Whenever I am engaged in a conversation related to my educational pursuits most people ask the same question, what kind of job could I expect after graduation? The question is valid as I too often wonder what possibilities for employment lay before me. Luckily I have a friend, Conor Healy, who graduated in May of 2014 with his Bachelors of Science in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability from the School of Earth, Society, and the Environment here at the University of Illinois. Recently, I contacted him and asked if we could sit down and talk about life after graduation, his current career path, and about the Illinois State Water Survey? He didn’t hesitate in agreeing to be interviewed and we were able to talk at length about the subjects I proposed.
Conor is currently employed at the Illinois State Water Survey (ISWS) located in Research Park at the University of Illinois. The Water Survey originated in 1895 as part of the University of Illinois Department of Chemistry. The Survey was created to track waterborne disease, particularly typhoid, and address the health and safety of public water supplies, water softening methods, sewage and wastewater treatment, and the establishment of sanitary standards for drinking water. During the first fifteen months of operation the Water Survey responded to public requests for chemical analyses of 1,787 water samples from 156 towns in 68 Illinois counties, making it absolutely clear that this was an area of great importance and concern for the residents of Illinois. During World War II, the Water Survey worked with the University and the Federal government on studies of chemical warfare detection in water and removal practices. That research would later lead to processes still used today for detecting pollution and contamination levels in our water supply. After the war, meteorological efforts were expanded to include the use of radar to measure rainfall and track storms. The ISWS was even the first in the country to use radar to observe the “hook echo” of tornadoes. In the mid 1960’s ISWS developed the nation’s first Doppler radar, which is still widely used today to measure and track storm activity. And according to the ISWS website, “Since the turn of a new century, the Water Survey has addressed societal problems concerning air pollution, contaminated drinking water, disintegrating wetlands, and water shortages. Ongoing research seeks to better understand natural and anthropogenic processes and to provide information to government, businesses, city and county planners, and Illinois citizens. All these activities reflect a continuing commitment to provide scientific information to help protect, preserve, and restore natural resources, and to use them wisely.” It quickly became apparent to me that the Water Survey does much more than just test water samples and therefore must employ people from many backgrounds and various disciplines. That assumption was confirmed during my interview of Conor Healy and who knows, I may even work there in the near future.
As I mentioned earlier, Conor graduated in May 2014 and began working at the ISWS in September that same year. The first thing I asked Conor was to describe his position and what he does at ISWS. I could sense his pride and enthusiasm as he explained, “I work as an Illinois Water Inventory Program (IWIP) Coordinator, I facilitate data collection from all the field operators, check it for quality, and disperse the data to various department within the Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and Illinois Geological Survey, all of which operate in Research park as the Prairie Research Institute. I share the data with research scientist who can use it for analysis and modeling.” As we talked more it became very apparent that he enjoys being part of a team that is so important, yet seldom thought of by the average person, until there is a need.
The next thing I asked about was his education, relevant experience, and when he decided to be an Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability major? He shared with me that he came to U of I undecided and enrolled under general studies until he was required to pick a major at the end of his sophomore year. Connor chose the ESES major after taking time to reflect back on the classes he enjoyed the most and that were very engaging to him. He said, “It didn’t take much time to realize that the classes I enjoyed and had great success in, all were related to Earth science and sustainability in one way or another.” One of the greatest and most rewarding experiences of his academic career was an 8 week SESE program that works in tandem with the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The first 3 weeks are in Stockholm preparing for the field research and then 4.5 weeks in Svalbard, a Norwegian archipelago above the Arctic Circle. During that time they spent 10 days in tents collecting samples relating to climate change and the arctic environment. Later in the conversation Conor did tell me, “Having field experience, especially with good data collection practices, helped me get my job at ISWS.”
Conor Healy and his position at the Illinois State Water Survey combine to be a great example of the possibilities for those of us pursuing a degree in Earth, Society, and Environmental Sustainability. The combination of lecture, lab, and available field experience places us on the cutting edge of environmental research and prepares us for a fulfilling career. I for one am very pleased to be part of such a successful program and can look forward to a successful life as an alumni, like Conor.
Sources
“Illinois State Water Survey – Home, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.” Illinois State Water Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Dec. 2014.
“Svalbard.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 14 Dec. 2014.
“Conor Healy-ISWS.” Personal interview. 05 Dec. 2014.

1. What/ Who inspired you to enter your chosen career path and/or organization?

2. Most people have ideas on how they would change/ alter the ways things are done within the organizations they work for, what would you change if you could?

