Recent announcements

We have at last joined the Instagram community! Follow us @uwcsf for updates on projects, events, applications, volunteer opportunities and sustainability news. 

Learn more about upcoming events, committee operations and more in our latest newsletter.

The Annual UW Sustainability Festival is next week and we want to see YOU at our CSF events! Get more details here about our Open House, Tabling event, Odegaard Poster Reception, and participation in the "Campus as a Living Lab" Exhibition.

Get updated on CSF news and events! Click here to check it out. Didn't get this in your inbox? Sign up to recieve our monthly email newsletter here.

Through the University of Washington and Seattle City Light’s continuing Green Up program partnership, up to $15,000 of matching funds will be available this fall for CSF projects focused on renewable energy installations or education components. Depending on the demand during the fall-winter CSF funding cycle, funding may also be available during the spring application cycle. This exciting agreement marks the first external funding grant for the CSF.

The UW has been part of SCL’s Green Up program since 2006 when the University committed to buying 100% green power. In conjunction, SCL agreed to provide funding for renewable energy work at the UW such as staff and student projects and the creation of educational outreach materials. The UW-SCL partnership hopes to continue jointly leveraging their academic and economic resources to bring about a greener energy future.

As a part of their renewed agreement in April of 2015, the UW-SCL partnership has agreed to grant renewable energy project funding through the existing CSF application process. Previously, the CSF has enabled large scale renewable energy projects such as UW Solar. During the 2012-13 school year, the CSF awarded UW Solar $89,500 of funding to conduct a feasibility study and then install solar panels on a new UW Housing and Food Services building. Moving forward, this new auxiliary funding will allow the CSF to support a greater number of projects like UW Solar while continuing to increase overall student involvement in campus sustainability.

If you are interested in applying for these funds, please contact Marilyn Ostergren, Renewable Energy Liaison with SCL, at ostergrn@uw.edu for more information and encouragement.

By Veronica Guenther, CSF Outreach Coordinator

Each year the CSF committee controls the allocation of over $250,000 to student-led projects! As a voting CSF committee member, you will have the opportunity to provide direction to all aspects of the fund; including project approval, strategic visioning and budget oversight. The committee consists of seven student voting members, three ex-officios and a variable number of non-voting memebers. This year the ASUW Board of Directors and GPSS will each be appointing two voting members to join the committee.

If you're an undergraduate student, apply here to become an ASUW Board of Directors Representative.

Due Date: October 16th, 2015 at 11:45pm

If you're a graduate student, apply here to become a GPSS representative. (see instructions at top of page)

Due Date: TBD

Have you read the latest CSF Newsletter? Check it out to learn about the summer progress made on a number of CSF projects! Most notably, trails, benches and educational signs have been installed in Kincaid Ravine. Meanwhile, the SER-UW Nursery has been taking care of plant starts in preparation for their autumn nursery expansion. Lastly, the Yesler Swamp Trek Stop is on track for completion in spring 2016. Looking towards the school year, be sure to stop by the CSF table at the Dawg Daze Student Activities Fair. Hope to see you all soon!

Link to August 2015 Newsletter here.

It was a very busy and highly productive month at the CSF! Our newest projects are making strides and changes are already starting to take shape. This will be the last newsletter for this school year, but no fear - you will still be receiving at least 1 newsletter update this summer because sustainability never stops! The 2014-2015 academic year has been a very exciting year for the CSF, and we hope to continue with that momentum. Thank you to all the students, staff, faculty, and departments for supporting and working together with us for the past year. We couldn't have done it without you!

Link to June 2015 Newsletter here.

Next fall the UW student chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration's (SER-UW) native plant nursery is expanding by building a new hoop house, growing more plants from seed and cuttings, and increasing its opportunities for volunteer involvement.

SER will be looking for a Building Projects Intern and a Communications Intern:

"The native plant nursery is seeking two undergraduate student interns for fall quarter. An interest in native plants and sustainable horticulture practices is a must but previous experience is not required. Interns are expected to devote an average of 9 hours a week to nursery projects. In conjunction with the co-managers, interns will develop learning objectives based on individual interests and strengths, to receive credit for ESRM 399. The interns' time will be split between routine plant maintenance, plant propagation, nursery infrastructure projects, helping with weekly volunteer work parties, and individual projects. Each intern will have a different focus to help tackle the many and diverse needs of a native plant nursery."

For a full description of the positions, click here. 

After an exciting round of project proposals and deliberations, the CSF is pleased to announce that it has awarded a total of $166,653 to seven student-led projects! Congratulations to the following projects for crafting excellent proposals and making the UW a more environmentally conscious campus:

• Sustainable Stormwater - $9,051
• Tap That - $7,457
• SER-UW Nursery Expansion - $54,426
• Engaging Students and Public in Marine Conservation through Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture - $27,400
• UW Campus Wood Salvage Program - $43,603
• HydraPower - $8,616
• Expanding Education and Outreach at the UW Farm - $16,100

Congratulations again to these projects and their teams!! This round of awards wraps up the funding cycle for large CSF projects for the 2014-2015 school year. If you are thinking of applying for $1000 or greater, the next available opportunity will be in the middle of Fall quarter in the 2015-2016 year (around November 2015). For small projects asking for $1000 or less, fell free to submit a Letter of Intent at any time. The committee will review small projects on a rolling basis.

