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News Archives
2018
2017
Sustainable Organization Spotlight: Sea Turtle Conservancy
December 7th, 2017
The Sea Turtle Conservancy (STC) is a nonprofit organization based in Gainesville,
Florida. Since its founding in 1959, STC has become the most recognized and accomplished
sea turtle organization in the world. The organization, having over 50 years of experience
in sea turtle conservation, research, and education, raises awareness and advocates
for the protection of sea turtles.
USF Partners with City of Dunedin
December 7th, 2017
Starting in Spring of 2018, the USF Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships
and the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) will begin a partnership
with the City of Dunedin.
USF Federal Credit Union Tree Planting
December 7th, 2017
On November 7, the Patel College of Global Sustainability took part in a tree planting
on the Tampa Campus. This tree planting was made possible
by a donation from the USF Federal Credit Union to the PCGS Green Initiatives fund.
PCGS was pleased to have the opportunity to continue our efforts to green the campus
as a part of the Tree Campus USA program.
Alumni Network Event
December 7th, 2017
On November 16th, 2017 the Patel College of Global Sustainability hosted its first
Alumni Network Event at the Gibbons Alumni Center at USF. The evening began with networking
opportunities and appetizers. Alumni, faculty, and current students shared experiences,
gave advice, and built their networks.
Sustainability Factors in Dynamical Systems Modeling: Simulating the Non-linear Aspects
of Multiple Equilibria
November 7th, 2017
What is sustainability? Sustainability is a concept that can be defined in many ways
depending upon a society's perception of current material needs and the actual material
needs of future generations. Much of our ability to achieve sustainability entails
developing indicators and measurements that will guide us to this goal. This paper
suggests that we can strengthen the prediction of sustainability indicators by adopting
a "multiple equilibria" approach for a more effective decision-making process in various
sectors of the economy, in ecosystem protection, or in political arenas.
The Future of Sustainable Tourism
November 2nd, 2017
On October 20th Dr. David Randle, Director of the Sustainable Tourism concentration,
and Louis Zunguze, Director of the Coastal Sustainability concentration, attended
a Mayors Summit at Tampa Bay Watch to discuss the upcoming United Nations World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO) conference.
Looking for a Scholarship?
November 2nd, 2017
The USF Foundation Scholarship Office is a resource for currently enrolled Students
to search and apply for scholarships and grants. These scholarships and grants are
both need and merit based to accommodate all students. Scholarships and grants are
updated often, so make sure to check the website regularly for new opportunities.
Feeding America in Puerto Rico
November 2nd, 2017
The aftermath of Hurricane Maria is still affecting our friends and family in Puerto
Rico, leaving many citizens without electricity and water. Communication challenges
remain as many are impacted by power, phone and internet outages. There is also limited
access to food, as fuel shortages and road closures make travel around the island
nearly impossible.
PCGS Alumna's NGOs Helping the World
October 30th, 2017
Aja Estro, PCGS class of 2014 alumna, has dedicated her post graduate life to ground
up movements that focus on specific needs of villages to improve quality of life and
protect the environment.
Water for People: "We're Working to Reach Everyone Forever"
October 11th, 2017
Here in America, we constantly have access to clean water. This is unfortunately not
the case for the 2.1 billion people around the world who don't have access to safe
water and the 4.5 billion who lack access to adequate sanitation.
Imagine a Day Without Water
October 5th, 2017
Imagine waking up in the morning, walking into the bathroom to take a shower, turning
the faucet and nothing happens...no water comes out of your pipes. How would you brush
your teeth?
Solar CITIES Biodigester Research Project at Rosebud Continuum Sustainability Education
Center with Patel College of Global Sustainability
October 3rd, 2017
Hurricane Irma, coming on the heels of Hurricane Harvey, showed the southern US and
southern Florida that the era of climate uncertainty and intensified storms has the
potential to wreck economies and disrupt lives.
Patel College of Global Sustainability is a Member of
a Consortium Awarded $15M by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to Advance the
US Bioeconomy
September 28th, 2017
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) just announced a $15 million award to a consortium
of universities and companies, a member of which is USF's Patel College of Global
Sustainability (PCGS) with Dr. George Philippidis as co-Principal Investigator.
