Welcome to Seattle Central's Sustainability Seminar Series!
Wednesday's at 3:00 in SAM 105
Syllabus

The Sustainability Seminar Series is a collection of speakers from academia, government, non-profits and private industry that work in fields related to social justice, environmental quality and economic prosperity. Sustainability has been defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." 

9/30 : The S Word

Katie Gagnon, Faculty, Science and Math, Seattle Central Community College

We've heard it just about everywhere. Sustainable development. Sustainable buildings. Sustainable agriculture. In this talk we'll back up and explore the guiding prinicples of sustainability and the history and diversity of the movement.

Introductory material
The Hannover Principles, Design for Sustainability (For the ambitious: Full document), Wise Earth, McDonough, Majora Carter, The Story of Stuff, China-US Center for Sustainable Development, William McDonough homepage

10/7: Citizen's Climate Lobby and Climate Change Science

Guillaume Mauger, Researcher, Climate Impacts Group, University of WA

One of the three foundations of sustainability is environmental stewardship. Dr. Mauger will explain his work as a climate scientist for the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group, a research group studying the impacts of climate variability in the Pacific Northwest. Guillaume will also discuss environmental advocacy from the standpoint of climate change and his formation of a local chapter of Citizen's Climate Lobby, a national non-profit group that creates political will for achieving a sustainable climate. Dr. Mauger will introduce how cities, nations and the world are reacting to this issue as well as what it takes to have a sustainable climate and how individuals can get involved in the debate and be part of the solution.

Required reading
1) A Generaional Challenge to Repower America (video, 5 min.)
2) US Senate now in the driver's seat on climate-change legislation (1 pg)
3) WA Climate Change Impacts Assessment Overview (by the Climate Impacts Group) (2 pgs)
4) Medical Metaphors (6 pgs)
5) How to Kill a Coal Plant (2 pgs)
Additional information: Citizens Climate Lobby, Climate Impacts Group, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Scripps CO2 Program, Keeling Curve Lesson, Real Climate

10/14 : Local Sustainability Projects

Sean Conroe and Morgan Greenseth, Interns at World Changing

Sean and Morgan will introduce World Changing and their roles as interns there. They'll discuss their favorite projects and what they've learned about sustainability in Seattle as a result. They plan to do an interactive session, planning sustainable components of a city and interweaving their experiences at World Changing throughout. Worldchanging is a nonprofit media organization that comprises a global network of independent journalists, designers and thinkers. They inspire readers with stories of new tools, models and ideas for building a bright green future. Some projects include refugee aid, renewable energy and innovative solutions for improving building, transportation, communication and quality of life.

Required reading
1) Remaking the Built Environment by 2030 (1 pg)
2) Infrastructure for the Future We Want (2 pgs)
3) My Other Car is a Bright Green City (12 pgs)
4) Biomimicry 101 (2 pgs)
5) Living in an Urban Cactus (1 pg)
6) Free Parking Isn't Free (3 pgs)
7) Bike-frastructure 101: Sharrows, Street Parking, Superhighways (~2 pgs)
8) Biomimetic Ocean Power (1 pg)
9) Graphic Series: Earthly Ideas, Week 3 (1 pg)
10) Urban Farming Takes Root in Surprising Ways (1 pg)
11) Permaculture Lessons for Urban Living (2 pgs)
12) Vimeo Video: Bullock's Permaculture Homestead
13) Walkable Neighborhoods Are Worth More (1 pg)
14) Getting Schooled in Livable Streets (1 pg)
Event link: Design for Livability: Sustainable Cities Conference

10/21 : Sustainability on Campus

Jill Lane and Katie Barndt, North Seattle Community College

Jill and Katie will lead a discussion about sustainability in higher education. North Seattle Community College has created a student sponsored Sustainability Coordinator position and a Sustainability Fund earmarked for sustainability projects such as an alternative energy lab and a think-tank for curriculum development, personal and professional development in the area of sustainability. NSCC has also signed the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment. Jill and Katie have worked on NSCC's sustainability committee and have added to the sustainability curriculum at North with the creation of an Environmental Policy course.