Have you seen our latest newsletter? Click here for our May edition. It's packed full of upcoming events and exciting project updates.

May 2015 newsletter: here.  

Dr. Linda Steg, environmental psychologist and professor at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands will be speaking about pro-environmental behavior and values on Tuesday, May 26th at 6:00 PM in Alder Hall. There will be a reception at 5:00 PM. This lecture is free and open to the public. 

ReThink and UW EcoReps present: the UW Resilience Summit. The UW Resilience Summit will be an enlightening and inspiring event for people with all levels of sustainability knowledge, and will provide the opportunity to learn about new advances in sustainability and the complex issue of climate change, as well as network with local business leaders and environmental advocates.

When and where: 
Tuesday May 19th, 2015 from 4pm - 7:30 pm at the new UW Intellectual House

Join us for a delicious catered dinner, two exciting panels, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Dress will be business casual attire.

Tickets are just $6.50, and are available here:
http://uwresiliencesummit.brownpapertickets.com/

The CSF partnered with the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) - UW Chapter last week to start restoring a brand new site on campus. Just north of PACCAR Hall last Friday, a crew of undergraduates, Master's, and PhD students gathered to tackle a blanket of invasive species overtaking the campus grounds. A lot of progress was made, and we had tons of fun! Thanks SER for organizing this event!

Thanks to all who participated in Earth Week with the CSF last week! Thanks for stopping by our table, decorating our tiles, braving the rain during the bike tour, and tackling some crazy English ivy at the restoration site. The tiles that you decorated for the UW Biodiesel Cooperative will become a part of their new lab space to be constructed early next academic year. We also would like to congratulate our Vice Chair, Natalie Gray, and service learning student volunteer Tali Haller for both receiving a Husky Green Award! We are stoked their work towards making the campus and their communities a more sustainable place gets recognized. We can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeves!

A student decorates a tile for a future Biodiesel Cooperative facility at the CSF table.

Committe members Carolyn Hartman (left) and Natalie Gray (right) tabling during Earth Day.

Junior and CSF Vice Chair Natalie Gray receives her Husky Green Award. 

Freshman and past CSF student volunteer Tali Haller receives her Husky Green Award.

Join the CSF for an exciting set of events for Earth Week! We will be hosting and participating in events throughout the week across campus, and we're looking forward to getting involved in our campus community. For a more detailed description of our events, see below:

BIKE TOURS: We will be hosting two bikes for interested students, staff, and faculty who want to see CSF projects in action on campus. Attendees are welcome to bring their own bike and helmet, or use the Pronto Bike Sharing program. The CSF will cover all costs for folks who chose to use the bike sharing program. Tours start at 3:30pm on Tuesday and 1:30pm on Thursday. Meet us at the Pronto Bike Sharing station near 15th AVE NE & W Stevens Way NE. If you are lost, look for a tandem bike and the CSF logo!

EXHIBITOR'S FAIR: As part of the greater campus celebration for Earth Day, the CSF will be tabling in Red Square from 10AM-3PM on Wednesday. Come by and say hi! We will be decorating ceramic tiles that will become a part of the new UW Biodiesel Cooperative lab space!  

RESTORATION WORK PARTY: In partnership with the Society for Ecological Restoration at UW, we are tackling a brand new restoration site just north of PACCAR Hall! There will be free food, giveaways, and live music provided from UW student musicians. Please wear comfortable work clothes and be prepared for weather (we're crossing our fingers for sunshine!). The (work) party starts at noon and goes until 4PM. Exact location here. RSVP here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1150983658261250/

UW FARM PIZZA BAKE: Immediately after the restoration work party, the UW Farm will be having one of their famous pizza bakes down by the Center for Urban Horticulture (CUH)! Join us for good food, good people, and good times. If you are joining us during the restoration event, our entire group will be walking down to the CUH together. 

Earth Day celebrations will take place on Red Square on April 22, along with other events throughout the week. There will be student organizations, UW departments, sustainable food vendors and other organizations sharing how they work toward environmental and sustainability goals. Discover initiatives happening at UW and learn what you can do to help. There will also be music, speakers and the Husky Green Award announcements as well as the exhibitors.

For more information, go to UW Sustainability's Earth Day page: green.uw.edu/earth-day-2015 

Have you read the latest in UW Sustainability news? In the March newsletter you can meet the office's new mascot, get updates on this year's Earth Day celebrations, and read about the newest innovative projects happening on campus. Click here for the full newsletter.

CSF-funded project "Conservation and Sustainability at Manastash Ridge Observatory: Planning For the Next Forty Years" began to prepare for the changes that will be added and installed to the observatory in the future. So far, the team has removed old light fixtures to prepare for a higher efficiency, newer, and safer set up, and new toilets have been installed that increase effi­ciency from 3.5 gal/flush (mea­sured) to 1.28gal/flush. The old kitchen was also removed to anticipate the new water catchment system going in (pictured below).

Removing the old kitchen.

After a day's work, the kitchen is removed!

A student from the MRO team, Joseph Huehnerhoff, has been keeping a detailed blog with photos and descriptions about the work that has been happening at the site. You can find that blog here: http://blogs.uw.edu/jwhueh/.

For more information about the Manastash Ridge Observatory, see here: http://www.astro.washington.edu/users/laws/MRO/home.page/mro.html

Information about the scope of work for this CSF project: http://staff.washington.edu/jwhueh/MRO/upgrades.html