Reclaiming ‘Eco-U’

UWGB to launch Environmental Management and Business Institute

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will launch its newly developed Environmental Management and Business Institute on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with a symposium, “Green Innovations 2009: Connecting Natural Capital to Economic Competitiveness.” The all-day event will take place on April 22 in the University Union.

Interim chancellor David Ward says the development of the EMBI is a step toward strengthening the university’s leadership position in connecting science, public policy and business.

“UW-Green Bay has, from its beginning, received recognition for its interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, especially in areas related to the environment,” Ward says. “The EMBI is a natural extension of our long-term commitment to sustainability both on campus and in the community. We were green long before green became mainstream.” He says UW-Green Bay was dubbed “Eco-U” by Harper’s magazine, Newsweek and other national venues in the early 1970s.

One goal of the EMBI is to help make Northeast Wisconsin synonymous with sustainability and environmental leadership, says Ward.

Professor John Stoll, EMBI co-director and faculty member in public and environmental affairs, sees that goal as attainable.

“UW-Green Bay is known for its early ‘Eco-U’ reputation, a title given because it was among the few places where society’s treatment of the environment was seen as a problem,” recalls Stoll, a 1973 UW-Green Bay graduate.

“But more than that, it was seen as a problem that could be the focus of academic study in challenging and innovative ways — interdisciplinary, problem-focused, education that crossed traditional lines in terms of academic structure and teaching.”

Ward says the goals of the EMBI are to strengthen and connect academic programs that analyze environmental problems, and seek practical, cost-effective solutions to these problems; provide outreach services to businesses and agencies that seek options for addressing environmental problems. Whenever possible, students will be enlisted to participate in these campus/community collaborations; promote research by faculty and students aimed at solving local, regional and global environmental problems; and serve as an academic resource for improving environmental sustainability of the UW-Green Bay campus.

Helping businesses find ways to reduce their environmental impact while increasing profitability is good for business and society, and the university’s efforts have the full support of Integrys Energy Group Chairman Larry Weyers. Integrys is a holding company with utility and non-regulated subsidiaries in the energy industry, including Green Bay-based Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, a symposium co-sponsor. Weyers will deliver a keynote address at the Earth Day event.

“This is great effort by the university, and it needs to be supported by all sectors of the community,” says Weyers. “For years, businesses and others have wanted to do what’s right for the environment, but there were strongly divergent ideas on how to get there. Today, there’s a realization that we need each other, and we benefit from the input of one another in the process of achieving our environmental goals. The EMBI will be an outstanding program to help facilitate this.”

While the April 22 conference will represent the public launch of EMBI, planning has been underway for more than a year for its academic component. UW-Green Bay is establishing an undergraduate certificate program integrating coursework in environmental science, policy and business, with plans to initiate it for current students in fall 2009.

“The conversation really got started more than a year ago, when former Chancellor Bruce Shepard challenged the university community at the mid-year convocation to re-focus its energy on the environment and sustainability, interdisciplinary studies and internationalizing the campus. The EMBI will help address all those areas,” says Ward.

Sustainability expert Bob Willard will also deliver a keynote address at the Earth Day symposium. Willard is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. He applies business and leadership development experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage business leaders in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities associated with sustainability issues.

He is the author of “The Sustainability Advantage,” which quantifies potential bottom-line benefits from using sustainability strategies, and “The Next Sustainability Wave.”

Willard has traveled to the New North several times in the past year to speak to various groups. “It’s really exciting to see the energy and momentum that’s building in the region around sustainable business practices,” he said. “Every time I come back, I see new faces, bigger audiences and greater understanding of these concepts.”
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay will launch its newly developed Environmental Management and Business Institute on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with a symposium, “Green Innovations 2009: Connecting Natural Capital to Economic Competitiveness.” The all-day event will take place on April 22 in the University Union.

Interim chancellor David Ward says the development of the EMBI is a step toward strengthening the university’s leadership position in connecting science, public policy and business.

“UW-Green Bay has, from its beginning, received recognition for its interdisciplinary approach to problem solving, especially in areas related to the environment,” Ward says. “The EMBI is a natural extension of our long-term commitment to sustainability both on campus and in the community. We were green long before green became mainstream.” He says UW-Green Bay was dubbed “Eco-U” by Harper’s magazine, Newsweek and other national venues in the early 1970s.

One goal of the EMBI is to help make Northeast Wisconsin synonymous with sustainability and environmental leadership, says Ward.

Professor John Stoll, EMBI co-director and faculty member in public and environmental affairs, sees that goal as attainable.

“UW-Green Bay is known for its early ‘Eco-U’ reputation, a title given because it was among the few places where society’s treatment of the environment was seen as a problem,” recalls Stoll, a 1973 UW-Green Bay graduate.

“But more than that, it was seen as a problem that could be the focus of academic study in challenging and innovative ways — interdisciplinary, problem-focused, education that crossed traditional lines in terms of academic structure and teaching.”

Ward says the goals of the EMBI are to strengthen and connect academic programs that analyze environmental problems, and seek practical, cost-effective solutions to these problems; provide outreach services to businesses and agencies that seek options for addressing environmental problems. Whenever possible, students will be enlisted to participate in these campus/community collaborations; promote research by faculty and students aimed at solving local, regional and global environmental problems; and serve as an academic resource for improving environmental sustainability of the UW-Green Bay campus.

Helping businesses find ways to reduce their environmental impact while increasing profitability is good for business and society, and the university’s efforts have the full support of Integrys Energy Group Chairman Larry Weyers. Integrys is a holding company with utility and non-regulated subsidiaries in the energy industry, including Green Bay-based Wisconsin Public Service Corporation, a symposium co-sponsor. Weyers will deliver a keynote address at the Earth Day event.

“This is great effort by the university, and it needs to be supported by all sectors of the community,” says Weyers. “For years, businesses and others have wanted to do what’s right for the environment, but there were strongly divergent ideas on how to get there. Today, there’s a realization that we need each other, and we benefit from the input of one another in the process of achieving our environmental goals. The EMBI will be an outstanding program to help facilitate this.”

While the April 22 conference will represent the public launch of EMBI, planning has been underway for more than a year for its academic component. UW-Green Bay is establishing an undergraduate certificate program integrating coursework in environmental science, policy and business, with plans to initiate it for current students in fall 2009.

“The conversation really got started more than a year ago, when former Chancellor Bruce Shepard challenged the university community at the mid-year convocation to re-focus its energy on the environment and sustainability, interdisciplinary studies and internationalizing the campus. The EMBI will help address all those areas,” says Ward.

Sustainability expert Bob Willard will also deliver a keynote address at the Earth Day symposium. Willard is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. He applies business and leadership development experience from his 34-year career at IBM Canada to engage business leaders in proactively avoiding risks and capturing opportunities associated with sustainability issues.

He is the author of “The Sustainability Advantage,” which quantifies potential bottom-line benefits from using sustainability strategies, and “The Next Sustainability Wave.”

Willard has traveled to the New North several times in the past year to speak to various groups. “It’s really exciting to see the energy and momentum that’s building in the region around sustainable business practices,” he said. “Every time I come back, I see new faces, bigger audiences and greater understanding of these concepts.”