Green Development: A Search for Solutions

Campus Partners with UCI and Chapman to Explore Successful Green Initiatives

May 19, 2009

By Valerie Orleans

Cal State Fullerton, along with the University of California, Irvine, and Chapman University, will address emerging technologies and methods to build a greener society at a daylong conference, “Green Development: A Search for Solutions.” The Friday, May 22, program will be held at UCI’s Beckman Center for the National Academies.

“We have joined together with two other Orange County-based universities to present this information because this is such an important and timely topic,” said Dorota Huizinga, associate vice president for graduate studies and research.

The solutions-oriented conference will consist of a series of short presentations on emerging technologies and methods designed to build a greener society. Rather than focus on environmental degradation through climate change, the goal of the program is to describe existing and promising practices that minimize the human carbon footprint.

Technologies that will be discussed include solar energy, fuel cells and innovative water treatment processes. Case studies of successful initiatives in business and at universities will focus on concepts and principles that lead to winning results.

Among those from Cal State Fullerton that will be presenting at the conference are Amir Dabirian, vice president for Information Technology, who will discuss “Green Computing”; Jeff Kuo, professor of civil and environmental engineering, who will speak on “Technology to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions”; and Willem van der Pol, director of physical plant, who will discuss successful green development and energy initiatives at Cal State Fullerton.

Huizinga will welcome the attendees. Huizinga and Davida Hopkins-Parham, executive assistant to the vice president of academic affairs were on the planning committee.

The free event is open to the public but reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. To make reservations, contact newkirk@uci.edu or call 949-824-9336.