Members of the UCSD Community Recognized for Sustainability Efforts

UCSD hosted the second edition of its Sustainability Awards Tuesday at Eucalyptus Point. The awards are designed to recognize members of the UCSD community, from students, to faculty, to alumni and even parents, who are engaged in all-out efforts to boost sustainability on campus. Here is a list of the award recipients with a brief summary of their accomplishments.

The Community Leader Award went to Byron Washom, the parent of a Sixth College student. Washom has played a pivotal role in helping the university develop its green energy strategy, officials said. He has volunteered his time to work closely with administrators and departments to incorporate renewable energy sources on campus, including solar panels, fuel cells, wind and seawater technologies. “A green tsunami is coming to UCSD through his efforts,” Vice Chancellor Gary Matthews said during the awards ceremony.

(Shaffer, who didn't attend the awards ceremony, is pictured here with Al Gore during a trip to Nashville, where she was trained to give Gore's famous "Inconvenient Truth" slide show.)

The Leadership in Sustainability Award went to Lisa Shaffer, executive director of UCSD’s Environment and Sustainability Initiative. Shaffer is one of the rare individuals on campus to be a staff member, faculty member and student at the same time, Vice Chancellor Matthews said. In addition to her work for the initiative, Shaffer teaches at the School of International Relations and Pacific Studies and is a student at the Rady School of Management. Her decade-long personal commitment to sustainability extends beyond work to all aspects of her life, research and education, making her one of UCSD’s most powerful sustainability advocates, officials said.

Student Awards:

Undergraduate June Reyes is the chair of the Social and Environmental Sustainability Committee, which coordinates sustainability-related activities that student organizations put on. Reyes also serves as a Green Campus, belongs to One Earth One Justice and the campus’ composting group. “June has an infectious passion for sustainability,” Vice Chancellor Matthews said.

Graduate student Meagan Moore serves as a representative on the Advisory Committee on Sustainability and the Transportation Policy Committee. Moore also co-chaired the campus’ focus the Nation even. She co-led a climate change course at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography last fall and helped launch the Greenline biodiesel shuttle project.

The Green Campus program received the student organization award this year. Interns conduct assessments of energy usage for offices, departments and buildings, then helping them reduce energy consumption.

Staff Awards:

Jim Ruby is UCSD’s fleet manager. His commitment to greening the campus’ fleet includes working directly with departments and vendors. He also does a great job at sharing his knowledge and resources with colleagues, officials said.

Christi Gilhoi, the director of the International House on campus, weaves sustainability into the I-House’s operations and programs. The house has become the local host for the Community Supported Agriculture organic food drop-offs, which allow members of the UCSD community to receive weekly baskets of fresh, organic vegetables and fruits. Gilhoi also incorporates locally grown foods into the Global Gourmet and American Pie programs. She coordinated fundraising efforts on campus for local organic farmers whose crops were lost in the 2007 wildfires. The effort yielded $1,500.

Faculty Awards:

Jan Kleissl, an assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. Under his guidance, the campus is developing a state-of-the-art micro- weather station network to integrate with its energy management system. The stations will be used to monitor campus micro-climates on campus and optimize energy management for buildings and irrigation. Click here to read more about the project.

Gabriele Wienhausen (Photo / Victor W. Chen)

Gabriele Wienhausen is associate dean of biological sciences. She and Muir Provost Susan Smith and Associate Dean of Research George Tynan created a seminar titled “Sustainability Across the Curriculum” designed to help faculty incorporate sustainability into their existing curricula across a wide range of disciplines.

Department Awards:

The UCSD Bookstore is devoted to providing eco-conscious alternatives, officials said. The bookstore offers many environmentally preferred products, selects socially responsible vendors and operates the Perks coffee shop that offers organic and fair trade products. Bookstore staff donate time and resources to enhance campus events, such as Focus the Nation and Earth Week.

UCSD Aux & Plant Services Marketing and Web Communications (Photo / Victor W. Chen)

Team members in Auxiliary & Plant Services Marketing and Web Communications show their commitment to campus sustainability by designing multimedia marketing materials, providing creative alternatives and delivering projects under tight deadlines while supporting several other departments, officials said.