Sustainability at RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology
Sustainability at RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology
Sustainability at RIT - Rochester Institute of Technology
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Inspired to Lead: <strong>Sustainability</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>
Contents<br />
Inspir<strong>at</strong>ion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3<br />
Inspiring Future Gener<strong>at</strong>ions.. . . . . . 4<br />
Academic Programs and Options.. . . . 6<br />
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion in Action .. . . . . . . . . . . 8<br />
Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong>. 10<br />
Integr<strong>at</strong>ing Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and Research. 14<br />
Practice and Involvement.. . . . . . . . 18<br />
Making a Difference.. . . . . . . . . . . 20<br />
A Campus <strong>Sustainability</strong> Leader.. . . 22<br />
An Inspired Journey. . . . . . . . . . . 23<br />
2 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Inspir<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
”<br />
It is clear th<strong>at</strong> the human race<br />
cannot continue to consume<br />
resources <strong>at</strong> the current<br />
r<strong>at</strong>e and sustain a growing<br />
world popul<strong>at</strong>ion.” —Dr. Bill Destler<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> seeks to become a world leader in<br />
sustainability educ<strong>at</strong>ion, research, and<br />
practice. As we strive to infuse innov<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and cre<strong>at</strong>ivity into every element <strong>of</strong> our<br />
campus, sustainability has become a<br />
major focus.<br />
Our comprehensive and interdisciplinary<br />
commitment is spearheaded by President<br />
Bill Destler, who signed the American<br />
College & University Presidents Clim<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Commitment in 2008.<br />
Signed by several<br />
hundred colleges<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ionwide, the<br />
Presidents Clim<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Commitment provides<br />
support and a framework<br />
for colleges and<br />
universities to go carbon<br />
Dr. Bill Destler<br />
neutral. There is<br />
particular emphasis on<br />
reducing greenhouse gas emissions while<br />
acceler<strong>at</strong>ing sustainability-rel<strong>at</strong>ed research<br />
and educ<strong>at</strong>ional programs.<br />
Other leaders likewise inspire the <strong>RIT</strong><br />
community. In 2006, James W<strong>at</strong>ters, senior<br />
vice president, Finance and Administr<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
established an advisory committee to review<br />
institutional practices for sustainability in<br />
facilities construction, altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy<br />
technologies, green technologies, and<br />
str<strong>at</strong>egic policies for consider<strong>at</strong>ion by<br />
the university.<br />
We are driven to make a difference.<br />
Through our teaching, learning, research,<br />
and best practices in and around sustainability,<br />
we hope to inspire current and<br />
future gener<strong>at</strong>ions to sustain our planet.<br />
Every day, we see this concept bre<strong>at</strong>he new<br />
energy into curricula, intensify labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
activities, and light up the minds <strong>of</strong><br />
students and faculty across the campus.<br />
We expect our inspir<strong>at</strong>ion to benefit everyone,<br />
everywhere. It m<strong>at</strong>ters to us all.<br />
President Destler and his wife,<br />
Rebecca Johnson, also lead by example<br />
in their personal lives. The couple commute<br />
around the region on electric bikes recharged<br />
by solar power and resort to a hybrid Toyota<br />
Prius for longer trips and inclement we<strong>at</strong>her.<br />
They have also retr<strong>of</strong>itted their 180-year-old<br />
campus home, Liberty Hill: fluorescent light<br />
bulbs, insul<strong>at</strong>ing film on windows, and zoned<br />
he<strong>at</strong>ing/cooling areas with smart thermost<strong>at</strong>s<br />
reflect their commitment to living green.<br />
“Thinking green is, to me, a spiritual <strong>at</strong>titude<br />
– being respectful <strong>of</strong> the resources we use daily<br />
and being mindful <strong>of</strong> our connection to this<br />
planet,” says Johnson. “We need to do all we<br />
can to help save Planet Earth. <strong>RIT</strong> is committed<br />
to finding ways to reduce our consumption <strong>of</strong><br />
nonrenewable resources and address global<br />
energy needs through new technologies<br />
employing renewable sources.”<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
3
Inspiring Future Gener<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
For centuries, the core <strong>of</strong><br />
every college and university<br />
has been the interactions<br />
among faculty and students where<br />
learning and ideas take root and<br />
new gener<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> thought leaders<br />
and change agents emerge.<br />
We are preparing the next gener<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> sustainability leaders through a rich<br />
array <strong>of</strong> gradu<strong>at</strong>e and undergradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
programs and options in sustainability.<br />
Dozens <strong>of</strong> faculty and hundreds <strong>of</strong><br />
students collabor<strong>at</strong>e in classrooms and<br />
labs across the campus. Solutions to the<br />
issues <strong>of</strong> sustainability are approached<br />
from myriad perspectives th<strong>at</strong> include<br />
engineering, science, management,<br />
policy, and technology.<br />
The educ<strong>at</strong>ional opportunities in sustainability<br />
range from doctoral programs to<br />
undergradu<strong>at</strong>e minors or concentr<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
(a group <strong>of</strong> courses in sustainability).<br />
The newest addition to our portfolio <strong>of</strong><br />
academic programs in sustainability is the<br />
Ph.D. in sustainability. One <strong>of</strong> the world’s<br />
first such programs, it fe<strong>at</strong>ures educ<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
and research opportunities integr<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
environmentally conscious product<br />
design and manufacturing, industrial<br />
ecology, technology and public policy,<br />
environmental science and management,<br />
and sustainable business practice.<br />
Academic initi<strong>at</strong>ives under consider<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
include ecological inform<strong>at</strong>ion technology;<br />
sustainable systems; sustainable architecture;<br />
green packaging; and environment,<br />
sustainability, and society.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essors Brian Thorn and Andres<br />
Carrano, faculty in the industrial and systems<br />
engineering department, travelled<br />
to Caracas, Venezuela, with a group <strong>of</strong><br />
students to develop ecologically friendly<br />
and cost-effective solar ovens and fabric<strong>at</strong>e<br />
ultraviolet tubes used to disinfect<br />
drinking w<strong>at</strong>er. The trip was a part <strong>of</strong> a<br />
K<strong>at</strong>e Gleason College <strong>of</strong> Engineering<br />
Multidisciplinary Senior Design project<br />
sponsored by the EPA P3: People,<br />
Prosperity, and the Planet Program.<br />
4 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
<strong>Sustainability</strong>-rel<strong>at</strong>ed Programs and Options<br />
These programs all utilize an interdisciplinary approach; capitalizing on the breadth <strong>of</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>’s academic program portfolio in science,<br />
engineering, m<strong>at</strong>h, technology, business, and the social sciences.<br />
Ph.D. programs<br />
• <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
• Computing and Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Sciences<br />
(environmental inform<strong>at</strong>ics focus)<br />
• Microsystems Engineering<br />
(altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy or energy efficiency)<br />
Master’s programs<br />
• Business Administr<strong>at</strong>ion (environ mentally<br />
sustainable management concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
• Environmental Health and Safety<br />
Management<br />
• Environmental Science<br />
• Facility Management<br />
• Packaging Science<br />
(sustainable packaging track)<br />
• Science, <strong>Technology</strong>, and Public Policy<br />
(environmental policy concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
• Sustainable Engineering (MS or MEng)<br />
• Sustainable Systems (pending NYS approval)<br />
Bachelor’s programs*<br />
• Chemistry (environmental chemistry option)<br />
• Chemical Engineering (altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy<br />
and environmental tracks)<br />
• Civil Engineering <strong>Technology</strong><br />
• Electrical Engineering <strong>Technology</strong><br />
(power systems concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
• Environmental <strong>Sustainability</strong>,<br />
Health and Safety**<br />
• Environmental Science**<br />
• Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Studies<br />
(science, technology, and society track)<br />
• Mechanical Engineering<br />
(energy and environment option)<br />
• Packaging Science<br />
(sustainable packaging track)<br />
• Polymer Chemistry<br />
(sustainable/renewable m<strong>at</strong>erials focus)<br />
• Public Policy**<br />
(environmental policy concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
Undergradu<strong>at</strong>e minors<br />
and concentr<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
• Environmental Modeling<br />
• Environmental Science<br />
• Environmental Studies<br />
• Historical Perspectives in Science<br />
and <strong>Technology</strong><br />
• Industrial Environmental Management<br />
• Science and <strong>Technology</strong> Studies<br />
• Science, <strong>Technology</strong>, and Policy<br />
• Science, <strong>Technology</strong>, and Society<br />
• Sustainable Product Design<br />
• Urban and Community Studies<br />
* A dual degree (combined BS/MS or MEng)<br />
is available in industrial engineering and<br />
sustainable engineering.<br />
** Dual degree option (combined BS/MS) available<br />
James Winebrake<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and Chair <strong>of</strong> the Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Science, <strong>Technology</strong>, and Society/Public Policy<br />
