SUNY Potsdam students study environmental impact through action
Public Affairs
Issue date: 10/31/08 Section: College Life
Have you ever thought about becoming a vegetarian to help the environment? What about measuring your water consumption in an effort to reduce it or carrying around your trash so you can track your impact?
SUNY Potsdam students in Dr. Heather Sullivan-Catlin's "Environment and Society" course were charged with developing both a personal and community action project that would bring about an environmentally positive social change and/or a beneficial contribution to the natural environment.
The students are studying environmental sociology, which examines the complex relationship between human societies and their environments. They are focusing on a variety of issues and perspectives with regard to this relationship, including the ecological implications of human behavior and individual and collective efforts to address environmental issues.
Students came up with creative ways to make a difference in the face of climate change, energy issues, food concerns and regional environmental matters.
"I signed up for the course because I care about where I live, and I want to be the change I wish to see in the world," said sophomore sociology major Xinnuo Li of Shenzhen, China.
Li managed to make it through her two-week stint as a vegetarian for the project. "It feels good to be friendly to the world," she noted.
Eric Quinn, a junior sociology major from Glens Falls, wanted to make an even more drastic change.
"I was originally going vegan for two weeks. It lasted two days. Making such a drastic lifestyle change is hard, though not impossible. I finished the project as a vegetarian."
Quinn learned that gradual change is sometimes best when making a commitment to a new lifestyle. "Given the current environmental issues we face, change is necessary for our future," he said.
Senior environmental studies major RJ Mattimore of Rochester used no plastic bottles or silverware for the duration of his project. Instead, he utilized reusable drinking containers and brought his own silverware to the dining halls.
SUNY Potsdam students in Dr. Heather Sullivan-Catlin's "Environment and Society" course were charged with developing both a personal and community action project that would bring about an environmentally positive social change and/or a beneficial contribution to the natural environment.
The students are studying environmental sociology, which examines the complex relationship between human societies and their environments. They are focusing on a variety of issues and perspectives with regard to this relationship, including the ecological implications of human behavior and individual and collective efforts to address environmental issues.
Students came up with creative ways to make a difference in the face of climate change, energy issues, food concerns and regional environmental matters.
"I signed up for the course because I care about where I live, and I want to be the change I wish to see in the world," said sophomore sociology major Xinnuo Li of Shenzhen, China.
Li managed to make it through her two-week stint as a vegetarian for the project. "It feels good to be friendly to the world," she noted.
Eric Quinn, a junior sociology major from Glens Falls, wanted to make an even more drastic change.
"I was originally going vegan for two weeks. It lasted two days. Making such a drastic lifestyle change is hard, though not impossible. I finished the project as a vegetarian."
Quinn learned that gradual change is sometimes best when making a commitment to a new lifestyle. "Given the current environmental issues we face, change is necessary for our future," he said.
Senior environmental studies major RJ Mattimore of Rochester used no plastic bottles or silverware for the duration of his project. Instead, he utilized reusable drinking containers and brought his own silverware to the dining halls.
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