April 4th, 2024 by WCBC Radio
Focus Frostburg 2024, a “Learn-in” for a Sustainable Future, will take place Wednesday, April 17, at Frostburg State University's Lane University Center. The full day event features programs, discussions and hands-on activities highlighting issues of sustainability and climate awareness. All presentations are open to the campus community and the larger regional community.
Events kick off at 10 a.m., with presentations and workshops running through 4 p.m. Featured topics include sustainable agriculture, genetically modified organisms, energy efficiency, Native Americans and public-land partnerships, green religion, outdoor recreation and economic development, environmentalism and the U.S. Market System, sustainable smart-grid technology, writing about rare, threatened and endangered species of Allegany County, the environmental benefits of Frostburg’s new Habitat Store, FSU’s Master of Environmental Management, zoos and animal behavior, the fossil record of flowering plants and a progress report from the city of Frostburg’s Green Team.
In addition, there will be poster presentations on various topics, including invasive species and female sustainability leaders who have worked or are working in areas that support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At noon, the FSU Tree Campus Higher Education group will proclaim Arbor Day in celebration of the importance of trees to our campus, state, country and world. There will also be opportunities for students to learn more about voter registration. FSU’s Sustainability Awareness Society will host an Eco-brick Workshop from 1 to 3 p.m. And sustainability-themed films will run throughout the day in the Alice R. Manicur Assembly Hall of the Lane Center.
Wednesday’s activities culminate in the program Bridging the Divide With Curiosity, Compassion and Civility, an evening of conversation, community, learning and fact-based dreaming, hosted by Transform Mid Atlantic in Lane Manicur Hall at 6:30 p.m. This program explores how conversations can be more productive if approached with intellectual and cultural humility, and the understanding that science is real and facts matter. Presenters will also share valuable resources to enhance civic literacy and the capacity to replace judgment about differences with curiosity. After remarks from speakers and a Q&A period, attendees will adjourn to a reception area where, in the spirit of the documentary “2040,” they will engage in some “fact-based dreaming” as they highlight some of the assets of this community and share some new initiatives. And they’ll discuss how to amplify the voices of today’s youth and make sure they feel heard.
Related activities throughout the week include the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle poster contest, which highlights the talent and creativity of students in ART 207 Graphic Design. To help communicate environmental awareness for FSU’s celebration of Earth Week, students designed posters for this contest. To vote, visit www.facebook.com/frostburglglg from Wednesday, April 17, through Sunday, April 21.
On Tuesdays, April 16 and 23, Sustainability students will host a Sustainability Cafeteria Takeover at dinner in the Chesapeake Dining Hall by serving and assisting at the dish carousel while promoting less waste. Consider dining at Chesapeake this week to learn more about global hunger as well as campus and community sustainability food initiatives, and to donate to the Sustainability Studies Minor Food Drive. Posters and an information/donation table for the SUST Food Drive will be available throughout the week.
The full schedule will be posted to https://www.facebook.com/frostburglglg and https://www.frostburg.edu/lglg by Monday, April 8. For more information, contact Dr. Kara Rogers Thomas at krogersthomas@frostburg.edu.
Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland. For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu or facebook.com/frostburgstateuniversity. Follow FSU on X @frostburgstate.
FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-3035 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.
