Geog 30 Fall 2009

This blog post lists all of the writing published by fall 2009 Geog 30 students in public forums.  It will continue to be updated as additional publications are identified.  The most recent update was 19 Feb 2010.

Thanks go to Suzan Erem of Voices of Central PA, Bob Heisse of the Centre Daily Times, and Mary Lynne Bird and Deborah Popper of the American Geographical Society Media Center for their assistance in publishing several of these articles.  Thanks also go to Jon Olson and the Penn State Writing Center for their assistance in helping students across the class in their writing.

To former students:  Please let me know if your letter has been published, and give me as much citation information as you can.  Also, let me know if you are interested having your writing distributed more broadly.  I have several opportunities available for this.


Bailey, Gregory.  "Let's expand city compost program".  Erie Times News, December 14, 2009.  http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009312149998.

Beiswenger, Breanna. "Pedestrian mall gets mixed reactions". Voices of Central PA, February 2010, page 8.  http://voicesweb.org/archive/10feb/10feb-politics-economics.pdf.

Bowser, Joseph.  "Bioswales can help the bay".  York Daily Record, December 28, 2009.  http://sethbaum.com/teaching/geog30/Bowser2009_YorkDailyRecord_BioswalesCanHelpTheBay.pdf.

Burkhimer, Solace D.  "Offer incentive to recycle".  Centre Daily Times, Thursday, December 10, 2009.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1670544.html.

Clinton, LeQuan. "Go geo".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Cunningham, James, III. "Adult student appreciates the hope of youth". Pottstown Mercury, December 26, 2009. http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/12/26/opinion/srv0000007060158.txt.

Duran, Carla. "Borough projects benefit students". Centre Daily Times, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/2010/03/03/1830025/additional-letters-on-sustainability.html.

Ferry, Marissa.  Title TBD.  Murrysville Star.

Fong, Yick Tak Douglas.  "We all can make a difference recycling".  Centre Daily Times, February 18, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/opinion/story/1800589.html.

Gordon, Justin.  "Monorail A Solution To State College Transportation Woes".  Fulton County News, December 10, 2009.  http://www.fultoncountynews.com/news/2009-12-10/Letters/Monorail_A_Solution_To_State_College_Transportatio.html (subscription required).

Gorski, Rachael. "Promote sustainable energy". Centre Daily Times, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/2010/03/03/1830025/additional-letters-on-sustainability.html.

Grandner, Jenna.  "Green team".  The Brooklyn Paper, December 16, 2009.  http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/50/32_50_letters.html.

Hammershlag, Perri. "A difference of a few degrees can make a lot of cents". Voices of Central PA, February 2010, page 9.  http://voicesweb.org/archive/10feb/10feb-politics-economics.pdf.

Harris, Kyle.  "Use stimulus funds for passenger rail".  Pocono Record, December 14, 2009.  http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091214/NEWS04/912140318.

Johnson, TeAnna. "Cisterns to collect rainwater". Voices of Central PA, February 2010, page 5.  http://voicesweb.org/archive/10feb/10feb-politics-economics.pdf.

Kellar, Angela. "Increase cyclist safety".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/2010/02/19/1803437/students-herald-sustainability.html.

Kershner, Audra. "Businesses should cooperate with students". Centre Daily Times, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/2010/03/03/1830025/additional-letters-on-sustainability.html.

King Jr, Stephen.  "It is time for Southern Maryland to do its part".  Southern Maryland Newspapers, Friday, December 11, 2009.  http://www.somdnews.com/stories/12112009/reclet134846_32205.shtml.

Kneupper, Alexander. "Compost SR's food waste". Butler Eagle, December 29, 2009.  http://www.butlereagle.com/article/20091229/EDITORIAL02/912299995/-1/Editorial02.

Kyler, Kristen.  "Pottstown could learn from other communities".  Pottstown Mercury, December 23, 2009.  http://www.pottsmerc.com/articles/2009/12/23/opinion/srv0000007088922.txt.

Layton, Sarah.  "Even climate change skeptics can do their part".  Centre Daily Times, February 18, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/opinion/story/1800594.html.

Leidel, Lauren. "It adds up".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Liu, Shang. "Park the gas guzzlers".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Loht, Seth.  "Bicycle sharing could make town sustainable".  The Lewistown Sentinel, December 18, 2009.  http://lewistownsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/516748.html.