Winebrake is an expert in transport<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
energy policy and currently works with a host<br />
<strong>of</strong> n<strong>at</strong>ional and intern<strong>at</strong>ional organiz<strong>at</strong>ions to<br />
reduce emissions and overall air pollution from<br />
transport<strong>at</strong>ion sources. He co-directs the<br />
Labor<strong>at</strong>ory for Environmental Computing and<br />
Decision Making and is leading two multi-year,<br />
multi-university research projects designed to<br />
improve computer modeling in transit planning<br />
and policy decision-making. Winebrake is also<br />
a member <strong>of</strong> two N<strong>at</strong>ional Research Council<br />
committees rel<strong>at</strong>ed to reducing greenhouse<br />
gas emissions from transport<strong>at</strong>ion and is part<br />
<strong>of</strong> an Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Maritime Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion expert<br />
group studying emissions regul<strong>at</strong>ions for<br />
global shipping.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
5
Academic Programs and Options<br />
Ph.D. Programs<br />
<strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
The program advances research and educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
in altern<strong>at</strong>ive-energy development, sustainable<br />
design, green product development, industrial<br />
ecology, and pollution prevention. It emphasizes<br />
sustainable production systems, which cre<strong>at</strong>e<br />
goods and services using processes th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
nonpolluting; conserving <strong>of</strong> energy and n<strong>at</strong>ural<br />
resources; economically viable; and safe for<br />
workers, communities, and consumers.<br />
Computing and Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Sciences<br />
(environmental inform<strong>at</strong>ics focus)<br />
Designed to produce independent scholars, wellprepared<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ors, and cutting-edge researchers<br />
poised to excel in interdisciplinary environments<br />
and industries, this program highlights two <strong>of</strong> the<br />
unique characteristics <strong>of</strong> the Golisano College <strong>of</strong><br />
Computing and Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Sciences: the breadth<br />
<strong>of</strong> its program <strong>of</strong>ferings and its scholarly focus<br />
on the theoretical and practical aspects <strong>of</strong> cyberinfrastructure<br />
as applied to specific problems<br />
across multiple domains.<br />
Microsystems Engineering<br />
The goal <strong>of</strong> the program is to provide a found<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to explore future technology through research in<br />
nano-engineering, design methods, and technologies<br />
and their integr<strong>at</strong>ion into micro- and<br />
nano-scaled systems in several key areas,<br />
including altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy or energy efficiency.<br />
Master’s Degree Programs<br />
Business Administr<strong>at</strong>ion (environmentally<br />
sustainable management concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
This option familiarizes students with environmentally<br />
sustainable business practices and enables<br />
them to manage social and political demands for<br />
more environmentally sustainable products and<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Environmental, Health and<br />
Safety Management<br />
The program provides students with a solid<br />
found<strong>at</strong>ion in both the technical and managerial<br />
aspects <strong>of</strong> developing, designing, and implementing<br />
environmental, health, and safety systems.<br />
The program utilizes an integr<strong>at</strong>ed systems focus<br />
to ensure th<strong>at</strong> students can design and implement<br />
effective management systems and programs<br />
th<strong>at</strong> add value to the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Environmental Science<br />
The environmental science program enables<br />
students to understand the complexity <strong>of</strong> problems<br />
th<strong>at</strong> link environmental limits to economic<br />
development, diverse cultures, ethics, values,<br />
and social stability. Students use integr<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
and holistic approaches to these issues.<br />
Facility Management<br />
The physical assets <strong>of</strong> an organiz<strong>at</strong>ion are<br />
typically one <strong>of</strong> its largest financial holdings,<br />
and the str<strong>at</strong>egic planning, development, and<br />
maintenance <strong>of</strong> these assets are critical to an<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ion’s financial health and stability.<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>es <strong>of</strong> this program will gain knowledge<br />
in business management, str<strong>at</strong>egic planning,<br />
interior and architectural design, construction<br />
management, inform<strong>at</strong>ion technology, real est<strong>at</strong>e,<br />
engineering, labor rel<strong>at</strong>ions, and quality <strong>of</strong> life<br />
aspects in the work environment.<br />
Science, <strong>Technology</strong> and Public Policy<br />
This program encourages students to explore in<br />
depth the intersection <strong>of</strong> public policy, technology,<br />
and our n<strong>at</strong>ural world. Students generally focus<br />
their policy studies in a particular area, such as<br />
environmental policy, telecommunic<strong>at</strong>ions policy,<br />
or energy policy.<br />
Sustainable Engineering<br />
The program focuses on the integr<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> social,<br />
environmental, and economic consider<strong>at</strong>ions into<br />
product, process, and energy systems design<br />
methods. Additionally, the program encourages<br />
the analysis <strong>of</strong> the complete product and process<br />
lifecycle during the design effort, minimizing the<br />
total <strong>of</strong> the environmental impacts across the<br />
entire lifecycle while simultaneously maximizing<br />
the benefits to social and economic stakeholders.<br />
Sustainable Systems (pending NYS approval)<br />
This program fills a critical need for a master’s<br />
level program th<strong>at</strong> emphasizes educ<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
training in the found<strong>at</strong>ional sciences <strong>of</strong> sustainability.<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>es <strong>of</strong> this program will be prepared<br />
to undertake or continue careers as sustainability<br />
experts in their chosen fields.<br />
Packaging Science<br />
Through the cutting-edge curriculum, students<br />
learn and apply vast knowledge <strong>of</strong> packaging<br />
science in a dynamic, multifaceted industry.<br />
Classes are discussion and project based, and<br />
provide students the opportunity to learn how<br />
to make valuable contributions as future pr<strong>of</strong>essionals<br />
in the packaging community.<br />
6 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Bachelor’s Degree Programs*<br />
Chemistry<br />
(environmental chemistry option)<br />
Certified by the Committee on Pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
Training <strong>of</strong> the American Chemical Society (ACS),<br />
this program meets a wide range <strong>of</strong> quality<br />
standards rel<strong>at</strong>ing to curriculum, teaching,<br />
research, and intellectual clim<strong>at</strong>e. Students select<br />
environmentally rel<strong>at</strong>ed courses such as field<br />
biology, ecology, oceanography, hydrology,<br />
environmental monitoring, geology, tre<strong>at</strong>ment<br />
<strong>of</strong> waste and sewage, packaging, polymer<br />
technology, and chemical research.<br />
Chemical Engineering<br />
(altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy, environmental focus)<br />
The degree program in chemical engineering<br />
prepares students to apply fundamental<br />
knowledge, skills, and tools in a wide variety <strong>of</strong><br />
applic<strong>at</strong>ion domains relevant to the practice <strong>of</strong><br />
the chemical engineering pr<strong>of</strong>ession. Students<br />
with an interest in sustainability can select a focus<br />
in altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy systems and environmental<br />
applic<strong>at</strong>ions.<br />
Civil Engineering <strong>Technology</strong><br />
Solving challenges posed by the environment,<br />
gradu<strong>at</strong>es <strong>of</strong> this program are prepared to restore<br />
polluted rivers as well as centuries-old bridges,<br />
design public parks accessible to people with<br />
disabilities, construct roadwork in isol<strong>at</strong>ed areas,<br />
and design w<strong>at</strong>er delivery systems.<br />
Economics (n<strong>at</strong>ural resource and<br />
environmental economics focus)<br />
This program emphasizes the quantit<strong>at</strong>ive,<br />
analytical approach to economic issues involving<br />
the use and management <strong>of</strong> environmental<br />
resources. Gradu<strong>at</strong>es are prepared for entry-level<br />
positions in fields such as management and<br />
quantit<strong>at</strong>ive analysis or to pursue gradu<strong>at</strong>e study<br />
in economics, business, law, or sustainability.<br />
Electrical Engineering <strong>Technology</strong><br />
(power systems concentr<strong>at</strong>ion)<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>es enter not only design and development<br />
careers but rel<strong>at</strong>ed disciplines including manufacturing,<br />
research, sales and marketing, applic<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
engineering, and educ<strong>at</strong>ion. Students can select<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional electives in electric power systems<br />
th<strong>at</strong> enable them to focus their interests in<br />
developing solutions to issues rel<strong>at</strong>ed to this<br />
particular aspect <strong>of</strong> sustainability.<br />
Environmental Science**<br />
This program prepares students to solve problems<br />
rel<strong>at</strong>ing to power gener<strong>at</strong>ion, waste reduction<br />
and recycling, pollution control, land use and<br />
land cover change, biodiversity preserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and ecological services, transport<strong>at</strong>ion, forestry,<br />
