From University of Chicago Athletics
A committee of University of Chicago student-athletes will host a sustainability focused zero-waste event at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday.
The event, which will take place on Earth Day (April 22), seeks to divert waste from landfills to compost, improve recycling and raise awareness for sustainability on campus and in athletics. Teams of volunteers will spend the day educating spectators and helping them sort waste at disposal stations around Stagg Field and Ted Haydon Track.
Committee members include women's swimmers Cara LoPiano, Maya Scheidl and Emily Hunt; Hill Bonin (men's soccer); Claire Costelloe (women's track and field); and Casey Mulroy (marathon runner).
Bonin described working on the committee and the zero-waste event as "a landmark event for the University of Chicago, because we are involving students and administrative entities in an event revolving around sustainability. It gets students excited and shows them that something as simple as recycling your Gatorade bottle adds up and makes a difference."
Costelloe was excited "to see two things – athletics and environmental research – that have so significantly shaped my experience at UChicago being integrated in this way and then to get to share it with the campus community." LoPiano agreed, "It is so rewarding to see all our hard work come together in such an exciting way."
The students on the committee were recruited by Dr. Sabina Shaikh, Director of The Program on the Global Environment (PGE) and the instructor for two Environmental Studies practicum classes involved in the project. "The students on this committee have devoted so much time and energy to this project, demonstrating their strong passion for instilling environmental sustainability in their everyday lives and activities," Shaikh said. "Additionally, many of the students enrolled in practicum courses to participate in research focused on enhancing campus sustainability."
The event has brought together partners such as the PGE, Department of Athletics & Recreation, the Provost Office, Bon Appetit, and the Office of Sustainability and will run alongside other Earth Day events, including a talk by Former White House Executive Chef, Sam Kass.
Links:
● UChicago Earth Day: http://sustainability.uchicago.edu/earthday/
● UChicago News Story on Earth Day: https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2017/04/14/earth-day-draws-campus-partners-together-sustainability-events
● UChicago News Story on Sam Kass talk: https://news.uchicago.edu/article/2017/04/05/nutrition-leader-and-alumnus-sam-kass-speak-april-22-during-uchicagos-earth-fest