NEWS AND EVENTS

Clean Commute online ride-matching software now Available

CATA’s Clean Commute Options Program is proud to introduce their new online commuter matching system.  All interested commuters can visit cata.org to get on the road to a clean commute in seconds!  Anyone interested in riding the bus, carpooling, vanpooling, bicycling, or walking to work or school can click on “Clean Commute Options” and register their information to receive a complete list of potential matches and directions.  In addition, the Clean Commute program can help you find ride matches for your one time trips such as meetings, conferences, trips home for spring break, and all other special trips around the United States or Canada! 

To register as a clean commuter or learn more information about the program, contact the Program Coordinator at 517-393-7433 or email cleancommute@cata.org.  You may also visit their website at www.cata.org and find a better way to get there, because it all adds up to cleaner air!

the new MSU surplus store and recycling center set to open soon

In January 2008, the MSU Board of Trustees authorized the creation of a new recycling facility to be located west of Farm Lane in the service district, which will triple the amount of materials currently being recycled. A new comprehensive recycling program, coupled with the new facility, will allow the university to expand recycling collection in all buildings. Currently 14 percent of the white and mixed office paper, newspaper, cardboard and plastics are diverted from the landfill through the recycling program and the capture rate of these five materials is projected to double by 2010.

Get the latest info, pictures, and a map of the location of the facility from the new MSU Surplus Store and Recycling Center site.

MSU researchers work to battle global climate change and poverty

Michigan State University scientists are combining sustainable forest production with emerging carbon markets in a unique effort to help some of the world's poorest people grow trees that will boost their standards of living and slow climate change. "We have an exciting opportunity to leverage the growing carbon financial market in the United States and Europe to assist poor farmers in developing countries," says David Skole, MSU forestry professor and leader of the Carbon2Markets projects.

Find out more about what MSU scientists are doing to battle climate change and poverty.

Read an in-depth article chronicling Carbon2Markets and Dr. Skole's work.

another reason to tell your friends to be green!

MSU researchers recently completed a massive study in China which showed that people are more likely to participate in environmental conservation programs if they know their neighbors are also participating. The results of the study, which will soon be published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, focus on the phenomenon of social norms in the context of China's conservation efforts. The study focused on a mammoth government initiative called Grain-to-Green that pays Chinese farmers to convert cropland back to forest. The National Science Foundation has the rest of the story.

MSU expands parntership with earth university of costa rica

MSU and EARTH University of Costa Rica have been connected ever since former MSU president Gordon Guyer helped select the 8,000 acres in the midst of the rainforest that became the university’s campus. Now these two institutions are taking their partnership to a new level to give students a better chance to learn about sustainability. Learn how EARTH University is opening its classrooms up to MSU students for graduate studies and internships in sustainability in this State News article.

University stores continues to go green

Thanks to a tremendous increase in the use of paper with recycled content, University Stores is now able to reduce the amount of virgin paper it orders to keep in stock. University Stores would like to thank the entire MSU community for showing such incredible support for making our community a better place.

You can find archived news here.