Sierra Club's Fight for Environmental Justice
September 21st, 2017
Founded by conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is the nation's largest
and most influential grassroots environmental organization.
PM4SD Certification Offered in the USA for the First Time at Patel College of Global
Sustainability
September 20th, 2017
After being offered around the world for the last several years, the Project Management
for Sustainable Development (PM4SD) certification was offered at the University of
South Florida (USF) Patel College of Global Sustainability from August 19th - 22nd.
Patel College of Global Sustainability Partners with Peace Corps to Promote Sustainability
September 20th, 2017
The Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) has partnered with Peace Corps to
offer The Paul D. Coverdell Fellowship for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV).
PCGS Alumni Bring Sustainability to Apollo Beach
September 20th, 2017
After a year of selling handmade soy candles at local farmer's markets throughout
the Tampa Bay area, PCGS Alumni Trinity Miller and Tyler Demonde identified the need
for a monthly market in the South Shore area.
PCGS Parters With the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki to Further Algae Research
July 28th, 2017
In July 2017 the Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) and the School of Chemical
Engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) in Greece partnered
to conduct an algae project. The project will take place over the course of the following
12 months.
PCGS Students Recap on Prestigious UNWTO Internship
July 24th, 2017
At PCGS, we pride ourselves on our global internship program, an experience which
allows our students to experience first hand, how policy and practice come together.
Every semester, our students begin new internships and projects that take what they
learn in the classroom to the outside world. This year, PCGS is engaged with the United
Nations World Tourism to recognize 2017 as the "Year of Sustainable Tourism".
Villages Nature: A Potential Game Changer for Sustainable Tourism
July 5th, 2017
I had just flown into to Charles de Gaulle airport after spending time at the UNWTO
Gastronomy Conference in San Sebastian, Spain and was headed to visit the new Villages
Nature project just outside Paris.
Tampa's Indie Flea Aims to Become Florida's First Zero Waste Market
June 28th, 2017
This year, the Indie Flea partnered with the Suncoast Surfrider organization, who
are dedicated to protecting the world's oceans, to bring their green initiatives to
life.
Coors Light Shows That Summer Fun and Sustainability Go Hand in Hand
June 28th, 2017
Summer: a season dedicated to backyard bbq's and cold beer. While this activity is
a favorite pastime among many, it is not the most environmentally friendly way we
could spend our summer.
Patel College of Global Sustainability Alumni work with Professor TH Culhane to Develop
New Sustainability Center—The Rosebud Continuum Education Center
June 28th, 2017
The Rosebud Continuum, located in Land O'Lakes, FL opened to the public this summer.
The education center, whose mission is to teach at all levels about sustainable living
and technologies in a practical, hands on environment will be open to Hillsborough
County K-12 students and will also serve as an internship experience for graduate
students.
Package-Free Shop Reduces Waste In NYC
June 15th, 2017
If one was asked to fit a day's worth of waste into a container, how big of a container
would it be? Now, picture four years worth of waste, except it can all fit comfortably
inside of one jar.
Kellogg Company's Dedication To Sustainable Practices
June 15th, 2017
Upon first glance at the Corporate Responsibility Page, one could tell immediately
that the Kellogg Company is dedicated to the betterment of the planet. "Every day,
Kellogg employees work together to fulfill our vision of enriching and delighting
the world through foods and brands that matter," reads the company's website.
Blue Community Sustainable Observatory visits NASA
June 23rd, 2017
Professors Dr. David Randle, PCGS Director of Sustainable Tourism, Louis Zunguze,
Coastal Sustainability, and Rebecca Tobias representing the UNWTO Affiliate the Blue
Community Consortium traveled to the NASA Kennedy Space Center this week to share
the work of the USF PCGS led Blue Community Sustainable Tourism Observatory.
Package-Free Shop Reduces Waste In NYC
June 15th, 2017
If one was asked to fit a day's worth of waste into a container, how big of a container
would it be? Now, picture four years worth of waste, except it can all fit comfortably
inside of one jar.
Kellogg Company's Dedication To Sustainable Practices
June 15th, 2017
Upon first glance at the Corporate Responsibility Page, one could tell immediately
that the Kellogg Company is dedicated to the betterment of the planet. "Every day,
Kellogg employees work together to fulfill our vision of enriching and delighting
the world through foods and brands that matter," reads the company's website.
