As the world becomes more aware of environmental issues, current and prospective Miami University students, faculty and community members have become more concerned with sustainability.
According to David Prytherch, sustainability coordinator and professor of geography, sustainability will be the most popular search word for those interested in environmental topics.
"Prospective and current students are curious about curricular opportunities related to sustainability, and the wider community wants to know how Miami is tackling the sustainability challenge," Prytherch said.
Prytherch said a new sustainability Web site would have two main focuses: educational opportunities related to sustainability and information related to operations.
While the university has a Web site on sustainability, Adam Harris, student body vice president, said it needs more.
"It can't be just numbers, it needs the human element as well," Harris said.
Harris said the new site is currently in preliminary stages, however, he said he hopes it will be up and running by mid-October.
"I am trying to create an infrastructure so when I graduate in May they can continue to do great work when I'm gone," Harris said.
The site will be kept up and run by Miami students and staff. Harris said once the infrastructure is working, a variety of students who want to help the cause as well as build their resumes will be selected take control.
"We've already had students volunteer to contribute web design skills through Associated Student Government," Prytherch said, "and, of course, we'll rely on IT staff within the university."
The sustainability Committee will also be working together with people who already maintain sustainability information on line, such as This Makes Cents (http://www.muohio.edu/ThisMakesCents/ ) which solicits cost-savings suggestions.
Prytherch stressed that the project is still in the planning stages.
"We really welcome feedback from the entire community about the content and design of this website, since it will be designed to serve the needs of the Miami community," Prytherch said.
Both Harris and Prytherch agreed that not only will they be helping the community with this new green Web site, but they will need the community to help them for it to be a success.
Harris said that service plays an important role on the Miami campus. There are environmental projects going on almost every weekend, but finding out about these projects is often difficult, especially if you aren't a member of the club or group organizing the event. He hopes with the new site this will change.
Whitney Sheblessy, a junior communication major, said she lived in the Environmental Awareness Living Learning Community on Western Campus her first year at Miami. Sheblessy said there is now a big difference in access and availability of projects to participate.
"The only thing I ever see anything about is recycling, and I'm sorry, but there is way more to do for the environment than just recycle." Sheblessy said.
Prytherch and Harris agreed that with the new Twitter generation, people expect real time information.
Prytherch said the major goal with this new site revolves around creating an ease of access to the already existing Miami sites involving like that of the physical facilities department but also to increase awareness not only in Miami students and staff, but the surrounding community, about sustainability on the Miami campus, according to Prytherch.
With this new site, students, community members stretching across Butler County, and Miami faculty will be able to easily learn how to make a difference in the local environment.
"We hope this (Web site) will help promote better awareness of and dialogue around important sustainability issues," Prytherch said.