3. Jane Sullivan- How/ What is C-U Mass Transit doing and/or planning to do in order to combat climate change?

4. Besides reducing GHG emissions, what is C-U Mass Transit doing to reduce it’s carbon footprint?

5. Tyler Rotche- What, if anything, can be done at water treatment plants to remove pharmaceuticals from the water supply?

As an employed student I have very limited amounts of free time. When I do have available time I thoroughly enjoy napping to catch up on missed sleep. When I am not napping I prefer to play golf, play tennis, or ride my motorcycle during the warmer months. During the colder months I enjoy snowboarding and bonfires. I can usually find enjoyment in most activities but I do prefer the aforementioned to most others.

Biodiversity is very important for the sustainability of ecosystems of both large and small scales. Without biodiversity we lose species and traits that could be solutions to current and future problems that plague our society. Biodiversity has also been proven to be a great indicator of the health of ecosystems. If we continue to lose biodiversity we will struggle to survive in the future.

When you think about environmental sustainability does building design come to mind? Can we build large structures that are environmentally sustainable and energy efficient? How can huge buildings be considered energy efficient, and who determines it? I too wondered about these things and decided to take a close look at one of the world’s newest and most efficient building designs close to my home, The University of Illinois. The Electrical and Computer Engineering building on campus is the most efficient new construction on campus and has a goal of LEED Platinum certification. Through proper design and construction the building is considered to be a potentially zero-net energy building.

A zero-net energy building is one that produces as much or more energy than it consumes annually. The ECE building, as it is referred to around campus, achieves this through a combination of energy production, energy efficient operating systems, and an energy storage system. The energy is produced by two systems of solar photovoltaic cells that combined generate 1500 kilowatts of power. This author feels it is worth mentioning that 1200 kilowatts of the aforementioned total comes from a rooftop array located on the nearby parking garage and not directly fixed onto the ECE building. The energy efficient operating systems include low energy consuming LED lighting and a chilled beam HVAC system. The chilled beam HVAC system is very similar to hot water heating, but with current technology it is more efficient and works for both heating and cooling. During a speech about the building in 2011, Professor Philip Krein explained, “…from an engineering prospective… adding or removing heat from a dense material like water is much better than with air, and that is where you get more efficient and begin to save…”. And to tie it all together is an onsite energy storage system. The energy storage system is a 6.5 million gallon water tank that stores energy thermally. It allows the water to be cooled or heated during the most efficient time and then distributed through the chilled beam system when needed.

The sustainability of large buildings must also consider building materials and ecological footprint around the building as well. This building is no exception and utilizes materials, native plants and its geographical position to maximize efficiency while reducing overall footprint. Terracotta bricks were used on the building’s exterior, similar to traditional brick, but more durable. Terracotta also insulates the building with an R-30 rating which is as insulating as vacuum sealed panels, but from a durable brick. The terracotta bricks are made from iron rich clay, an abundant mineral on our planet that we never have to fear running out. Besides their good insulating properties terracotta bricks are also great sound insulators. When used externally most outside noise remains outside, making them desirable at an institution of higher learning. The landscaping design includes native plants and water runoff prevention strategies incorporated to slow water runoff. Water runoff is a sustainability concern as runoff prevents water from percolating through the soil and rock into aquifers or to be absorbed by the soil and plant life. The direction the building faces was also oriented such to maximize the natural light while reducing the overall heating effect on the building’s interior as in many inefficient designs.

The actual functionality of the building within its living environment is where the efficiency and sustainability merge gracefully into a well-choreographed dance between a structure and its intended use. Public transportation access points, bicycle parking, showers, and even electric vehicle charging stations were all carefully planned and implemented into the final design. With those systems in place it is easy and efficient to access the building which only adds to its overall efficiency and sustainability.

Various regulatory bodies have created criteria for grading the overall performance of buildings and one of the most notable is LEED. LEED, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program by the U.S. Green Building Council. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. The ECE building is expected to become Platinum certified which is reserved for scores of eighty or better on a one hundred point scale. A very obtainable goal for a building that uses some of the most advanced and efficient designs in modern architecture.

The University of Illinois has taken a great step forward in sustainability with the addition of the new ECE building. With its innovative design, power generation, efficient internal systems, and energy storage capabilities the Electrical and Computer Engineering building is definitive proof that large buildings can be efficient and sustainable. Now if we could just get rid of fossil fuels.

