Adirondack Semester

Campus Greenhouse/Digester Project Provides Local Food and Research on Veggie Production in Cold Climates Sustainability Projects for Enhanced Education

STEP 1: Vision for Year-round Sustainable Food in Cold Climates Controlled environment Continuous production Low land footprint Local production Technical Innovations – Aeroponic growth – LED lighting – Passive solar design w/ renewable energy inputs – Sensors and controls – Materials and energy recycling (Summer 2008)

STEP 2: Laboratory Testing and Feasibility Assessment (AY2010)

(April 2010) Lisa Jackson Head Administrator of EPA

(April 2010)

(October 2010) Step 3: Pilot Facility - Integrated System

(January 2011)

(March 2011)

(May 2011)

(September 2011)

February 2012

Summer 2012

Anaerobic digester 650 lb food waste/day Transformed into biogas then electric and heat energy

Clarkson University Commitment: – Opportunities for real-world engineering and business development and entrepreneurial experiences Graduate and Undergraduate Research Capstone classes SPEED program Shipley Center for Innovation / Reh Center for Entrepreneurship – Utilize campus infrastructure as experiential learning sites to promote sustainability education – Challenges: Who is leader? – Faculty / Student / Staff Continuity Funding – Campus Sustainability Fund – External agencies – Philanthropic Donations Making it Happen

Key Points Enabling student ideas and educating through real-world projects is fun and rewarding as an educator Increasing our “Experiential Learning Sites” will – help to increase our campus sustainability AND – provide essential education opportunities for 21 st Century skills Lots of Ways for students to get involved in our campus sustainability activities “STEACHER”

Thank You! gardening/ gardening/ Contact: Susan Powers Jean ‘79 and Robert ’79 Spence Professor in Sustainable Environmental Systems Institute for a Sustainable Environment