Sustainability Seminars Question Relationships with Nature
Seminars in the Sustainability Learning Community (LC) will examine the importance of place, the human role in the environment, and actions that foster sustainability. Questions we will ask include: What is the relationship of people to the environment? How do our attitudes towards nature change over time? And how is Austin making efforts to become more sustainable?
Signature Events
CapMetro Transit Adventure – We get to know some of Austin's popular sites like SoCo, Zilker Park, and downtown, by using the city's mass transit system. Once you know how to catch the bus, you'll be able to explore the whole city.
Where's My Food From? – Compare food sold at grocery stores and farmers' markets. Learn how global our corporate food distribution system is, and how local farmers have created a healthier and more sustainable alternative.
Hike, Bike, and Paddle – Barton Springs, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park, Wild Basin, Blunn Creek - Austin is full of great outdoor spaces. You'll have the chance to get to see how the city preserves and uses its natural beauty.
Fall 2023 classes
Below is a list of classes available for the fall 2023 semester.
Food Sustainability
Food Sustainability
Faculty member teaching this course: Cary Einberger
There are now over 8 Billion people on this planet. How can we feed them all and generations to come? This class will explore what food sustainability could look like by considering a variety of voices from farmers and chefs to environmentalists and scientists.
Technology and Sustainability
Technology and Sustainability
Faculty member teaching this course: Rebecca Davis
How do digital technologies impact the environment and our understanding of it? How can the digital tools and media we use affect our approaches to sustainability? This course will use digital methods to explore the intersections of technology and sustainability.
Sustainability, Cities, and Urban Farms
Sustainability, Cities, and Urban Farms
Faculty member teaching this course: Bonnie Hauser
Can a city increase sustainability through urban farming initiatives? We'll explore this question by looking at urban farming in Austin. We will visit a farm, meet with people involved in sustainability efforts in Austin, and then branch out to explore urban farming in other cities around the globe.
Sustainability & Sub-Saharan Africa
Sustainability & Sub-Saharan Africa
Faculty member teaching this course: Sahra Yusuf
What does the concept of sustainability mean to developing countries? Have we effectively incorporated their unique challenges into the global concept of sustainability? In this course, we will take a closer look at how African countries view their own role in sustainability and what their achievements tell us about our global efforts to combat environmental degradation.