agriculture, economics, and a wide range <strong>of</strong> other<br />
areas. They study our rel<strong>at</strong>ionship to n<strong>at</strong>ure and<br />
to each other, developing solutions th<strong>at</strong> prevent<br />
or reverse environmental deterior<strong>at</strong>ion and work<br />
toward sustainability.<br />
Environmental <strong>Sustainability</strong>,<br />
Health and Safety**<br />
The program prepares students to move organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
toward a sustainable future. Activities range<br />
from keeping contamin<strong>at</strong>ed wastew<strong>at</strong>er separ<strong>at</strong>e<br />
from clean w<strong>at</strong>er to determine how a product can<br />
be manufactured using less energy or without<br />
using toxic m<strong>at</strong>erials.<br />
Intern<strong>at</strong>ional Studies<br />
(science, technology and society track)<br />
This program seeks to train a new gener<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> global citizens with an understanding <strong>of</strong> the<br />
social, economic, political, and environmental<br />
issues th<strong>at</strong> are central to globaliz<strong>at</strong>ion. The<br />
program focuses on interdisciplinary approaches<br />
for understanding global processes while allowing<br />
students flexibility in developing the expertise<br />
required for a successful career.<br />
Mechanical Engineering<br />
(altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy, environmental tracks)<br />
The energy and environment option consists<br />
<strong>of</strong> a series <strong>of</strong> electives th<strong>at</strong> provide students<br />
with exposure to a wide range <strong>of</strong> opportunities<br />
and careers associ<strong>at</strong>ed with energy-intensive<br />
systems and how they rel<strong>at</strong>e to the environment.<br />
This concentr<strong>at</strong>ion is intended to increase the<br />
opportunities for students to work in the fields <strong>of</strong><br />
building energy systems, altern<strong>at</strong>ive and renewable<br />
energy, and direct energy conversion.<br />
Packaging Science<br />
(sustainable packaging track)<br />
The packaging science program prepares students<br />
for employment in areas such as package<br />
development, sales, purchasing, structural design,<br />
production, research, and marketing. Packaging<br />
increasingly relies on the concept <strong>of</strong> sustainability,<br />
and has even gre<strong>at</strong>er dependence on new developments<br />
in m<strong>at</strong>erials and processes.<br />
Polymer Chemistry<br />
The program provides students with a solid background<br />
in the traditional areas <strong>of</strong> chemistry (general,<br />
analytical, organic, physical, and inorganic)<br />
supplemented by advanced courses and intensive<br />
labor<strong>at</strong>ory experiences in polymer science. This<br />
program provides the background important for<br />
success in many industrial research areas. It also<br />
enables gradu<strong>at</strong>es to pursue further educ<strong>at</strong>ion in<br />
chemistry, polymer chemistry, or m<strong>at</strong>erials science<br />
and engineering.<br />
Public Policy** (environmental policy track)<br />
The public policy program explores the intersection<br />
<strong>of</strong> public policy, technology, and our<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ural world. The program provides students<br />
with an opportunity to integr<strong>at</strong>e their interests<br />
in science, technology, government, economics,<br />
and other social science fields. It combines an<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> these fields with the analytical<br />
tools needed to study the impact <strong>of</strong> public policy<br />
on society.<br />
* A dual degree (combined BS/MS or MEng) is available in industrial engineering and sustainable engineering.<br />
**Dual degree option (combined BS/MS) available<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
7
Educ<strong>at</strong>ion in Action<br />
The issues <strong>of</strong> sustainability<br />
reach far into the future.<br />
The ideas <strong>of</strong> today lay the<br />
found<strong>at</strong>ion for sustaining the<br />
planet for many gener<strong>at</strong>ions to<br />
come. These ideas are molded into<br />
solutions in the labs and classrooms<br />
<strong>of</strong> our campus and find<br />
expression in the actions <strong>of</strong> our<br />
students and faculty.<br />
Ethical Solutions<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essors Wade Robison, Evan Selinger,<br />
and Thomas Seager (above) are developing<br />
new course work to focus on the ethics <strong>of</strong><br />
sustainability. They hosted an intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
scientific symposium on the incorpor<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong><br />
ethical concepts in sustainable development.<br />
They also are conducting an NSF-sponsored<br />
project with Arizona St<strong>at</strong>e University to<br />
better incorpor<strong>at</strong>e curricula and course<br />
work in sustainability ethics into science<br />
and engineering gradu<strong>at</strong>e programs.<br />
Students Revamp Outdoor Lighting<br />
Students conducting an engineering<br />
multidisciplinary senior design project<br />
designed an LED-based device to retr<strong>of</strong>it<br />
<strong>RIT</strong>’s outdoor walkway lighting system.<br />
LED-based lights use less energy, are more<br />
durable, require less maintenance than<br />
traditional light bulbs, and will drastically<br />
reduce annual spending on lighting.<br />
Each year, multidisciplinary engineering<br />
design projects typically include more<br />
than 10 sustainability-rel<strong>at</strong>ed projects<br />
engaging more than 50 students from<br />
many disciplines across campus.<br />
Industrial Engineering Wins<br />
Innov<strong>at</strong>ions in Curriculum Award<br />
<strong>RIT</strong>’s industrial and systems engineering<br />
program won the Innov<strong>at</strong>ions in Curriculum<br />
Award from the <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> Industrial<br />
Engineers <strong>at</strong> the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion’s annual<br />
conference. Faculty members Andres<br />
Carrano and Brian Thorn shared the honor.<br />
Their entry described how sustainability<br />
initi<strong>at</strong>ives were incorpor<strong>at</strong>ed into the<br />
degree program. The award was given<br />
to recognize cre<strong>at</strong>ive instruction and<br />
curricula meeting the changing needs<br />
<strong>of</strong> the industrial engineering pr<strong>of</strong>ession.<br />
8 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Packaging Science Students<br />
Win N<strong>at</strong>ional Design Challenge<br />
Lynsie Gibson and Zachary Mendoza,<br />
packaging science majors, won first place<br />
in the Student Design Challenge for their<br />
entry, Sustainable Paperboard Packaging<br />
Innov<strong>at</strong>ion. The challenge is sponsored<br />
by the Paperboard Packaging Alliance<br />
and is part <strong>of</strong> the annual inter n<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Pack Expo, a conference for packaging<br />
and processing pr<strong>of</strong>essionals.<br />
The students cre<strong>at</strong>ed a package th<strong>at</strong><br />
would convert from a 3-D, triangular<br />
design to a small, simple DVD booklet using<br />
a kraft, nonbleached paperboard<br />
for strength and sustainability.<br />
Reaching Out to Teens<br />
The Women in Engineering program,<br />
WE@<strong>RIT</strong>, and the <strong>RIT</strong> Leadership <strong>Institute</strong><br />
are <strong>of</strong>fering a course, We Lead: Women,<br />
Leadership, and <strong>Sustainability</strong>.<br />
The nine-week online program was<br />
developed to help young women in grades<br />
10-12 learn critical leadership and effective<br />
inter personal skills. They develop these<br />
skills through an examin<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> sustainability<br />
and the complexities <strong>of</strong> ethical<br />
decision-making.<br />
Exploring Human Impact<br />
on the Environment<br />
A team <strong>of</strong> cross-disciplinary faculty and<br />
student researchers are studying forest soils<br />
for the effects <strong>of</strong> acid rain, assessing wetland<br />
health in the <strong>Rochester</strong> embayment<br />
area, and studying macroinvertebr<strong>at</strong>es as<br />
indic<strong>at</strong>ors <strong>of</strong> w<strong>at</strong>er quality in Mesoamerica<br />
and developing revitaliz<strong>at</strong>ion plans for an<br />
inner city.<br />
Annick Anctil<br />
Anctil is part <strong>of</strong> the inaugural class <strong>of</strong><br />
students in the doctoral program in<br />
sustainability, one <strong>of</strong> the first in the world<br />
to focus on sustainable engineering and<br />
production. Through the program, she<br />
completed a summer internship with the<br />
United N<strong>at</strong>ions’ Department <strong>of</strong> Economics<br />
and Social Affairs in New York City.<br />
She was part <strong>of</strong> a team th<strong>at</strong> developed<br />
new computer models to better measure<br />
the economic, social, and environmental<br />
impacts <strong>of</strong> the global tourism industry.<br />
The results will assist the U.N. in promoting<br />
sustainable tourism in developing countries.<br />
At <strong>RIT</strong>, Anctil works in the NanoPower<br />
Research Labor<strong>at</strong>ories, where she conducts<br />
research on quantum dots used in<br />
photo voltaic technology.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
9
Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
”<br />
It is imper<strong>at</strong>ive th<strong>at</strong> we<br />
acceler<strong>at</strong>e str<strong>at</strong>egies to .<br />
promote a sustainable society<br />
and ensure future gener<strong>at</strong>ions .<br />
the opportunity to address their<br />
own needs. ... It is my desire .<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for<br />
<strong>Sustainability</strong> produce the first<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals .<br />
with the vision and know-how .<br />
to deliver on the promise <strong>of</strong><br />
sustainability.”—B. Thomas Golisano<br />
Chairman <strong>of</strong> Paychex, Inc.,<br />
B. Thomas Golisano don<strong>at</strong>ed $10<br />
million to establish the Golisano <strong>Institute</strong><br />
for <strong>Sustainability</strong> (GIS) as a global resource<br />
for educ<strong>at</strong>ion, research, technology transfer,<br />
and outreach in sustainable manufacturing<br />
