Advancing Sustainability in Arizona Through Academic Collaborations with Businesses and Economic Councils:
A Tri-University Forum

Held on Thursday, April 29, 2004 at Northern Arizona University

This forum brought together representatives of Arizona's three public universities with state and national business leaders to advance sustainability through university/business collaborations. The forum responded to recommendations in the Battelle Report for Arizona to marshal the state's preeminent research capacity in ecological and environmental sciences in support of businesses and industries specializing in sustainable design, services or products.

The one-day forum featured plenary speakers from major corporations, leading foundations, business consulting organizations, and economic development councils. Topical workshops focused on setting priorities for collaborations in nine areas including sustainable building, renewable energy, forestry and forest products, pollution abatement, plant agriculture, livestock production, water reuse, impacts of climate change, eco-tourism and sustainable management systems.

 

The forum addressed these topics:

• Environmental trends affecting Arizona

• University responses to the Battelle Report

• Building bridges between academia and business to advance sustainability

• University strengths and weaknesses in addressing sustainability

• Hurdles to collaboration among universities and with business

The forum had these outcomes:

• Formation of a Tri-University/Business collaboratory to guide a comprehensive response to the Battelle report on sustainability

• Develop a set of priorities in key areas with which the collaboratory can design a road map for advancing sustainability research and applications

View the PowerPoint Presentations from the Conference

• Development and Investment: Prospectus to create a sustainable systems industry in Arizona, by Lisa Danka, Arizona Steering Committee.

• Sustainable Business through Environmental Neutrality, by Mike McClarence, STMicroelectronics.

• Bridging Sustainability Science and Business, by Ron Hubert, Hozho International.

• Sustainable Systems Update, by Stephanie McKinney, Greater Flagstaff Economic Council.

• Advancing Sustainability in Arizona, by Dr. Gary Nabhan, Center for Sustainable Environments.

Proceedings from the Conference now available.

• Download the breakout session proceedings in PDF format.

• Download the Tri-University Collaboration Plan, the 12-page proposed collaboration plan.

More Photos:

The Agriculture, Livestock and High Value BioProducts
breakout group reports their findings.

The Renewable Energy group discusses their vision.

Chef John Sharp addresses the forum at lunch.

About CSE | Contact Us | Collaborators | Research | Food | Water | Resources | Education | Publications | Events | News Archives | Home