Help Columbia Reduce Waste and Improve Waste Diversion – Join the Waste & Reuse Think Tank for Students

About

Columbia’s Office of Sustainability will be leading efforts to help schools develop actions that will impact Columbia’s Scope 3 emissions on various topics. Additionally, to incorporate student input and ideas, the Office of Sustainability will facilitate a think tank group comprised of twelve students to develop practical solutions that for reducing the generation of waste as well as improving waste sorting on campus.

Meetings will take place on April 12, 19, and 26 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. on the Morningside campus. The exact location will be provided to participants before the meeting.

Please apply if this sounds like something you’d like.

Student involvement in these workshops will have multiple benefits:

• Students are familiar with the current state of recycling compliance and waste generation from campus activities, so they have a crucial voice in brainstorming options for the best possible waste diversion and reuse outcomes.
• Given that all CU affiliates have a responsibility in waste management, input from all types of University stakeholders is important.
• Columbia’s Campus as a Living Lab mission commits to providing opportunities for students to use the campus’s operations as a learning environment for sustainability projects, which advances both the student experience and campus functions.

Who should apply?

• Students who are enthusiastic about sustainability and improving campus recycling and waste collection
• Students who are studying sustainability and particularly interested in circularity, waste emissions, and waste management processes.

What’s asked of you:

• Commit to attending the three think tank meetings for Waste Think Tank for Students on the listed dates and times.
• Workshops will be on the Morningside campus, and the exact location be shared at a later date.
• Bring a positive and collaborative attitude.
• Be prepared to use creative thinking and apply your unique experience to the problem at hand.

To apply, fill out the form below and include:

A personal statement using the following prompts (please limit to 300 words):

• Your interest in sustainability, particularly for Waste
• How your life experience, background, and Columbia experience will support the goals of the Think Tanks
• Your demeanor and approach to different points of view
• What experience or expertise you might be able to provide

For question, please email Daniel Allalemdjian, Director, Sustainability & Transportation in the Office of Sustainability at [email protected]