processes th<strong>at</strong> will influence all aspects <strong>of</strong><br />
product manufacture and design.<br />
GIS <strong>of</strong>fers one <strong>of</strong> the n<strong>at</strong>ion’s first doctoral<br />
degrees in sustain ability. The program<br />
focuses on sustainable production systems,<br />
sustainable energy systems, sustainable<br />
mobility, and eco-IT or ecologically friendly<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion technology systems. Gradu<strong>at</strong>es<br />
develop skills in lifecycle assessment,<br />
Conceptual rendering <strong>of</strong> the future home <strong>of</strong> the Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
environmental risk and impact assessment,<br />
and design for the environment. They also<br />
gain knowledge <strong>of</strong> corpor<strong>at</strong>e str<strong>at</strong>egies for<br />
sustainability and government policies for<br />
promoting sustainability.<br />
The institute collabor<strong>at</strong>es with numerous<br />
organiz<strong>at</strong>ions in a wide variety <strong>of</strong> sectors<br />
with the goals <strong>of</strong> reducing environmental<br />
impact and enhancing economic competitiveness.<br />
GIS partners with Delphi Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and the U.S. Department <strong>of</strong> Defense<br />
to acceler<strong>at</strong>e the applic<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> solid oxide<br />
fuel cells into the military’s st<strong>at</strong>ionary and<br />
mobile systems.<br />
10 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Sustainable production systems are the<br />
focus <strong>of</strong> academic and research programs<br />
within the Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong>.<br />
These systems cre<strong>at</strong>e goods and<br />
services using str<strong>at</strong>egies and processes th<strong>at</strong><br />
are nonpolluting; conserving <strong>of</strong> energy and<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ural resources; economically viable; safe<br />
and healthful for workers, communities,<br />
and consumers; and socially and cre<strong>at</strong>ively<br />
rewarding for all working people.<br />
“We are focusing on designing production<br />
systems th<strong>at</strong> are completely closed<br />
loop, with no waste product and a high level<br />
<strong>of</strong> reuse,” notes Nabil Nasr, assistant provost<br />
for academic affairs and director <strong>of</strong> the institute.<br />
“In addition, our educ<strong>at</strong>ion programs<br />
will seek to provide our next gener<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
with comprehensive knowledge and training<br />
in sustainable industrial development.”<br />
GIS consists <strong>of</strong> a team <strong>of</strong> tenured and<br />
tenure-track faculty, research faculty, engineers,<br />
technicians, project managers, and<br />
students all dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to an interdisciplinary<br />
approach to removing barriers to achieving<br />
sustainable production systems.<br />
Nabil Nasr<br />
Assistant Provost and<br />
Director, Golisano<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
and CIMS<br />
Nasr is the founding director <strong>of</strong> the Golisano<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong> and the director<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Center for Integr<strong>at</strong>ed Manufacturing<br />
Studies (CIMS). For more than 20 years,<br />
Nasr has been a leader in research and<br />
development efforts in sustainability. He has<br />
developed strong ties to industry through<br />
efforts to implement and improve sustainable<br />
design processes <strong>at</strong> hundreds <strong>of</strong> companies<br />
from diverse sectors. Nasr also led the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>’s doctoral program in<br />
sustainability, one <strong>of</strong> the first in the n<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
to focus specifically on the discipline.<br />
Callie Babbitt<br />
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
Babbitt’s research interests are<br />
in the areas <strong>of</strong> lifecycle inventory<br />
d<strong>at</strong>a development, assessing<br />
and minimizing environmental<br />
impacts <strong>of</strong> end-<strong>of</strong>-life management<br />
for electronic equipment,<br />
and environmental and social<br />
assessment <strong>of</strong> emerging energy<br />
systems.<br />
Gabrielle Gaustad<br />
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
Gaustad’s research interests<br />
include identifying and removing<br />
barriers and disincentives to<br />
secondary usage <strong>of</strong> m<strong>at</strong>erials,<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>ing effective technologies<br />
for upgrading recycled m<strong>at</strong>erials,<br />
and designing and selecting<br />
recycling-friendly products.<br />
Research centers/institutes<br />
• N<strong>at</strong>ional Center for Remanufacturing and<br />
Resource Recovery (NC3R)—intern<strong>at</strong>ionally<br />
recognized as a leading center for applied<br />
research in remanufacturing<br />
• Center for Sustainable Production (CSP)—<br />
dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to enhancing the environmental<br />
and economic performance <strong>of</strong> products<br />
and processes<br />
• Center for Sustainable Mobility (CSM)—<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>es the environmental and economic<br />
impact <strong>of</strong> different altern<strong>at</strong>ive fuel and<br />
propulsion technologies on the entire<br />
U.S. public transport<strong>at</strong>ion system<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Pollution Prevention <strong>Institute</strong><br />
(NYSP2I)—designed to enhance the<br />
understanding <strong>of</strong> pollution prevention<br />
techniques while also dissemin<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
technologies to enhance these efforts<br />
• NanoPower Research Labs (NPRL)—<br />
dedic<strong>at</strong>ed to the cre<strong>at</strong>ion and utiliz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> nano devices and m<strong>at</strong>erials for power<br />
gener<strong>at</strong>ion and storage<br />
• Systems Moderniz<strong>at</strong>ion and Sustainment<br />
Center (SMS)—develops technologies for<br />
optimal lifecycle design, management, and<br />
moderniz<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> large equipment systems<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
11
Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
(continued)<br />
Amit B<strong>at</strong>abyal<br />
Arthur J. Gosnell<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Economics<br />
NanoPower<br />
Every hour the sun radi<strong>at</strong>es more energy<br />
onto the Earth’s surface than is consumed<br />
globally in one year. Our NanoPower Research<br />
Labor<strong>at</strong>ories are making significant advances<br />
in the development <strong>of</strong> new m<strong>at</strong>erials and<br />
devices utilizing nanom<strong>at</strong>erials and nanotechnology<br />
for energy conversion, energy<br />
storage, and power systems development.<br />
Pollution Prevention<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> hosts the New York St<strong>at</strong>e Pollution<br />
Prevention <strong>Institute</strong>, sponsored by the New<br />
York St<strong>at</strong>e Department <strong>of</strong> Environmental<br />
Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion. The comprehensive st<strong>at</strong>ewide<br />
research and technology institute addresses<br />
individual industry needs and focuses on<br />
applied research in clean technology<br />
development, design for remanufacture,<br />
and green product assessment.<br />
As the Pollution Prevention <strong>Institute</strong>’s<br />
lead university, <strong>RIT</strong> collabor<strong>at</strong>es with other<br />
university partners as well as 10 st<strong>at</strong>ewide<br />
technology development centers.<br />
Sustainable Production<br />
At <strong>RIT</strong>’s Center for Sustainable<br />
Production, engineers are developing<br />
tools and methods to assist companies<br />
in cre<strong>at</strong>ing closed-loop, environmentally<br />
and economically sustainable<br />
systems. Research includes maximizing<br />
product reuse and remanufacturing,<br />
environmentally benign design,<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy technology<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion, and developing<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ive nonhazardous m<strong>at</strong>erials.<br />
B<strong>at</strong>abyal is using dynamic and stochastic<br />
modeling techniques to cre<strong>at</strong>e theoretical<br />
models to assist resource managers in better<br />
assessing how shocks, such as biological<br />
invasions and droughts to ecological-economic<br />
systems, affect c<strong>at</strong>tle production, food safety,<br />
and the sustainability <strong>of</strong> these systems.<br />
Recently named interim academic director<br />
<strong>of</strong> the GIS, B<strong>at</strong>abyal is a renowned intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
economist who brings his expertise<br />
and interests to lead and enhance the GIS<br />
academic programs.<br />
He has published over 450 books, journal<br />
articles, book chapters, and book reviews in<br />
the above and other fields. He is the recipient<br />
<strong>of</strong> many n<strong>at</strong>ional and intern<strong>at</strong>ional awards<br />
including the <strong>RIT</strong> Trustees Faculty Scholarship<br />
Award in 2007.<br />
12 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
M<strong>at</strong>t Fronk<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> the Center<br />
for Sustainable Mobility<br />
Sustainable Mobility<br />
Our research teams are working with<br />
the U.S. military, Monroe County (N.Y.),<br />
and the <strong>Rochester</strong> Genesee Regional<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Authority to develop smart<br />
sensor systems to better assess the performance<br />
and efficiency <strong>of</strong> vehicle systems and<br />
reduce the costs and pollution gener<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
from large fleets.<br />
Remanufacturing<br />
The institute’s remanufacturing research<br />
is intern<strong>at</strong>ionally recognized in the<br />
development, testing, and implement<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> efficient and cost-effective reuse technologies<br />
while also promoting the design<br />
<strong>of</strong> products th<strong>at</strong> cause minimal harm to<br />
the environment.<br />
