Lunchtime Lectures Offer Nuggets of Sustainability Information
Every Wednesday at lunchtime, the University’s Office of Sustainability (OoS) hosts informative programs that explore how WCU scholars, staff, and students explore and apply principles of environmental, social, and economic sustainability in their research and practice.
Sustainability Research and Practice Seminars take place Wednesdays from 12 to 12:50 p.m. in person in Sykes Student Union Room 255 A/B and via Zoom (https://wcupa.zoom.us/j/95413261652, meeting ID: 954 1326 1652, passcode: 880242). Seminars are free and open to the public. The in-person audience can enjoy free cookies and coffee.
The Spring 2026 series opened on February 4 with Dr. Casey R. Schmitt, Interdisciplinary Studies and Exploratory Studies, discussing Tuko Pamoja: Climate Perspectives from East Africa and Fulbright-Hays.
Sustainability Research and Practice Seminars are sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and the Sustainability Council’s Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee.
For more information, visit wcupa.edu/sustainability or write to sustainability@wcupa.edu.
February 18
Nadine Boukhari, graduate student in WCU’s Industrial/Organizational Psychology master’s
program, and Lisa Smart, Post-Landfill Action Network: Return on Investment Analysis
of Reusable To-Go Containers
February 25
Dr. Ellie Brown, Psychology: Can Environmental Chaos Get “Under the Skin” to Influence
Child Development? Implications for Policy and Practice
March 4
Kristopher Benedict, Art + Design: Landscape Painting and Contemporary Landscapes
March 18
Bruce Brockman, Vice President of Operations, Goodwill Keystone Area: The 4 P’s of
Sustainability: Prosperity, Planet, People, Perpetuity
March 25
In-Person Only: Meet in Sykes Lobby, no Zoom for this program
WCU graduate students lead a North Campus Bird Walk: Led by Paige Jones (School Counseling
master’s program), Ariel Whaley, (Geography master’s program), Lea Rubenstein, Music
Education master’s program)
April 1
Dr. Devin Arne, Music Theory, History, and Composition, and Silvana Cardell, Creator
of TERRA: Bodies + Territories on TERRA: Bodies + Territories
April 8
Dr. Carlos A. Morales-Ramírez, Geography and Planning: Protecting Gentle Giants: Sustainability
Challenges in Whale Shark Ecotourism
April 15
Dr. Amir Golmohamadi, Nutrition: Organic and Non-Organic Foods, Pesticide Residue,
and Sustainability
April 22
Dr. Margaret Hudgings and Molly Hanford, West Chester Green Team: West Chester Porchfest
and Sustainability
April 29
For this date only, meet in Sykes 210
Dan Spracklin, Founder and CEO, SoMax: Transforming Waste into Resources: An introduction
to Hydrothermal Carbonization