TRACS Hosted Events

Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) Networking Session at GCSHE (10/12/2021)
This was a networking meeting for Texans and other parties interested in the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) to connect and discuss campus sustainability topics unique to the Lone Star State.

University Hosted Events

Dallas College

Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space: Building Community and Sustainability in East Dallas (10/12/2021)
Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space is White Rock United Methodist Church’s second campus. The undeveloped land at Owenwood was once baseball and soccer fields. But as the neighborhood changed, so did the needs of their friends and neighbors. When neighbors needed a space to play, the land was available. Now their neighbors need access to fresh food, diapers and necessities that aren’t usually provided by government assistance programs. And they are working to bring affordable, local, organic produce and other necessities to the community. In the middle of a food desert, Owenwood Farm actively works against injustices as they provide opportunities for connection and food access to neighbors in 75218 and 75228.

Huston-Tillotson University

Building Green Justice Forum: Repair, Regeneration, and Reparations (10/12/2021) 
Repair and regeneration have complementary but distinct biological definitions. Repair prevents an injury from spreading and re-establishes basic support; regeneration is a complete renewal of function that restores components by rebuilding them anew. We can envision how both definitions apply to environmental justice work, from science and policy to advocacy and community resilience. The concept of reparations further challenges us to assess the current state of the environment and examine reparations in environmental contexts. How can we renew systems and processes while accounting for the cascading damages of the past? Can a focus on immediate repair hinder long-term regeneration? Is renewal of any system possible without reparations? And how might we use these concepts to enact environmental justice work that is inclusive and transformative?

Rice University

Planet Now! Series: A Conversation with Matthew Tejada, Director of Environmental Justice, EPA (10/26/2021)
Matthew S. Tejada, director of the Office of Environmental Justice at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, joined Rice University’s Joseph Campana, the William Shakespeare Professor of English and director of the Center for Environmental Studies, and Gisela Heffes, professor of Latin American literature and culture in the Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures and a member of the Center for Environmental Studies faculty steering committee, for a Oct. 26, 2021, conversation as part of the Planet Now! event series.

Southwestern University

The Human Element Virtual Screening (10/28/2021)
Southwestern University presented a virtual screening of “The Human Element” followed by a Q&A discussion.

Texas A&M University

Education Through a Magnifying Glass (10/13/2021) 
The quality of education is not consistent across the United States. It depends on many factors, including accessibility, districting/ funding, and ideologies. In this talk, students explored each of these areas to determine what “quality education” means and how we can achieve equity within our school system.

The Houseplant Industry: Gotta Buy Them All (10/18/2021)
In this presentation, students discussed the houseplant industry, how #plantparenthood became a trend during the early stages of the; COVID 19 pandemic, and how this fad has severe environmental repercussions on the world’s wetlands.

Sustainable Investing for Beginners: Making Your Money Work for You and the Planet (10/19/2021)
Have you ever wanted to learn to invest, but don’t know where to start? Has investing sustainably ever crossed your mind, but you aren’t sure what companies you would even invest in? Then you are in the right place! In this presentation, you will learn the basics to get you started investing, a few simple strategies for finding sustainable stocks, and advice on setting yourself up for the future!

Diets for a Healthier Planet (10/21/2021)
Certain diets have become mainstream over recent years, especially as awareness of environmental issues has grown. Plant-based diets, including veganism and vegetarianism, have long been promoted as solutions to these environmental issues. However, the question arises as to whether it is necessary to fully transition to these diets in order to make a positive impact on the planet, or if making small changes, such as reducing meat consumption, is enough. In our presentation, we hope to educate people on the environmental impact of certain diets and encourage people to consider making sustainable changes to their diet, no matter how small.

Is Greenwashing an Ethical Approach to Marketing? (10/22/2021)
This presentation will center around the marketing strategy of ‘greenwashing’. This term is used to describe a tactic that companies use to communicate to consumers that their product is environmentally friendly when it is not or may not be to the extent advertised. Students discussed the definition of greenwashing, different types/strategies used, as well as diving into real-life examples. Participants will leave with a better understanding of what greenwashing is and how to identify these strategies.

The Economics of Climate Change: How Much is it Going to Cost Us? (10/27/2021)
An analysis of the economic and human cost of climate change, broken down by groups from least to most vulnerable. Students examined impacts at different levels of severity, as well as discuss mitigation measures.

University of Texas at Dallas

College Cooking: Fall Season (10/19/2021) 
One of UTD Eco Reps virtually shared easy, college-friendly recipes using seasonal October produce. Learn more about how eating seasonal foods benefits the environment.

Houseplant Horticulture (10/20/2021)
A guide to keeping your plants happy and alive. Topics will include choosing, caring for, and growing many types of indoor houseplants. All experience levels welcome!