PCGS Intern Spotlight - Joshua Calero, Sustainable Tourism & Coastal Sustainability
June 5th, 2017
Not many get the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Virgin Islands, let alone
have the chance to intern in a field they're passionate about while doing so. For
USF Patel College of Global Sustainability graduate student Joshua Calero, this became
his reality as he set out on a Spring internship with the Nature Conservancy in St.
Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
PCGS Intern Spotlight - Katie Murray, Sustainable Tourism
June 5th, 2017
"I didn't realize how quickly I could make connections and put my Sustainable Tourism
degree to use in different ways," Katie Murray, a graduate student currently enrolled
in the USF Patel College of Global Sustainability, wrote on the PCGS intern blog.
Dr. Culhane's Solar CITIES Biodigester Projects
April 25th 2017
Dr. Culhane from The Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS) is the co-founder
of Solar CITIES. The organization has a collective goal of the emergence of true Solar
Cities, places where human and non-human beings can co-evolve without the threats
posed by fossil carbon and radioactive materials.
IKEA Announces DIY Garden Sphere
April 10th, 2017
IKEA launched an open source design plan for a spherical garden. This Do-It-Yourself
structure was developed by IKEA's innovation lab, Space10, to enable people to gain
access to locally grown sustainable food by giving them the power to do it themselves.
Alumna Trista Brophy Presents Her Research
April 10th, 2017
PCGS Class of 2013 Alumna, Trista Brophy, presented her research at the 2017 Association
of American Geographers Annual Meeting on April 8th! Her research is titled "Environmental
and Community Health in South San Diego County: A Behavior Analysis of Recreational
Ocean Users Along Imperial Beach, California."
33rd Space Symposium
April 10th, 2017
The Space Symposium, held at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, has
brought together space leaders from around the world to discuss, address and plan
for the future of space since the inaugural event in 1984. It has become widely known
as the premier U.S. space policy and program forum and as the "must attend" opportunity
for information on and interaction among all sectors of space.
Student Spotlight: Charles Grisafi
April 7th, 2017
Charles Grisafi is a Master of Global Sustainability student with a concentration
in Coastal Sustainability. He has acquired a new position as the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Regional Coordinator for Florida
and the Caribbean.
March 9th, 2017
The Patel College of Global Sustainability is excited to announce that it will be
offering all core courses for the Summer 2017 semester. PCGS will also be offering
summer courses for the Climate Change, Energy, Water, Tourism, and Coastal Sustainability
concentrations.
March 9th, 2017
The next green revolution is public transportation. Technologies are advancing the
movement with self-driving taxis, wifi-enabled traffic control, eco-conscious freeways,
and electric light rail trains.
March 6th, 2017
The Patel College of Global Sustainability will be hosting several spring workshops
for sustainability certification programs. The first workshop will be for the LEED
Green Associate exam preparation in PCGS Room 136 on March 24th and March 31st . The
LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green design, construction,
and operations.
March 6th, 2017
Jihye Jeong will be graduating this spring with an MA in Global Sustainability from
the Patel College. Her undergraduate degree was in business administration which lead
to her declaring the Entrepreneurship concentration. Jihye plans on working in management
and marketing fields and is currently a marketing intern at Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful.
March 6th, 2017
Morgan Eastman is a Master of Global Sustainability student in the Entrepreneurship
concentration, who is currently interning at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. As part of
her role on the Scuba Dive Operation Team, she is responsible for maintaining the
dive locker room, equipment, and assisting the supervisor with safety protocols.
February 21st, 2017
Master of Global Sustainability student Steffanie Agerkop is pursuing four concentrations
offered by PCGS, Energy, Water, Sustainable Tourism, and Building Sustainable Enterprise.
Steffanie understands that most businesses are making efforts toward becoming more
sustainable to save money, reduce negative environmental impacts, satisfy stakeholders
as well as shareholders, and create social equity within their business.
February 21st, 2017
The Patel College of Global Sustainability Spring Open House is around the corner!
Join us on March 31st, 2017 from 9 am to 12 pm at the Patel Center for Global Solutions.
PCGS works to foster sustainable living in harmony with the environment and currently
offers a Master's of Arts in Global Sustainability with nine different concentrations
as well as eleven graduate certificates. Join us to learn more about our programs,
global internships, scholarships, and jobs in sustainability.
