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Published on 02/01/12

Students awarded grants for sustainability projects

Three University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences students are among six whom were recently awarded grants from the UGA Office of Sustainability. The grants, which come from the student-paid green fee, will fund projects aimed at advancing campus sustainability.

Twenty-one grant proposals were submitted in December and evaluated by a selection committee composed of UGA students, faculty and staff. Each winning proposal addressed priorities outlined in UGA’s 2020 Strategic Plan to conserve resources, educate the campus community about environmental issues and provide research to further sustainability at the university.

JoHannah Biang, a master’s student in horticulture, will construct a living wall planted with seasonal herbs and vegetables. The project will research and demonstrate the effectiveness of vertical gardening. The wall will be installed at UGArden, UGA’s campus community garden, in Athens and will be maintained by student volunteers. The produce will be harvested by Campus Kitchens and distributed at the Northeast Georgia Food Bank.

Brandi Bishop, a senior agricultural education major at the UGA campus in Tifton, Ga., will develop a recycling program at the extended campus. She plans to install 60 waste reduction stations in 15 of the busiest buildings on the campus.

The stations will make it easier and more convenient to recycle, and will save items from landfills. Bishop will also implement a public relations campaign to encourage university and community members to reduce waste.

Katie Shepard, a master’s student in the department of crop and soil sciences in Athens, will monitor the effectiveness of a UGA East Campus rain garden at filtering pollutants from storm water runoff. Shepard will take soil moisture and water quality measurements to determine how well the rain garden does its job. Her findings will help ensure that other current and future rain gardens on campus continue to act as effective storm water filters.

The project will be monitored by students in CAES, the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources and the College of Environment and Design.

Kevin Kirsche, director of the UGA Office of Sustainability, said the grant program is a great way for students to get involved and make a real, noticeable difference on campus.

“The Campus Sustainability Grants program provides students valuable experience in grant-writing and an opportunity for hands-on implementation of sustainable practices,” he said. “We enjoy working with students to take their ideas from concept to completion.”

For more information on the UGA Office of Sustainability, visit the website www.sustainability.uga.edu/.

Experts/Sources:
Kevin Kirsche
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