Jeffrey Preiss
Yann Herrera sees inspiration in the unique design of sustainable buildings. “Lately, I’ve been into sustainable and green architecture,” says Herrera, sitting inside UBC’s C.K. Choi building. “Over the summer I spent time in Mexico discovering different spaces. I was thinking about studying sustainable architecture and started looking into UBC’s green buildings. C.K. Choi was one of the first sustainable buildings on campus.”
Herrera, a second year student in UBC’s Faculty of Science, is one of many students interested in sustainability and looking to UBC. Sustainability education at UBC offers “a holistic approach to solving problems that we face as a global society and in our communityies,” Herrera explains.
The upcoming UBC Sustainability Fair highlights the range of opportunities UBC has to offer in the area of sustainability.
Herrera stumbled upon the 2013 Fair in the Student Union Building. “I noticed the Common Energy booth. I was familiar with them because I had joined that January. I went to say ‘hi’ and they told me what the Fair was all about.” Herrera took time to visit all the booths to learn about what was happening at UBC.
Herrera’s first sustainability related course was Science 120. He learned about other sustainability course options after meeting Ileana Costrut, UBC’s manager of advising and student involvement in sustainability, at the Fair. “Ileana told me about Science 220. I became interested because I wanted my studies to be as sustainability focused as possible.” Herrera has since started to integrate other sustainability courses in to his studies.
Sustainability education at UBC crosses units, departments, and faculties to leverage and build capacity and enhance learning opportunities for all students. This allows students to integrate sustainability into all aspects of their studies making it accessible, relevant and applicable to real world challenges. Over 480 courses and 30 programs are offered in sustainability.
During Reading Break 2013, Herrera took part in an International Service Learning program through UBC Go Global in Costa Rica. The week long program enabled him to work in the area of environmental sustainability. “It was the hands on work in Costa Rica that allowed me to see how sustainability is a real thing. It is not just another theory someone has thought of. It is something you can actually put to practice.”
Herrera found two key ways students can get involved in sustainability at UBC. “There are the student clubs interested in sustainability and then there is the academic side to sustainability that is exploring the economic, social and environmental aspects.”
While Herrera is involved with student groups, he recommends students investigate how to integrate sustainability into their studies. “I would recommend students find courses that are holistic. It’s really cool when a course relates to broader topics, even topics outside the academic environment.”
The Sustainability Fair is a showcase of student involvement in sustainability. It is organized by the student Sustainability Ambassador program.
The 2014 Sustainability Fair takes place on Monday, February 24th in the Student Union Building from 11:00-2:00.
February 10, 2014