Manns, Jeff. "Implement bike sharing".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Marshall-McKelvey, Jacy. "Plant a roof garden".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Martorano, John. "Biking". The Courier Post (Camden), December 17, 2009.  http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20091217/OPINION/912170315/Biking.

McDonald, Shannon.  "Easy Ways to Save This Winter".  GantDaily.com, December 9th, 2009.  http://www.gantdaily.com/news/38/ARTICLE/67070/2009-12-09.html.

Metz, Amanda.  "Let's dig ourselves out of environmental debt".  Pittsburgh Post Gazette, December 17, 2009.  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09351/1021542-110.stm; http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/openletters/archive/2009/12/17/let-s-dig-ourselves-out-of-environmental-debt.aspx.

Mitchell, Kelly.  "We can all help save the Earth".  North Penn Reporter, December 11, 2009.  http://www.thereporteronline.com/articles/2009/12/11/opinion/srv0000007022820.txt.

Moraski, Ryan. "Break with tradition".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Olah, Katlyn M.  "Student would expand recycling program".  Pocono Record, December 19, 2009.  http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091219/NEWS04/912190305.

Ouellette, Gilman. "Roof-top plantings a natural solution".  Centre Daily Times, February 18, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/opinion/story/1800589.html.
-- "Taking the green movement off the ground". Bucks County Courier Times, January 7, 2010.  http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/313/2010/january/07/taking-the-green-movement-off-the-ground.html. 
-- Also published as "Green roof solves financial problem". The Mountain Mail (Salida, CO), January 7, 2010.  http://www.themountainmail.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=18146&SectionID=7&SubSectionID=&S=1.
-- Also published as "Green roofs are the way to go". The Pocono Record, January 6, 2010.  http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100106/NEWS04/1060325.
Oullette's article was distributed through the American Geographical Society Media Center.

Pierson, Kelly. "Eateries should compost". Centre Daily Times, December 5, 2009.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1662467.html.

Prikockis, Megan. "Implement fraternity recycling competition". Centre Daily Times, Wednesday, March 3, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/2010/03/03/1830025/additional-letters-on-sustainability.html.

Reale, Colin. "Cover green roof efforts". Centre Daily Times, December 19, 2009.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1688874.html.

Redington, Janice.  (Untitled).  The Quad (West Chester University), December 7, 2009.  http://media.www.wcuquad.com/media/storage/paper676/news/2009/12/07/OpEd/Letters.To.The.Editor-3846771.shtml.

Ryan, Jennie.  "Change at a Local Level".  GantDaily.com, December 10th, 2009.  http://gantdaily.com/news/38/ARTICLE/67110/2009-12-10.html.

Rudowsky, Katie. "Rainwater filtration saves money, environment". Southern Maryland Newspapers, December 25, 2009.  http://www.somdnews.com/stories/12252009/entelet102443_32206.shtml.

Schaffer, Anthony. "Turn down your thermostat". Bucks County Courier Times, December 17, 2009. http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/364/2009/december/17/turn-down-your-thermostat.html.

Schmidt, Grace. "Borough supports turning food waste into compost". Voices of Central PA, February 2010, page 6.  http://voicesweb.org/archive/10feb/10feb-politics-economics.pdf.

Silvis, Katie.  "We must consider more use of renewable energy".  Clarion News, December 17, 2009.  http://www.theclarionnews.com/news/2009-12-17/Opinion/We_must_consider_more_use_of_renewable_energy.html (subscription required).

Sleboda, Katie.  "Green roofs are an option".  Wellsboro Gazette, December 9, 2009.  http://www.tiogapublishing.com/articles/2009/12/09/opinion/letters/doc4b201256589b8017770750.txt.

Smith, Joseph. "Close Allen Street".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Sortman, Ed. "Carbon tax". Williamsport Guardian, February 2010.  http://www.williamsportguardian.com/?article=201002010401&PHPSESSID=1d4a38098f93c1c0276d33a91256da19.

Willis, Stephanie. "Implement recycling".  Centre Daily Times, February 19, 2010.  http://www.centredaily.com/330/story/1803437.html.

Zenerovitz, Ashley.  "For green roofs".  Hunterdon County Democrat, December 16, 2009.  http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2009/12/for_green_roofs.html.

...Finally, the Centre Daily Times published a short article describing the collection of student articles and letters it published on February 18-19, 2010: "Students share sustainability ideas".  http://www.centredaily.com/329/story/1800584.html.