Systems Moderniz<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Researchers are advancing technologies<br />
th<strong>at</strong> improve design, streamline production<br />
processes, and support real-time monitoring.<br />
For example, the institute is partnering<br />
with a number <strong>of</strong> companies to develop<br />
new monitoring systems to reduce the cost<br />
and the environmental impact <strong>of</strong> product<br />
development and oper<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Fronk has been a leader in fuel cell research<br />
and development for close to two decades.<br />
He directs research programs in hydrogen<br />
fuel technology, fuel cell development,<br />
altern<strong>at</strong>ive fuels, and hybrid vehicle systems.<br />
Prior to joining <strong>RIT</strong>, Fronk spent over 30<br />
years <strong>at</strong> General Motors in a wide variety <strong>of</strong><br />
engineering and leadership positions. Most<br />
recently he served as director <strong>of</strong> GM’s Fuel<br />
Cell Research Labor<strong>at</strong>ory, loc<strong>at</strong>ed in Honeoye<br />
Falls, N.Y. He has also served on a number<br />
<strong>of</strong> government and industry committees and<br />
task forces, including the U.S. Department<br />
<strong>of</strong> Energy’s Workshop on Manufacturing<br />
R&D for the Hydrogen Economy.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
13
Integr<strong>at</strong>ing Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and Research<br />
Courses with hands-on<br />
experiences and multiple<br />
points <strong>of</strong> view; interdisciplinary<br />
research with socially and<br />
ecologically responsible applic<strong>at</strong>ions;<br />
student projects th<strong>at</strong> address<br />
current issues—these are just some<br />
<strong>of</strong> the outcomes <strong>of</strong> our efforts to<br />
integr<strong>at</strong>e educ<strong>at</strong>ion and research.<br />
The Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
is just one example <strong>of</strong> the interrel<strong>at</strong>ionship<br />
between educ<strong>at</strong>ion and research prevalent<br />
<strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>. However, there are many more<br />
outstanding examples <strong>of</strong> students working<br />
with their pr<strong>of</strong>essors to confront the global<br />
challenges <strong>of</strong> sustainability.<br />
The problems and solutions <strong>of</strong> sustainability<br />
are interdisciplinary. Wh<strong>at</strong> emerges<br />
from our comprehensive and collabor<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
efforts will effectively address the breadth<br />
<strong>of</strong> these issues.<br />
Clean Energy<br />
The Clean Energy Incub<strong>at</strong>or is a joint effort<br />
by the Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
and <strong>RIT</strong>’s Venture Cre<strong>at</strong>ions business<br />
incub<strong>at</strong>or th<strong>at</strong> assists early stage clean<br />
energy companies in product development,<br />
business and marketing planning, and<br />
technology commercializ<strong>at</strong>ion. The<br />
incub<strong>at</strong>or enhances continued economic<br />
development in a host <strong>of</strong> areas, including<br />
wind energy, solar power, and fuel cell<br />
development.<br />
Sustainable Communities<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> is helping to build and maintain<br />
sustainable communities throughout gre<strong>at</strong>er<br />
<strong>Rochester</strong>. Since 2000,<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> faculty and students,<br />
led by pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ann<br />
Howard, have partnered<br />
with residents <strong>of</strong> the northeast<br />
neighborhoods in<br />
<strong>Rochester</strong> to propel the<br />
Ann Howard<br />
implement<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the<br />
neighborhoods’ str<strong>at</strong>egic<br />
plans. The partnership has twice received<br />
n<strong>at</strong>ional recognition for its commitment<br />
to university-community partnerships.<br />
Responding to N<strong>at</strong>ural Disasters<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e pr<strong>of</strong>essor Anthony Vodacek is<br />
leading an intern<strong>at</strong>ional collabor<strong>at</strong>ion to address<br />
the dangerous levels <strong>of</strong> carbon dioxide<br />
and methane gas th<strong>at</strong> haunts Lake Kivu, the<br />
freshw<strong>at</strong>er lake system bordering Rwanda<br />
and the Democr<strong>at</strong>ic Republic <strong>of</strong> Congo.<br />
The Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Products Labor<strong>at</strong>ory for<br />
Emergency Response also collabor<strong>at</strong>es with<br />
other organiz<strong>at</strong>ions to develop and implement<br />
innov<strong>at</strong>ive geosp<strong>at</strong>ial solutions using<br />
remote sensing technology for improved disaster<br />
mitig<strong>at</strong>ion planning and response from<br />
academia to the priv<strong>at</strong>e and public sector.<br />
14 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
<strong>RIT</strong> Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion Wetlands and Federal<br />
and St<strong>at</strong>e Wetland Boundaries<br />
Karl Korfmacher<br />
Director, Environmental Science<br />
Program and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, School<br />
<strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences<br />
Korfmacher’s research focuses<br />
on environmental and ecological<br />
applic<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> geographic<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion systems (modeling<br />
and monitoring) and campus<br />
sustainability projects.<br />
Energy Systems<br />
The Nanophotonics group, led by assistant<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor Stefan Preble, is enhancing<br />
quantum optic technology by building<br />
the first active quantum devices on traditional<br />
silicon chips. Experts believe th<strong>at</strong><br />
the use <strong>of</strong> quantum optics, where individual<br />
particles <strong>of</strong> light are used to represent<br />
inform<strong>at</strong>ion, may hold the key for cre<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
the next gener<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> communic<strong>at</strong>ion and<br />
computing systems.<br />
In the B. Thomas Golisano College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Computing and Inform<strong>at</strong>ion Sciences,<br />
researchers are also developing green<br />
computing methods to both reduce energy<br />
use and increase system efficiency.<br />
Environmental Restor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Researchers and students in the College <strong>of</strong><br />
Science are collabor<strong>at</strong>ing with universities,<br />
conserv<strong>at</strong>ories, and governments across the<br />
world in an effort to restore the global<br />
environment. In Chiapas, Mexico, restor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
efforts are underway to protect and<br />
conserve the many unique plants and<br />
animals found in the riparian forests. Back<br />
home, they are conducting studies to assess<br />
changes in wetland size, floral biodiversity,<br />
and the impact <strong>of</strong> invasive species on<br />
wetland communities.<br />
Sustainable Packaging<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> is home to one <strong>of</strong> the most extensive<br />
packaging labor<strong>at</strong>ories in the northeastern<br />
United St<strong>at</strong>es. In addition to academic<br />
support, the labor<strong>at</strong>ory provides full<br />
commercial package testing services to a<br />
range <strong>of</strong> companies, from small to Fortune<br />
500, in package development consulting,<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials testing, and distribution simul<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The lab works to develop innov<strong>at</strong>ive<br />
and functional sustainable packaging<br />
designs th<strong>at</strong> aim to reduce package<br />
volume and the amount <strong>of</strong> nonrenewable<br />
packaging m<strong>at</strong>erials.<br />
Elizabeth Hane<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences<br />
Hane collabor<strong>at</strong>es with students<br />
and other faculty on several<br />
research projects, including sugar<br />
maple regener<strong>at</strong>ion and northern<br />
hardwood calcium cycling.<br />
Christy Tyler<br />
Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
School <strong>of</strong> Biological Sciences<br />
Tyler leads the NSF-funded<br />
Aqu<strong>at</strong>ic Ecology Lab’s research<br />
examining the interaction<br />
between aqu<strong>at</strong>ic organisms and<br />
their biological and physicochemical<br />
environment.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
15
Integr<strong>at</strong>ing Educ<strong>at</strong>ion and Research (continued)<br />
Sandra<br />
Rothenberg<br />
Associ<strong>at</strong>e Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
and Zutes Faculty<br />
Fellow, E. Philip<br />
Saunders College<br />
<strong>of</strong> Business<br />
Altern<strong>at</strong>ive Fuels<br />
Led by S<strong>at</strong>ish Kandlikar, researchers in the<br />
K<strong>at</strong>e Gleason College <strong>of</strong> Engineering are<br />
using advanced diagnostic<br />
methods with visual access<br />
to enhance auto motive fuelcell<br />
performance. A hydrogen<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the Golisano<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
S<strong>at</strong>ish Kandlikar<br />
helps to improve the oper<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
<strong>of</strong> hydrogen-powered<br />
vehicles and increase public understanding<br />
<strong>of</strong> hydrogen fuel.<br />
Transport<strong>at</strong>ion Policy<br />
Through the development <strong>of</strong> geosp<strong>at</strong>ial<br />
models using geographic inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
systems, <strong>RIT</strong>’s Lab for Environmental<br />
Computing and Decision Making provides<br />
better inform<strong>at</strong>ion to policy makers and<br />
improved assessment <strong>of</strong> current regul<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and proposed reforms.<br />
Image Permanence<br />
For precious artifacts and cherished documents,<br />
time is the enemy. The Image Permanence<br />
<strong>Institute</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong> works with a host<br />
<strong>of</strong> n<strong>at</strong>ional institutions and federal agencies,<br />