References

“LEED.” U.S. Green Building Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.

“ECE ILLINOIS.” THE BUILDING CAMPAIGN FOR ECE ILLINOIS Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014.

Kanter, R. “Notes by Sarah Taria.” 26 Oct. 2014. E-mail.

The grey wolf or canis lupus is on the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board’s list of endangered or threatened species of Illinois checklist. The grey wolf is the largest wild canid in North America but has almost completely disappeared in Illinois. There have only been ten confirmed grey wolf sightings since 2000 in Illinois. Frequently, people unfamiliar with the differences between wolves and coyotes mistakenly confuse the two which can lead to inaccurate accounting. So how do we tell the two apart from one another?
The two easiest ways to tell them apart without getting up close and personal with either is by size and ear shape. The wolf has rounded ears while the coyote has tall pointed ears similar to a fox. If ear shape is not easy to make out you can estimate their size and apply that to the following averages for each animal in an attempt to determine which species you are observing. The gray wolf stands 2.5 feet tall, has a length (including tail) near 6 feet, and weighs between 80-120 pounds on average. The coyote stands 1.5 feet tall, has a length (including tail) near 4 feet, and weighs 20-50 ponds on average.
The safest way to identify which species is by the tracks they leave. The wolf has a paw print of 4 inches long by 5 inches wide and the coyote’s print is 2 inches long by 2.5 inches wide. If you happen to see a grey wolf report it to your local Illinois Department of Natural Resources office so it can be investigated further.
So why do we care if grey wolves are in Illinois? Why would we want to track their presence? Those are both good questions that I hope to answer in my next literary masterpiece.

             Student Sustainable Farm: Feeding and Developing the Future

                                 Written by: Jeff Chandler-ESE 360- Paper 2

             The Sustainable Student Farm started in 2009 and is currently in its 6^th growing season. I recently had the opportunity to visit the Student Sustainable Farm at The University of Illinois and learn more about this unique place first hand. The farm is a “diversified specialty crop farm”’ according to Zach Grant, the farms director. He also said, “The farm started as an idea to grow fresh produce for the University’s dining halls, which has a goal of 20% of their produce usage to be from local sources by the year 2020”. When asked why the farm was so diverse, he said, “Diversifying the farm helps promote community interest even though dining services could have a larger percentage of produce from the farm if we focused on only a few crops, but, logistics dictates that would be inefficient”. That is because the student population and the Dining Services needs are at their lowest levels during the peak of the farms’ growing season. Zach also mentioned that the farms’ number one ally has been Dawn Aubrey at Dining Services and with her continued support the farm will continue expanding its production while remaining diverse. About thirty-five different crops are grown on 7 acres of outdoor fields and 10,000 square feet of “high tunnels” on the 80 acre parcel of land the farm occupies. High tunnels are moveable structures that behave similar to greenhouses by trapping the heat inside of them and extend the growing season into the colder months and allowing for ten months of production. The bulk of the farms produce is being sold to University of Illinois Dining Services for use in the dining halls on campus. The remaining produce from the farm is sold at a farm stand on the quad at the University of Illinois on Thursdays from 11am to 5pm starting in May and ending in November each year. But the farm does a lot more than just feed the University’s students some locally grown produce.

The Student Sustainable Farm also provides training for current and new farmers through an extension and outreach program. The extension and outreach program is a very powerful tool for the future of farming, especially, sustainable large scale organic farming. Zach Grant told me that his focus on the farm is the extension and outreach programs and applied research of different and/or new systems of production for sustainable farming. These programs are funded by grants from the Unites States Department of Agriculture to help small sustainable farms get started. The farmers train one weekend monthly throughout the entire year. The farm and its’ programs are working so well that Zach would like to see it expand even further. He said, “I hope to develop a three semester horticulture course for on-site student learning”. We can all agree that sustainable farming is a necessity with our ever expanding population and finite resources. But is there a market for organic farming practices in today’s large scale, monoculture, and corporate dominated farms?

Organic farming and the food it yields has become a very desirable commodity during the current “green” movement. The sale of Organic foods has rapidly increased over the last few years and industry experts are forecasting steady growth of 12% or higher for the near future. That would take the current Organic food market of $56 billion in 2010 to $104.7 billion by 2016. With that kind of growth projected there will certainly be a need to further advance the farming industry to effectively produce the desired quantities while maintaining Organic standards. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Student Sustainable Farm has the ability and the tools to spearhead the advances in the field necessary to meet projections and beyond.

