To celebrate Earth Month, the med center hosted events and opportunities to promote sustainability throughout the month of April and the beginning of May.
On April 9, the UNMC Office of Sustainability hosted a webinar about urban pollinator habitats and their impact on human health. The speakers were Benjamin Vogt, owner of the prairie-inspired design firm Monarch Gardens, and Bob Gittins, president and founder of Nebraska Monarchs.
At the LiveGreen Ambassador kick-off event, faculty and staff celebrated the program becoming an Employee Resource Group on campus. To learn about the program and its impact on campus climate efforts, visit the LiveGreen website.
In collaboration with the Blue Bucket Project, the UNMC Office of Sustainability hosted a “Flash Trash Mob” on April 24 to collect litter from the native prairie area surrounding Parking Lot 64. Participants collected two full bags of landfill waste, one of recycling and one of Hefty Renew Bag materials.
At the Arbor Day tree planting event, students and staff planted a Japanese Lilac tree named “Kibo,” which means “hope” or “aspiration” in Japanese. It is located near Williams Science Hall in the Ruth and Bill Scott Student Plaza.
Also at the Arbor Day event, attendees heard from the Healthy Earth Alliance student group about the med center’s 2023-2024 Planetary Health Report Card. That worldwide initiative supports students at health professional schools to celebrate their institution’s environmental successes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Review the med center’s summary report and see the scores here.
The annual personal electronic waste and techno trash shredding event on May 7 and 8 collected $782 and 290 food items to be donated to the food pantry.
Materials diverted from the landfill were:
- 3,969 pounds of electronic waste
- 2,850 pounds of personal documents
- 86 pairs of glasses
- 64 pounds of assorted media
- Nine pounds of pop tabs
- 135 pounds of alkaline batteries
- 30 pounds of rechargeable/button batteries
Throughout April, the UNMC Office of Sustainability hosted the One Healthcare EcoChallenge, an online platform that encourages participants to weave sustainable actions into their daily lives. The participants saved 456 gallons of water, 700 pounds of carbon dioxide and traveled 138 miles without driving a car. Lindsay Bruce was randomly chosen as the winner of the med center’s challenge.
Also in April, the office of sustainability hosted an online photo contest to showcase how participants engage with nature. Congratulations to winner Stephanie Le.
To participate in sustainability initiatives and activities year-round, contact Jerrod Bley at the UNMC Office of Sustainability.