WYOMISSING, Pa. -- Penn State Berks will host the third annual Sustainability Expo: "Connecting Campus and Community, From Silos to Synergy," sponsored by the Penn State Berks Sustainability Council, on Monday, Dec. 1, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center Lobby. The event is free and open to the public and will include giveaways, raffles, prizes and light refreshments.
More than 20 campus and community organizations will be on hand at stations throughout the expo, offering information and resources about sustainability-focused programs and initiatives. BioBricks, Thun Library and Makerspace, Living Downstream, Mental Health as a Sustainable Development Goal, and Supporting Local Beekeepers are among the Berks Campus stations that will be featured. Berks Agricultural Resource Network (B.A.R.N.), Berks Climate Action, Berks Community Action Program, Berks County League of Women Voters, City of Reading Public Works, Green Building Alliance, Penn State Extension-Master Gardeners, and the Sustainable Energy Fund are just a few of the community organizations scheduled to attend.
Additionally, students in BiSC3, an environmental science course, will present their community-based Environmental Awareness and Community Action Project (EACAP), in which students were tasked with researching local, national and global environmental issues and engaging in community-based projects to address sustainability issues in the Berks County area. BIOL 294 students will be sharing their sustainable landscaping projects.
The Trash to Treasure Sustainable Swap Station is back by popular demand. Attendees can drop off items they no longer need and/or find some new items. Clothing, jewelry, accessories, toys, books, games, kitchen appliances and home/office décor will be accepted.
Mahsa Kazempour, professor of science education and Sustainability Council chair, said events like the Sustainability Expo are an important way to connect campus and community initiatives.
"Sustainability is critical in so many different ways, and events such as the expo give community organizations the chance to connect with our students and campus community. Educating everyone, particularly students, about ways to engage locally is critical," she said. "Similarly, when our students, faculty, and staff are provided with opportunities to present projects or share information, it shows the various ways sustainability connects us."
For more information, a full list of vendor stations and the event flyer, visit the Sustainability Expo website or contact Kazempour at 610-396-6312 or [email protected].