including The Library <strong>of</strong> Congress and the<br />
N<strong>at</strong>ional Archives and Records Administr<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
to implement new scientific methods<br />
for document and artifact preserv<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Rothenberg is a n<strong>at</strong>ional expert in corpor<strong>at</strong>e<br />
environmental str<strong>at</strong>egy. She is the director <strong>of</strong><br />
the Saunders College’s MBA concentr<strong>at</strong>ion in<br />
sustainable management, co-director <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> Sustainable Print Systems Labor<strong>at</strong>ory, an<br />
affili<strong>at</strong>e researcher with <strong>RIT</strong>’s Lab for<br />
Environmental Computing and Decision<br />
Making, and a researcher for the Intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Motor Vehicle Program <strong>at</strong> MIT. Rothenberg<br />
was awarded the Sloan Jr. Faculty Fellowship<br />
in 2004 and the Bernard Rabinowitz<br />
Fellowship for Leadership and Service in<br />
1991. She has also worked as a research<br />
associ<strong>at</strong>e for the Harvard Global Environmental<br />
Assessment Program, U.S. Office <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong><br />
Assessment, and MIT <strong>Technology</strong>, Business and<br />
Environment program.<br />
16 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Research Facilities<br />
• Aqu<strong>at</strong>ic Ecology Lab<br />
• Brinkman Machine Tools and<br />
Manufacturing Lab<br />
• CAST Environmental Lab<br />
• Center for Electronics Manufacturing and<br />
Assembly<br />
• Center for Excellence in Lean Enterprise<br />
• Center for Integr<strong>at</strong>ed Plastics and Packaging<br />
• Center for Integr<strong>at</strong>ed Manufacturing Studies<br />
• Center for Sustainable Mobility<br />
• Center for Sustainable Production<br />
• Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Lab<br />
• Fuel Cell <strong>Technology</strong> Lab<br />
• Image Permanence <strong>Institute</strong><br />
• Imaging M<strong>at</strong>erials Labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
• Imaging Products Labor<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
• Labor<strong>at</strong>ory for Document Restor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Labor<strong>at</strong>ory for Environmental Computing<br />
and Decision Making<br />
• Nano Power Research Labor<strong>at</strong>ories<br />
• N<strong>at</strong>ional Center for Remanufacturing and<br />
Resource Recovery<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Pollution Prevention <strong>Institute</strong><br />
• Occup<strong>at</strong>ional Safety and Ergonomics<br />
Excellence Program<br />
• Packaging Dynamics Lab<br />
• Rapid Prototyping Lab<br />
• <strong>RIT</strong> Bird Observ<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
• Safety and Efficiency in Automobiles Lab<br />
• Sustainable Print Systems Lab<br />
• Sustainable Engineering Research Group<br />
• Thermal Analysis Lab<br />
• Toyota Production Systems Lab<br />
Research Sponsors<br />
and Collabor<strong>at</strong>ors<br />
• Boeing Spectrolab<br />
• BP Solar<br />
• County <strong>of</strong> Monroe, N.Y.<br />
• Delphi Inc.<br />
• Eastman Kodak Co.<br />
• Emcore Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion Photovoltaics<br />
• Environmental Protection Agency<br />
• General Motors Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Gre<strong>at</strong>b<strong>at</strong>ch Inc.<br />
• Gre<strong>at</strong> Lakes Maritime Research <strong>Institute</strong><br />
• Hewlett Packard Development Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• ITT Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Lockheed Martin Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• NASA<br />
• N<strong>at</strong>ional Parks Service<br />
• N<strong>at</strong>ional Science Found<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• The N<strong>at</strong>ure Conserv<strong>at</strong>ory<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Audubon<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Department <strong>of</strong><br />
Environmental Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Energy Research<br />
and Development Authority<br />
• New York St<strong>at</strong>e Found<strong>at</strong>ion for Science,<br />
<strong>Technology</strong> and Innov<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Northrop Grumman Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Reflexite Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• Torvec Inc.<br />
• Toyota Motor Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• University <strong>of</strong> Arizona<br />
• University <strong>of</strong> Delaware<br />
• University <strong>of</strong> Michigan<br />
• U.S. Departments <strong>of</strong>: Agriculture, Defense,<br />
Energy, Fish and Wildlife, Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• U.S. Forest Service<br />
• Xerox Corpor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
John Morelli<br />
Russell C. McCarthy<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and Chair,<br />
Civil Engineering<br />
<strong>Technology</strong>, Environmental<br />
Management<br />
& Safety Department<br />
Morelli is the founding chair <strong>of</strong> the environmental<br />
management BS degree program.<br />
Under his direction, the program evolved<br />
into environmental sustainability, health<br />
and safety. Morelli was also the principal<br />
developer <strong>of</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>’s MS degree program in<br />
environmental, health and safety management.<br />
Says Morelli, “While the pr<strong>of</strong>ession<br />
<strong>of</strong> environmental management has evolved<br />
through several manifest<strong>at</strong>ions, it is clearly<br />
time for another evolutionary jump. The developing<br />
role <strong>of</strong> the environmental manager is a<br />
principal research area, specifically focusing<br />
on fostering sustainability in our economic,<br />
environmental, and social systems.” Morelli<br />
is the founding director <strong>of</strong> the Environmental<br />
Management Leadership Initi<strong>at</strong>ive.<br />
Ken Reed ’71<br />
Alumnus Dr. Ken Reed (left) and Mick Stadler<br />
(right) established a startup company, Cerion<br />
Energy Inc., out <strong>of</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>’s Venture Cre<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
business incub<strong>at</strong>or.<br />
The company develops a diesel fuel additive<br />
using nano-particles th<strong>at</strong> tremendously<br />
improves energy efficiency while reducing<br />
harmful emissions. A separ<strong>at</strong>e formul<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
added to lube oil reduces the friction <strong>of</strong><br />
internal moving parts, providing additional<br />
fuel economy and reducing engine wear.<br />
The pair assembled a team <strong>of</strong> faculty<br />
members to work on the research project.<br />
Together, they were able to develop a novel<br />
chemistry. Three provisional p<strong>at</strong>ents have<br />
been filed on the technology, which preceded<br />
four additional applic<strong>at</strong>ions. Several new<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials are also being investig<strong>at</strong>ed.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
17
Practice and Involvem ent<br />
”<br />
Initially, our goal was to<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>e altern<strong>at</strong>ive energy<br />
technologies,” says Senior VP<br />
James W<strong>at</strong>ters. “Over time, we’ve<br />
evolved into a much broader<br />
mand<strong>at</strong>e. … To be viewed as a .<br />
progressive university, you must<br />
be more sustainable. There are a<br />
lot <strong>of</strong> opportunities, and we have to<br />
make sure we are doing all we can.”<br />
It is the belief <strong>of</strong> <strong>RIT</strong> community members<br />
th<strong>at</strong> everyone must work to adopt more<br />
environmentally responsible practices and<br />
reduce both consumption <strong>of</strong> nonrenewable<br />
resources and production <strong>of</strong> greenhouse gases.<br />
This self-contained community <strong>of</strong> more<br />
than 20,000 faculty, staff, and students has<br />
made a commitment to advance sustainability<br />
in all areas—in academic programs and<br />
research initi<strong>at</strong>ives, in our campus oper<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
and consumption practices, and in<br />
efforts to promote social sustainability<br />
within the <strong>RIT</strong> family.<br />
Scores <strong>of</strong> projects are being carried out<br />
by students, faculty, and staff, and just as<br />
many are being h<strong>at</strong>ched in classrooms, <strong>of</strong>fices,<br />
kitchens, and workshops across campus.<br />
By making the campus more environmentally<br />
friendly and by engaging in and<br />
learning more about sustainable practices,<br />
the <strong>RIT</strong> community improves the extended<br />
environment in real and measurable ways.<br />
By doing so, we can take steps now to<br />
ensure th<strong>at</strong> the campus, the <strong>Rochester</strong> area,<br />
and the gre<strong>at</strong>er world in which we live<br />
will be cleaner, healthier, and more livable<br />
tomorrow than they are today.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> students, faculty, and staff<br />
plant n<strong>at</strong>ive trees and shrubs<br />
in the wetlands near the birdbanding<br />
st<strong>at</strong>ion on <strong>RIT</strong>’s campus.<br />
These shrubs and trees provide<br />
a n<strong>at</strong>ural habit<strong>at</strong> for thousands<br />
<strong>of</strong> migr<strong>at</strong>ing birds, many <strong>of</strong> which<br />
are species <strong>of</strong> concern th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
declining in popul<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
18 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
The College <strong>of</strong> Applied Science and <strong>Technology</strong> Engineering <strong>Technology</strong> Hall<br />
Visible examples <strong>of</strong> campus commitment<br />
are the College <strong>of</strong> Applied Science and<br />
<strong>Technology</strong> (CAST) Engineering <strong>Technology</strong><br />
Hall and the Student Innov<strong>at</strong>ion Center.<br />
Both have achieved high levels <strong>of</strong> LEED<br />
certific<strong>at</strong>ion. Established by the U.S. Green<br />
Building Council, LEED (Leadership in<br />
Energy and Environmental Design) is the<br />
widely accepted r<strong>at</strong>ing system for evalu<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