Required reading
1) Local example of campus sustainability: Seattle University Campus Sustainbility Leadership Award
2) Local example of campus sustainability: Evergreen's Sustainability Task Force Interim Report
3) AASHE STARS rating system (Overview, pg. 4-7 and Scorecard Summary, pg. 15-18)
4) Check out the approach at North: https://frontpage.northseattle.edu/sustain/about.html
Additional information: Seattle University Sustainability, The Evergreen State College Sustainability, Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education

10/28: Local Living Economies

Derek Hoshiko, Web Collective

"The mission of BALLE Seattle is to connect, educate and promote King County businesses supporting local living economies. BALLE is based on several key guiding principles: Business - Businesses are anchors for creating thriving economic systems. Alliance - Partnerships between independent businesses yield new opportunities and expand capabilities. BALLE offers the benefits of independent business networks both locally and nationally.Local - The welfare of a community relies on the health of the local economy. Buying and partnering locally keeps your money within your community, reduces demand on environmental resources, and preserves community character. Living - BALLE honors that the vitality of local economies is derived from living people, communities, ecosystems. Economies - Economies are the foundation for sustainable communities, environments and social fabric."

Required reading
1) The Lure of Local: Q&A w/ Michael Shurman (BALLE National Director Research & Public Policy) (5 pg)
2) My Forbidden Fruits (and Vegetables) (2 pg)
3) Using the Power of Community to Green Small Business (podcast or 5 pg article)
4) Local Living Economies: The New Movement for Responsible Business by BALLE cofounder (5 pg)
Additional information: http://www.balleseattle.org/, check out BALLE recommended book list!

11/4: Triple Bottom Line

Laura Musikanski, Sustainability Strategist Consultant

"Laura is a graduate of the University of Washington's Masters in Business Administration and law school programs, and earned a certificate in Environmental Management from University of Washington's Program on the Environment. She is on the Board of Directors for Sustainable Seattle, a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the long term quality of life in the Seattle/King count area. Sustainable Seattle provides communities and individals with meaningful information that reflect their priorities and helps make them sustainable choices." Laura will discuss her work on B-Sustainable and indicators as a tool for sustainable development.

Required reading/research: write down one goal and two indicators to share with class/turn in
1) Research one goal & associated action at Sustainable Seattle's B-Sustainable Information Commons
2) Research two indicators from King County Benchmarks, 2008-2009, organized into 4 categories: Land Use, Economics, Transportation and Affordable Housing
Additional information: Indicators and information systems for sustainable developmen, Donella Meadows, (1998), Sustainable Seattle, Communities Count, B-Sustainable, Sustainable Measures, Redefining Progress, Sustainability Framework from the Natural Step

11/11: Veteran's Day, no class

11/18: Smart Growth in the Urban Environment

Andrea Petzel, Senior Land Use Planner, Seattle Dept. Planning and Development

"Seattle's Department of Planning and Development's mission is to manage growth and development within Seattle in a way that enhances quality of life. We promote a safe and sustainable environment through comprehensive planning, good design, and compliance with development regulations and community standards. Andrea will discuss developments in backyard cottages to increase urban density, new LEED certified buildings and smart urban growth."

Required reading + write down/turn in sustainable features of the green building case study you choose
1) City Green Building
2) Choose 1 case study: Capitol Hill House, Eva Rose Bldg, Green Compact, High Point, Huppert Remodel, Katharine's Place, Sensible House (2 pgs each)
3) Backyard Cottages: A New Choice for Seattle Families (8 pgs)
Additional information: Seattle Dept. of Planning and Development, Seattle's Green Building Initiative signed by Ron Sims

11/25 : TBA

12/2: Sustainable Food Choices and Chefs Collaborative

Michelle Clair, Restaurant Manager for TASTE at the Seattle Art Musuem and member of Chefs Collaborative

"Chefs Collaborative works with chefs and the greater food community to celebrate local foods and foster a more sustainable food supply. The Collaborative inspires action by translating information about our food into tools for making knowledgeable purchasing decisions. Through these actions, our members embrace seasonality, preserve diversity and traditional practices, and support local economies."

Required reading
1) Example CC work: Whole Hog Sustainability (4 pgs)
2) CC Local Food Distribution Report, 2009 (11 pgs)
Additional information: Chefs Collaborative, Seattle Chefs Collaborative

12/9: The Business Case for Sustainability

Andrea Ramage, Director, Sustainable Solutions at CH2M Hill, Inc.

CH2M HILL serves a variety of clients in different sectors -- cities all over the world, various industries, and various government agencies. They all have different reasons for pursuing sustainability, reasons which are aligned with their specific business model or mission.

Prepartory reading + write down/turn description of 1 of the 7 keys for sustainability in the market
1) Sustainability Through the Market: Seven Keys to Success (Executive Summary & Intro, pg 2-8)
2) Choose 1 of the 7 keys outlined in the above paper, ~8 pages
Additional information: United Nations Environment Program, World Business Coucil for Sustainable Development