IdeaLab: The Sustainable University

Dates:  March 30-April 1 & April 20-22, 2012

Location: University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Cost:

UMass Students: Free (with refundable deposit, see FAQs for details) 

Other Five College and Springfield-area Students: $100

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED to March 18! 

Major universities have big budgets, big energy bills, and large carbon and waste footprints.   They also are wasting a major resource: large numbers of students with great entrepreneurial, technological, and innovative potential who care deeply about environmental issues. 

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student passionate about protecting and preserving the planet and interested in learning how to create an innovation or viable business that addresses critical sustainability issues on your university campus?  We invite you to apply to attend NCIIA's IdeaLab:  The Sustainable University. You'll learn how to develop and commercialize products and innovations that promote and support productive and environmentally sustainable universities. 

In 2006, twelve university presidents agreed to become founding signatories for the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, an initiative to reduce and eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions from specific campus operations.  Since then, more than 600 colleges and universities, including UMass, Smith, Hampshire, Holyoke and Greenfield Community Colleges and Springfield College have signed on and committed to the challenge. 

How do they plan to meet their ambitious goals?  One way is to empower students to create solutions toward climate neutrality and sustainability. Do you have creative ideas to make your university more sustainable? Apply today to attend IdeaLab!  UMass sustainability staff will be on hand for the IdeaLab process and will be seriously evaluating the practicality and effectiveness of applying your ideas on campus. 

Application deadline has been extended to March 18 so apply today!

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