Environmental Awareness Day on campus
March 30, 2005
OSHAWA, Ont. - The Student Voice for Sustainable Alternatives at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) will be hosting its second annual Environmental Awareness Day on Wednesday, April 6 at the Oshawa campus. The goal of this group is to raise awareness of environmental issues on and off campus.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will showcase numerous organizations that employ, promote or develop environmentally progressive technologies and ideas. Susan Todd, an environmental technology teacher at Durham College says it provides insight into new and unknown technologies and innovations. Displays will be in the West Atrium of the Science building and the B Wing of the Gordon Willey building.
To kick off the event, the critically acclaimed documentary, End of Suburbia, which has been featured at film festivals across the continent, will be shown on April 5 at 6 p.m. in Room UA1350 of the Science building. Toronto-based director and writer, Gregory Greene, will be on hand at this free event to introduce the screening and answer questions afterward. "End of Suburbia addresses the impact of rising oil prices on the North American way of life and why this model might not be sustainable," said Dr. Peter Berg, an assistant professor of Physics at UOIT who helped to arrange the viewing.
On April 6 at noon in Room C113 of the Gordon Willey building, John Ferguson, education advisor to the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario will be speaking about the recently released review of Ontario's Environmental Bill of Rights and the recommendations made to the province.
Throughout the day, guests will be invited to tour the geothermal heating system and the green roofs atop the new campus buildings. The geothermal system, which is the second largest in North America, pumps water through pipes that are 700 feet below the surface, where the temperature is consistently moderate. It cools the buildings in summer and heats them in the winter. Green roofs provide natural insulation, reduce heating and cooling costs, and employ nature's water filtration methods to help manage storm drainage.
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About the University of Ontario Institute of Technology
As the province's newest university, the University of Ontario Institute of Technology provides a unique combination of academic knowledge, vibrant student life, leading-edge research, and hands-on skills. The university offers career-focused undergraduate degree programs in the fields of business and information technology, sciences, engineering, nursing, social science, and education. It is also developing leading-edge research and graduate programs and is Ontario's first laptop-based university. Sharing facilities and selected services with Durham College, UOIT has attracted over 1,800 students since its inception in 2003. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 1.866.844.8648.
About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.
Media contact
Tania Henvey
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
tania.henvey@uoit.ca