Below is the message being distributed about the upcoming Borough Hall Presentations.  A printable pdf can be found here.

Update: Our presentations are currently featured on the Borough website. See the Calendar at the top-right of the Borough home page and dedicated pages for December 1 and December 3.

Update: My op-ed Collaboration is key to sustainability on our project and on sustainability education in general was published today (Tues. Dec. 1) in the Centre Daily Times.

Student Presentations on Borough Sustainability

Please join us for a series of student presentations on sustainability initiatives in the Borough of State College.  The students, in Penn State Geography 30 (Geographic Perspectives on Sustainability and Human-Environment Systems), have been working with the Borough throughout the semester on several different aspects of sustainability in the Borough.  Now, the students are presenting their findings and their recommendations to the Borough and the public.

 

There are four sessions, each covering a different topic:

Energy: Tuesday, December 1, 5-7pm

Land Use: Tuesday, December 1, 7-9pm

Transportation: Thursday, December 3, 5-7pm

Waste: Thursday, December 3, 7-9pm

 

The presentations will take place in the Borough Hall Community Room (243 South Allen St., Room 201).  For each of the four topics, there will be eight short presentations followed by opportunity for questions.

For more information, please contact Seth Baum (the course instructor) at sbaum@psu.edu.

Specific topics discussed in each session include:

Energy:

Energy usage and indoor temperature in buildings

Wind, geothermal, and solar energy sources

Parking garage lighting efficiency

Borough carbon tax

 

Land Use:

Community gardens for college students

Green roof placement and incentives

Cistern for excess storm water

Sidewalk rain gardens

 

Transportation:

Bicycle lanes, sharing, and promotion

Parking spaces for efficient vehicles

Downtown pedestrian mall

Rail and bus transit

 

Waste:

Composting programs for stores and the Borough

Recycling in off-campus apartment buildings

Waste management in restaurants

Fraternity house recycling

On Wednesday we will hear a few remarks from Professor Constance Flanagan about Penn State's Intercollege Minor in Civic and Community Engagement.  This program is relevant to students of all majors who are interested in how their scholarship connects to public affairs.  We have been heavily engaged in such affairs throughout the semester both through our studies of current events and through our activities in the course project.  If you are especially interested in how scholarship connects to society then you might consider the Civ Comm minor.

For the course project, you will be submitting writing based on your project experience to the public forum of your choice.  This writing will be done individually, not as a group, so that you can discuss your individual experience and express your individual views.

The public forum can be any outlet where people beyond our course can potentially read what you write.  This includes (but is not limited to) newspapers, magazines, and some websites.  The one requirement is that the outlet must have an editorial process.  This means that when you submit your writing, someone (usually an editor) reads your piece, decides whether to publish it, and possibly asks for revisions or edits.  This requirement ensures that the outlet you submit to has at least some people who pay attention to it.  The requirement also gives you valuable experience with the editorial process.

On the Week 9 quiz, you'll be asked two questions about your public forum outlet.

First, you'll be asked if you want to be considered for either the Centre Daily Times or Voices.  These are two important local publications which have made special arrangements with Geog 30.  Approximately 15 Geog 30 students will be selected to submit writing to one of these publications.  Students will be selected based on the quality of their writing and their overall performance in the course and the project.  If selected, this will serve as your public forum letter.

Second, you'll be asked what other outlet you're considering, and for a website address for the outlet if there is one.  Here, think of newspapers from your home town, magazines or other publications that discuss topics related to your projects, or anything else you know of.

To help you imagine what your letter will look like, here are some examples.

Two former Geog 30 students have online letters to the editor of newspapers: "Cut meat consumption" by Christina Ferry in the CDT and "Help the environment and yourself - don't drive" by Alexis Roseman in the Bucks County Courier Times.  Note that this is based off of a somewhat different course project than what we're doing this fall.

As an example of a larger article, see my "Senate should pass Clean Energy and Security Act" in the CDT.  This was also one of the climate policy readings.

Lots of exciting events this week!  On Wednesday 14 October, 8PM, in 112 Chambers, there will be a screening of the film Blue Gold: World Water Wars.  The film discusses some challenges and conflicts in the supply and distribution of water around the world, including in the US.  After the film, there will be a discussion lead by Robert Burkholder (English Dept), Robert Brooks (Geography), and Lydia Vandenberg (PSU Office of Physical Plant [OPP] Sustainability Officer).  Further info on the Penn State screening can be found here.