February 21st, 2017
Are you graduating soon? Become more competitive in the job market utilizing LinkedIn.
This Mandatory Career Workshop for all incoming students is the next event for the
Student Development Series.
February 21st, 2017
Patel College of Global Sustainability Professor Joseph Dorsey gave a presentation
on February 10th, 2017 for Cuba: At The Crossroads, a symposium organized by the Latin
American and Caribbean Studies Program at Rollins College. Dr. Dorsey's panel discussion
was on The Rise of Urban Agriculture in Cuba: Sustainabilitism in an Emergent Caribbean
Nation.
February 21st, 2017
Andrew Glazier is preparing for graduation this May with a Masters in Global Sustainability
from PCGS. He is currently working with Hillsborough Community College on the Beyond
Sustainability Conference. Andrew collaborates with the project manager, Sheila McNamara,
to organize and host the EXPO this April.
February 21st, 2017
The is now officially a Coverdell Fellows Partner University.
The Patel College of Global Sustainability (PCGS), is one of four USF Colleges selected
to offer the program and will begin accepting students in March for the Fellowship
starting Fall 2017!
February 10th, 2017
Trista Brophy graduated from PCGS in 2013 with a concentration in Water Sustainability.
Since graduating from PCGS, she has completed an MS in Environmental Science in Policy
(Water Resource Management concentration) and graduated August 2016. Trista spent
almost a year in San Diego researching perceptions of environmental health and water
quality issues for her thesis research.
February 10th, 2017
Margaret Rodriguez Vasquez is a PCGS student in the Food Security & Sustainability
concentration. Margaret joined Dr. Theresa Gilbertson on her return trip to the Uros
Islands in Peru.
February 10th, 2017
Angela El-Fayez is a PCGS student in the entrepreneurship concentration. We would
like to highlight her recent sustainability efforts that combine entrepreneurship
with food waste.
February 10th, 2017
As part of the 2017 Leon County Sustainable Communities Summit, Leon County hosted
a Hospitality Industry Workshop on Wednesday, February 8th, to engage local tourism
partners in a discussion about sustainable tourism.
February 10th, 2017
As part of the United Nations' International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development,
the Patel College kicked off a series of guest lectures on this topic.
February 10th, 2017
We are excited to share one of TH Culhane's sustainability projects. As a Patel College
instructor, Dr. Culhane is always seeking to apply what he learns in the real world
to set an example for his students.
January 25th, 2017
Earlier this month, the National Football Championship came to Tampa Bay. Sports games
are known for creating waste and this year, our students and others in the community
wanted to help combat that.
January 25th, 2017
Our fellow alumn and ambassador Trista Brophy recently hosted the Urban Oasis Farm
Patel College Field Trip. This is an urban hydroponic farm located in the heart of
Tampa Bay that offers locally grown, fresh and organic vegetables that are high in
nutrition and value.
January 25th, 2017
Katie is currently working to earn her Master's degree in Global Sustainability with
a concentration in Sustainable Tourism. Participating in two separate internship programs
gives her the opportunity to gain experience and learn about different aspects of
the tourism industry.
January 12th, 2017
It's the start of a new semester once again. We have over 60 new students in the program
this spring, making it our largest class yet! The Patel College of Global Sustainability
has come a long way since we were first established back in 2009, we have more than
doubled in size.
January 11th, 2017
M.A. student, Arnel Garcesa, recently joined Yara North America as a Commercial Sales
and Marketing Intern!
Through this position he will work within the Industrial segment and assist with developing
programs/policies which supply nutrients for agricultural animals Arnel's goal is
to help develop programs which allow livestock or poultry to be properly dieted while
using less overall feed materials.
January 6th, 2017
Surely you've heard us talking about the Active City Conference for a while now. This
conference is happening here in Tampa, FL. It will be a two day conference that will
start on January 26th at 12pm and go through the 27th until 7pm.
January 6th, 2017
A congratulations is in order for Travis Malott, who just accepted an internship at
the Department of State in Washington DC! Travis is studying to earn his Master's
of Arts in Global Sustainability; with his concentration in Sustainable Energy. Travis
has been working closely with Dr.Philippidis and he often stops by the office to do
work and say hello.