sustainable buildings. Both buildings were<br />
cited in the College <strong>Sustainability</strong> Report<br />
Card, which commended <strong>RIT</strong>’s policy<br />
requiring all new construction to meet <strong>at</strong><br />
least LEED Silver certific<strong>at</strong>ion criteria.<br />
Kevin Surace ’85<br />
Alumnus Surace (right) is president and<br />
CEO <strong>of</strong> Serious M<strong>at</strong>erials, a burgeoning<br />
green technology company visited by Vice<br />
President Joe Biden (left). The White House<br />
cited Serious M<strong>at</strong>erials, based in Sunnyvale,<br />
Calif., as an example <strong>of</strong> the benefits <strong>of</strong> the<br />
economic stimulus package, the American<br />
Recovery and Reinvestment Act.<br />
Serious M<strong>at</strong>erials develops and manufactures<br />
sustainable building m<strong>at</strong>erials th<strong>at</strong> save<br />
energy and money, improve comfort, and<br />
aggressively address clim<strong>at</strong>e change. The<br />
expanding company is hiring new employees<br />
to help manufacture its highly insul<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
windows, glass, and drywall m<strong>at</strong>erial.<br />
Surace was named the 2009 Entrepreneur<br />
<strong>of</strong> the Year by Inc. Magazine.<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong><br />
Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Restor<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
John Waud, pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
<strong>of</strong> environmental<br />
sciences, and<br />
David M<strong>at</strong>hiason,<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor emeritus,<br />
spend many hours<br />
<strong>at</strong> the <strong>RIT</strong> Bird<br />
Observ<strong>at</strong>ory loc<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
on the edge <strong>of</strong><br />
campus near the Astronomical Observ<strong>at</strong>ory.<br />
The Army Corps <strong>of</strong> Engineers and <strong>RIT</strong> have<br />
agreed th<strong>at</strong> the 32 acres <strong>of</strong> land around it<br />
will not be developed but will be kept as a<br />
conserv<strong>at</strong>ion area for wildlife. It is <strong>at</strong> the<br />
observ<strong>at</strong>ory th<strong>at</strong> Waud, M<strong>at</strong>hiason, and their<br />
group <strong>of</strong> students and volunteers band birds.<br />
In fast urbanizing landscapes, birds’<br />
migr<strong>at</strong>ory stopovers are <strong>of</strong>ten replaced by<br />
the newest mall or parking lot, depriving<br />
flocks <strong>of</strong> the nourishment and rest they<br />
need during migr<strong>at</strong>ion. About 95 percent<br />
<strong>of</strong> mortality in birds occurs during migr<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
“By banding birds, we are able to track their<br />
stopovers during migr<strong>at</strong>ion and determine the<br />
characteristics th<strong>at</strong> make n<strong>at</strong>ural stopover<br />
habit<strong>at</strong>s effective,” says Waud.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
19
Making a Difference<br />
Examples <strong>of</strong> our commitment<br />
to having an impact can .<br />
be found across campus.<br />
Our intent is fed, in part, by the<br />
energy <strong>of</strong> our students. Realizing<br />
th<strong>at</strong> they share even more responsibility<br />
for the future <strong>of</strong> the<br />
planet, their actions contribute<br />
and reson<strong>at</strong>e in meaningful ways.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> Habit<strong>at</strong> for Humanity<br />
<strong>RIT</strong>’s Habit<strong>at</strong> for Humanity, a student-led<br />
campus organiz<strong>at</strong>ion, built its first sustainable<br />
Habit<strong>at</strong> home. The home fe<strong>at</strong>ured energyefficient<br />
innov<strong>at</strong>ions designed by students<br />
and m<strong>at</strong>erials th<strong>at</strong> minimize the home’s<br />
environmental impact.<br />
A number <strong>of</strong> alumni and industry partners<br />
also supported the project financially or<br />
through don<strong>at</strong>ions <strong>of</strong> green building m<strong>at</strong>erials.<br />
Engineers for a Sustainable World<br />
The <strong>RIT</strong> chapter <strong>of</strong> Engineers for a Sustainable<br />
World promotes the social and<br />
environmental aspects <strong>of</strong> sustainability in the<br />
<strong>Rochester</strong> region and communities around<br />
the globe. Through its partnership with<br />
<strong>Rochester</strong>’s St. Joseph’s House <strong>of</strong> Hospitality,<br />
a homeless shelter, the group volunteers<br />
weekly <strong>at</strong> the shelter, assisting with its daily<br />
meal program as well as cooking evening<br />
meals for the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion’s 12 residents.<br />
Students are also preparing an energy audit<br />
<strong>of</strong> the shelter’s facilities to reduce energy<br />
use and lower he<strong>at</strong>ing and electricity costs.<br />
Heavy Metal Mobility<br />
in Toys Research<br />
Gradu<strong>at</strong>e and undergradu<strong>at</strong>e students in<br />
the environmental sustainability, health and<br />
safety program are researching toys th<strong>at</strong> are<br />
imported into the U.S. from countries with<br />
less stringent regul<strong>at</strong>ions and/or enforcement<br />
regarding product safety. Gradu<strong>at</strong>e-level<br />
research is determining the presence <strong>of</strong> heavy<br />
metals in imported toys. Undergradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
researchers are evalu<strong>at</strong>ing the mobility <strong>of</strong><br />
these metals when exposed to synthetic<br />
saliva, simul<strong>at</strong>ing the effects when a child<br />
puts such a toy into his or her mouth.<br />
20 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
Joshua Goldowitz<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Environmental<br />
Management Undergradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
Program Coordin<strong>at</strong>or<br />
Goldwitz is researching green<br />
wall technologies th<strong>at</strong> can<br />
provide low-energy tre<strong>at</strong>ment<br />
for gray w<strong>at</strong>er and nontoxic<br />
aqueous wastes facilit<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
w<strong>at</strong>er reuse and conserv<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Jennifer L. Schneider<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Civil Engineering<br />
<strong>Technology</strong><br />
Schneider is researching<br />
multidimensional sustainability<br />
(sector analysis), hazardous<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials/process safety, and<br />
community sustainability.<br />
Scott Wolcott<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Civil Engineering<br />
<strong>Technology</strong> Program Chair<br />
Wolcott’s research is in the area<br />
<strong>of</strong> critical infrastructure as it rel<strong>at</strong>es<br />
to storm w<strong>at</strong>er management and<br />
aqueous tre<strong>at</strong>ment systems and<br />
development <strong>of</strong> the environmental<br />
management pr<strong>of</strong>ession.<br />
SEAL<br />
The Student Environmental Action League,<br />
commonly known as SEAL, seeks to<br />
promote awareness <strong>of</strong> environmental issues<br />
on campus and volunteers in the <strong>Rochester</strong><br />
community. SEAL’s most popular event<br />
during the academic year is E-Waste, when<br />
members collect old electronics—several<br />
thousand pounds’ worth—from the <strong>RIT</strong><br />
community and turn them over to Maven<br />
Technologies for proper recycling. Some <strong>of</strong><br />
their volunteer work has included Intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Coastal Cleanup and <strong>Rochester</strong>’s<br />
Clean Sweep program.<br />
Innov<strong>at</strong>ive Transport<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
A group <strong>of</strong> students and faculty from <strong>RIT</strong>’s<br />
Center for Student Innov<strong>at</strong>ion envisions<br />
Gre<strong>at</strong>er <strong>Rochester</strong> as a world-class bicycling<br />
region. The group has proposed <strong>Rochester</strong><br />
Greenway, a bike trail th<strong>at</strong> would begin in<br />
downtown <strong>Rochester</strong> and end <strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong>.<br />
Proposals include one-way bike tubes for<br />
riders to travel downwind in either direction<br />
or a five-mile-long canopy protecting riders<br />
from inclement we<strong>at</strong>her.<br />
Other student groups <strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong> are already<br />
developing experimental electric bicycles<br />
th<strong>at</strong> would be ideal for such a greenway.<br />
Thomas Smith<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, Chemistry and<br />
Microsystems Engineering<br />
Thomas Smith is director <strong>of</strong> the Imaging<br />
M<strong>at</strong>erials Labor<strong>at</strong>ory <strong>at</strong> <strong>RIT</strong> and is intern<strong>at</strong>ionally<br />
recognized for his research in polymer<br />
chemistry, nanom<strong>at</strong>erials, and electronic<br />
m<strong>at</strong>erials. He is currently leading a team <strong>of</strong><br />
scientists and students th<strong>at</strong> is developing<br />
new conductive polymers th<strong>at</strong> could assist<br />
in improving the efficiency and productivity<br />
<strong>of</strong> lithium ion b<strong>at</strong>teries, fuel cells, and a host<br />
<strong>of</strong> microchemical devices. The work is being<br />
funded by the N<strong>at</strong>ional Science Found<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and builds upon more than a half-dozen years<br />
<strong>of</strong> polymer research conducted by Smith.<br />
Prior to joining the university, he served as a<br />
research fellow for Xerox Corp. and has over<br />
40 years <strong>of</strong> experience as a researcher and<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>or. Smith was named an inaugural<br />
fellow <strong>of</strong> the American Chemical Society<br />
during the organiz<strong>at</strong>ion’s 2009 annual<br />
meeting in Washington, D.C.<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
21
A Campus <strong>Sustainability</strong> Leader<br />
The university’s efforts to<br />
develop comprehensive campus,<br />
research, and educ<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
programs in sustainability have<br />
earned <strong>RIT</strong> recognition as one <strong>of</strong><br />