Water is a major topic in sustainability and human-environment systems.  As the film appears to portray (from the preview), water issues include major issues of power, ethics, collective action, and societal goals and mindsets.  We discuss water only briefly in Geog 30 so this film is a great opportunity to supplement course content with some exposure to the water challenges we face and the heated conflicts that these challenges can lead to

Penn State, in particular the Rock Ethics Institute, is very active in environmental ethics.  As part of this ongoing activity, on Thursday 15 October there will be a special lecture "The Ethics of Environmental Activism and Social Justice" by noted novelist Peter Matthiessen.  The lecture is at 7:00 p.m. in the Nittany Lion Inn Assembly Room.  Click here for further info about the lecture.

The Borough of State College has several citizen groups providing input on various aspects of Borough activities.  See the Borough's Agendas and Minutes page for more info.

One group, the Transportation Commission, is currently working on some activities of relevance to Geog 30, including to some of the transportation course project groups.  The Transportation Commission is having its next meeting on Tuesday 13 October at 12:15 in the Borough Council Chambers (room 304 of the State College Municipal Building, 243 South Allen Street).  An overview of the meeting agenda is here and a detailed agenda is here (pdf).  This meeting is an excellent chance to learn what the Borough is working on in transportation and to meet some people involved in it.  If you go, be sure to introduce yourself to Rick Hirsch and Jordyn Drayton, both of whom are friends of Geog 30.  Jordyn is also co-owner of Freeze Thaw Cycles.

The field of sustainability is very dynamic and exciting right now, with many important advances occurring.  Some new research on a concept called planetary boundaries is very relevant to Geog 30.  I would have included it in our discussion of global environmental change or sustainability, but the research hadn't been published by then - it only came out last week!

The new research aims to change how we conceptualize and study sustainability by defining sustainability in terms of planetary boundaries: Earth system thresholds which if crossed would bring catastrophic results.  Nine such boundaries are identified and described, three of which have already been crossed, according to the authors.  The authors are 28 leading researchers organized by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, including geographer Diana Liverman, who was in Penn State Geography from 1990 to 1995.

The nine boundaries listed are:
-boundaries already crossed:
  climate change
  rate of biodiversity loss (terrestrial and marine)
  interference with the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles
-boundaries being approached:
  global freshwater use
  change in land use
  ocean acidification
-boundaries not being approached:
  stratospheric ozone depletion
  chemical pollution
  atmospheric aerosol loading

The leader of this research, Johan Rockström, has an excellent nine-minute video explaining planetary boundaries.  Please watch this video before class on Monday 5 October (07M).

If you would like more information on planetary boundaries, please see the Stockholm Resilience Centre's page, the journal Nature's page, or this article in Yale Environment 360.

A recent article in the New York Times, Proposals Lag Behind Promises on Climate by Neil MacFarquhar, is of direct relevance to themes discussed in both Monday's lecture on collective action and the 21 October (09W) lecture on climate policy.  The article describes a recent high-level United Nations climate change policy meeting.  Speakers there included UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, president Hu Jintao of China, and our president Obama, among others.

For the collective action lecture, the opening paragraphs are of particular relevance:

World leaders gathered here for a global summit meeting on climate change made modest proposals on Tuesday for combating the problem, underscoring the way domestic political battles still trump what United Nations officials had hoped would be a sense of global urgency.

The negotiations for a new international agreement to curb emissions of greenhouse gases have stalled, making an agreement in Copenhagen by December difficult. In calling the conference, Ban Ki-moon, the United Nations secretary general, asked heads of state and government both in public and in private to set aside national concerns and become "global leaders."

These paragraphs highlight the challenge of solving collective action problems, i.e. the challenge of getting individuals to cooperate when cooperation is not in their own individual interest.

Please skim the rest of the article at your convenience (not necessary for Monday) to get a general sense for what current international climate negotiations look like.  We'll discuss all this in greater depth during the climate policy lecture.

On Friday there will be open tours of the Penn State Solar Decathalon Home.  The tours run from noon until 8pm at the west end of Innovation Blvd in Innovation Park.  The Solar Decathalon is an international competition that takes place every two years in October on the National Mall in DC.  The 2007 Penn State team included our own Seth Wilberding.  For more information see here and here.