The advances necessary to meet and exceed projected growth expand beyond the field and allow for cross-disciplinary technological and philosophical changes as well. For example, a joint project with the Student Sustainable Farm and the School of Engineering’s Electric Vehicle Initiative course took an old Allis Chalmers class G cultivating tractor, removed the fossil fuel engine, replaced it with an all-electric setup, and installed an 18 kilowatt solar panel system to charge it with. They are currently working on an all-electric delivery van to be used for transporting ready to use produce to the dining halls instead of using the current fossil fuel burning delivery van. But before any produce gets delivered it goes through a washing and packing process. That process is done inside a building designed and built by a group of students from SMALLStudio at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture. And the funding for most of the projects is done through the Student Sustainability Committee. The committee has an annual fund of more than $1.1 million and strongly supports the farm.

The Student Sustainable Farm, while small for a farm, is vast and abundant with opportunities for the future of sustainable farming.

References:

“Student Sustainable Farm.” Personal interview, Zach Grant. 30 Sept. 2014.

“What Is SCC.” Student Sustainability Committee. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Oct. 2014.

“Organic Food Market.” Organic Food Market. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2014.

“Recent News on The Farm.” Thefarm.illinois.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2014.

During the last three years it became apparent to me that I knew nothing about the food I consumed. Like most Americans I blindly consumed with little regard for what it takes to have fresh, although locally out-of-season, produce available year round with very little price fluctuations. While working on my degree I have become more informed and find myself in complete awe of the immense size and scale of our food system and the atrocities that we allow to plague such an invaluable system. Convenience and hidden costs have allowed society to overindulge and become bloated gluttons of desperation who desperately need to reevaluate how we produce, price, and consume food.
I wish I could tell you that I now shop for only local organic healthy foods, but that would be a lie. I do make better decisions now that I actually give some consideration to how the food is produced, cleaned, transported, stored, and sold. The biggest hurdle I have for going even further into “green” eating is the budget constraints most college students deal with. That however is a temporary hurdle, hopefully, and I plan to produce most of what I eat in a sustainable eco-friendly manner.

Upon my return to the world of academia I quickly realized that my knowledge of writing, although limited to begin with, lacked any formal structure. Knowing that my educational pursuits would require the ability to write reports, scientific papers, and effectively communicate my thoughts and discoveries, I found myself registering for a series of Rhetoric and Composition classes.

Oddly enough, the teacher who first introduced me to writing during my middle school years was now teaching evening classes at my local junior college and would once again help me understand how to put thought to paper in a cohesive and understandable manner.

Mr. Tom Miller has been the most influential writing resource in my life to date. He not only instilled the desire to write, he also sparked the desire to seek further writing education. An education that I hope one day allows me to share my knowledge with others in a meaningful and transcendent manner.

ICAP Review- Jeff Chandler

The ICAP, while thorough when written, is now outdated and redundant in many areas. It could have been summarized into a ten to fifteen page paper with an additional five pages worth of graphs and data, bringing the total to about twenty pages compared to the current sixty-one in my opinion.

A few of the areas covered have benefited from technological advancements in recent years and are in need of review and refinement. For example, buying local (within 100 miles) food products are generally thought to be less carbon intensive but through sustainable farming practices at some of the large farms it is less carbon intensive to ship some products in versus attempting to grow them locally in unfavorable conditions. Another issue would be wastewater treatment, it is not even evaluated for its GHG emissions. I also read that there was supposed to be a “Bike-Sharing” program implemented by 2012, to this date I have yet to hear of any such program in use on campus and I have been here since 2012.

Overall, the ICAP was a good starting point five years ago, but is in need of refinement that utilizes current sustainable practices as well as technological advancements since its creation in an effort to meet and/or exceed the goals set by said document.

I have prepared a few questions for our guest speaker today, and here are a few examples of the questions I hope to ask;

1. Will coal be eliminated by 2017? If so, what will be used in its place?
2. How much did the SAIC study cost and does that price include any future reevaluations or follow-ups?
3. Wastewater associated GHG’s are not even evaluated, what plans are in the works to address this issue?
4. Why are we as a higher education institution subjecting ourselves and those who read the ICAP to “Green Fluff” or also known as “Green Wash”? Under “Campus Vision” one of the two long term goals mentioned is to “raise the quality of life for the worlds’ poor to acceptable levels” which in itself is a vague concept that can never be truly evaluated.