Libraries Spring Exhibit Explores Sustainability
at UCI and Beyond
The Libraries’ spring exhibit, “Green Evolution: Creating a Sustainable Future,” showcases the lifespan of the environmental sciences as it relates to research, community, and campus practices in achieving a more environmentally sustainable future. Dr. Scott Samuelson, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Director of the National Fuel Center Research Center (NFCRC), and the Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at UCI, was the featured speaker for the opening event on May 6, 2010.
UCI has been among leaders in academic building design and construction, having received LEED awards for new projects that demonstrate transformation in the way people practice design, construct and operate buildings, structure utilities, utilize technology, and manage waste and recycling. The exhibit highlights key events in environmental history and focuses on four central themes that demonstrate relationships between current UCI research emphases and campus achievement:
- energy planning
potential for new sources of power utilizing fuel cells and alternative renewable sources to create energy independence and address needs ranging from transportation to appliances
- water resources
focuses on scarcity and how to create better quality and solutions for wastewater treatment and resource management.
- global warming & climate change
environmental systems for air, water, and land quality; contributions of atmospheric chemistry; and responses to the effects of depleted natural habitats throughout the world
- going green
examples of recycling, conservation, packaging, promotions, and waste reduction; building and construction incentives through LEED; new materials; and Green IT
Items on display demonstrate the changing environment and include government information, books, journal literature, data, and dissertations. The exhibit content is augmented with examples of batteries, light bulbs, fuel cells, and packaging materials.
The exhibit curators are Julia Gelfand, Applied Sciences & Engineering Librarian (jgelfand@uci.edu or x44971) and Mitchell Brown, Chemistry and Earth Systems Sciences Librarian (mcbrown@uci.edu or x49732).