the most sustainable campuses .<br />
in the n<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
The College <strong>Sustainability</strong> Report<br />
Card for 2009 selected <strong>RIT</strong> as a “Campus<br />
<strong>Sustainability</strong> Leader” as part <strong>of</strong> its annual<br />
survey <strong>of</strong> American colleges and universities.<br />
“We are very excited to have been included<br />
in this list <strong>of</strong> sustainable campuses and<br />
are honored th<strong>at</strong> our efforts in this area have<br />
been recognized,” says <strong>RIT</strong> President Bill<br />
Destler. “<strong>RIT</strong> is committed to incorpor<strong>at</strong>ing<br />
sustainability into all aspects <strong>of</strong> university<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions, from construction and facilities<br />
management to research and educ<strong>at</strong>ion.”<br />
To be named a “Campus <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
Leader,” universities had to receive an<br />
average grade <strong>of</strong> A- or better across the<br />
survey’s six campus c<strong>at</strong>egories. <strong>RIT</strong> received<br />
A grades for administr<strong>at</strong>ion, green building<br />
development, student involvement, and<br />
investment priorities.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> was praised for its policy on green<br />
construction—as all new facilities built<br />
on campus need to be LEED-certified—<br />
and the incorpor<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> sustainability<br />
into the university’s l<strong>at</strong>est str<strong>at</strong>egic plan.<br />
It was also cited for strong student involvement<br />
across the campus in sustainable<br />
activities, including <strong>RIT</strong>’s annual Greeks<br />
Go Green competition and strong university<br />
chapters representing the Student Environmental<br />
Action League and Engineers for a<br />
Sustainable World.<br />
The College <strong>Sustainability</strong> Report Card<br />
evalu<strong>at</strong>es campus and endowment sustainability<br />
activities <strong>at</strong> colleges and universities<br />
in the United St<strong>at</strong>es and Canada, focusing<br />
on administr<strong>at</strong>ion and investment priorities;<br />
student involvement; transport<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
recycling, and energy use; and endowment<br />
transparency and shareholder engagement.<br />
The <strong>Sustainability</strong> Report Card is pro-<br />
Student Innov<strong>at</strong>ion Center<br />
duced by the <strong>Sustainability</strong> Endowments<br />
<strong>Institute</strong>, a nonpr<strong>of</strong>it corpor<strong>at</strong>ion dedic<strong>at</strong>ed<br />
to enhancing sustainable practices in campus<br />
oper<strong>at</strong>ions and endowment practices.<br />
Focusing on Recycling<br />
and Energy Conserv<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
• $38 million major renov<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> the HVAC<br />
infrastructure, including install<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> two<br />
st<strong>at</strong>e-<strong>of</strong>-the-art centralized he<strong>at</strong>ing and<br />
cooling plants.<br />
• Use <strong>of</strong> solar power collectors for on-site<br />
he<strong>at</strong> and electricity production.<br />
• Utilizing a fleet <strong>of</strong> altern<strong>at</strong>ive fuel vehicles,<br />
including hybrids, electric vehicles, and<br />
vehicles powered by biodiesel and<br />
hydrogen fuels.<br />
• Dining Services purchases 75.6 percent <strong>of</strong><br />
its food from 20 local businesses, thereby<br />
cutting transport<strong>at</strong>ion costs dram<strong>at</strong>ically.<br />
• Dining Services anticip<strong>at</strong>es providing 55<br />
tons <strong>of</strong> vegetable scraps annually to a farming<br />
vendor for composting and approxim<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
30,000 pounds annually <strong>of</strong> used frying oil<br />
will be sold for biodiesel fuel.<br />
• Removing trays from dining halls has<br />
reduced food waste by approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 30<br />
percent, and decreased consumption <strong>of</strong> both<br />
w<strong>at</strong>er and chemicals from the washing cycle.<br />
• <strong>RIT</strong> recycles annually about 38% <strong>of</strong> all waste<br />
produced on campus with a goal <strong>of</strong> recycling<br />
over 50% <strong>of</strong> the waste.<br />
To view <strong>RIT</strong>’s complete report, visit<br />
www.greenreportcard.org<br />
22 <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong> <strong>Sustainability</strong>
An Inspired Journey<br />
Sustainable development meets<br />
the needs <strong>of</strong> the present<br />
without compromising the<br />
ability <strong>of</strong> future gener<strong>at</strong>ions to<br />
meet their own needs. —“Our Common<br />
Future,” World Commission on Environment<br />
and Development<br />
There can be no deb<strong>at</strong>e: sustainability is a<br />
growing intern<strong>at</strong>ional concern. Our reach<br />
extends beyond our campus and includes<br />
involvement in intern<strong>at</strong>ional organiz<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
like the Organiz<strong>at</strong>ion for Economic Cooper<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
and Development and the Intern<strong>at</strong>ional<br />
Symposium in Sustainable Manufacturing.<br />
Teams <strong>of</strong> faculty and students have<br />
made an impact in Cro<strong>at</strong>ia, South Korea,<br />
Kosovo, and Venezuela.<br />
The focus on sustainability is going to<br />
expand exponentially in coming decades.<br />
We are inspired to heightened awareness <strong>of</strong><br />
its importance and take the steps necessary<br />
to ensure the future <strong>of</strong> our planet. <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
issues and practices will influence our<br />
future in ways we can already foresee and<br />
in many others th<strong>at</strong> we cannot yet envision.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> and other innov<strong>at</strong>ive universities th<strong>at</strong><br />
have already grasped the enormity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
coming changes—and are acting on them—<br />
will be more visible, stronger, and <strong>at</strong>tractive<br />
in the near future.<br />
Opportunities abound for collabor<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
and the assistance <strong>of</strong> inspired partners<br />
will acceler<strong>at</strong>e our trajectory to becoming<br />
a global resource in sustainability educ<strong>at</strong>ion,<br />
research, and practice. <strong>RIT</strong> invites<br />
collabor<strong>at</strong>ion from all corners: individuals,<br />
philanthropic organiz<strong>at</strong>ions, universities,<br />
government agencies, and industry partners.<br />
Anyone similarly inspired is welcome to<br />
join our journey.<br />
For more inform<strong>at</strong>ion, visit:<br />
▶ <strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong><br />
www.rit.edu<br />
▶ The Golisano <strong>Institute</strong> for <strong>Sustainability</strong><br />
www.sustainability.rit.edu<br />
▶ <strong>RIT</strong> Green<br />
www.rit.edu/ritgreen<br />
▶ Admissions<br />
www.rit.edu/admission<br />
▶ Government and Community Rel<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
www.rit.edu/gcr<br />
▶ Development and Alumni Rel<strong>at</strong>ions<br />
www.rit.edu/development/giving<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
23
<strong>Rochester</strong> <strong>Institute</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Technology</strong><br />
60 Lomb Memorial Drive<br />
<strong>Rochester</strong>, NY 14623-5608<br />
www.rit.edu/sustainability<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> <strong>at</strong> a Glance<br />
Founded in 1829, <strong>RIT</strong> is one <strong>of</strong> the world’s leading<br />
technological institutions and is a member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Asso ci<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>of</strong> Independent Technological Universities<br />
(AITU). It is among the n<strong>at</strong>ion’s largest priv<strong>at</strong>e<br />
universities based on full-time under gradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
enrollment and among the top three producers <strong>of</strong><br />
bachelor’s degree holders in science, technology,<br />
engineering, and m<strong>at</strong>hem<strong>at</strong>ics.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> is an intern<strong>at</strong>ional leader in experiential<br />
learning with the fourth oldest and one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
world’s largest cooper<strong>at</strong>ive educ<strong>at</strong>ion programs.<br />
Selective in admissions, <strong>RIT</strong> enrolls approxim<strong>at</strong>ely<br />
13,800 undergradu<strong>at</strong>e and 2,600 gradu<strong>at</strong>e students,<br />
and has more than 100,000 alumni.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong>’s eight colleges <strong>of</strong>fer more than 90 bachelor’s<br />
degree programs and more than 70 gradu<strong>at</strong>e<br />
degree programs, including six doctoral programs.<br />
Diverse, talented, and cre<strong>at</strong>ive students from<br />
all 50 st<strong>at</strong>es and more than 100 countries are <strong>at</strong><br />
home in <strong>RIT</strong>’s dynamic living/learning community.<br />
Approxim<strong>at</strong>ely 1,500 intern<strong>at</strong>ional students are<br />
enrolled <strong>at</strong> the <strong>Rochester</strong> campus and an additional<br />
1,100 intern<strong>at</strong>ional students are enrolled <strong>at</strong><br />
campuses in Cro<strong>at</strong>ia, Dubai, and Kosovo.<br />
As home to the N<strong>at</strong>ional Technical <strong>Institute</strong> for<br />
the Deaf (NTID), <strong>RIT</strong> is an intern<strong>at</strong>ional leader in<br />
educ<strong>at</strong>ing deaf and hard-<strong>of</strong>-hearing students. The<br />
university provides unparalleled access and support<br />
services for more than 1,300 deaf and hard-<strong>of</strong>hearing<br />
students.<br />
<strong>RIT</strong> will admit and hire men and women; veterans; persons with<br />
disabilities; individuals <strong>of</strong> any race, creed, religion, color, n<strong>at</strong>ional or<br />
ethnic origin, sexual orient<strong>at</strong>ion, age, or marital st<strong>at</strong>us in compliance<br />
with all appropri<strong>at</strong>e legisl<strong>at</strong>ion.<br />
Campus image by Str<strong>at</strong>us Imaging<br />
13M-P0865-1/10-MLI-JSA