HPU Graduate Student Steps Up To Sustainability Post
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With the hiring of Josh Prigge last year, Hawaii Pacific University has found a leader to help build its Global Leadership and Sustainable Development program.
Prigge, who is pursuing his master’s degree in the program, saw a unique opportunity to contribute by accepting the job of sustainability coordinator.
“This program stuck out to me because it had the perfect balance of everything I feel is needed to become a leader in sustainable development,“he said.“It provides all the critical information on the science, history and importance of sustainability, as well as proven techniques on how to implement it for any type of organization.
“It’s about making personal, system-wide and impactful decisions that will ultimately preserve resources and environment, practice smart growth and economic development, and create socially responsible human beings.”
With Hawaii currently dependent on fossil fuels for 90 percent of its energy and importing 85 percent of its food, it is clear that long-term strategies are needed. The GLSD has partnered with the state Department Business Economic Development and Tourism and Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative to create internships and jobs for students.
“By understanding the future of jobs in the state, and the need to strategically plan and adapt our academic programs to train Hawaii’s new work force, we will be more capable of strengthening academia and advancing sustainability overall,“added Prigge, who is starting to make things happen.
GLSD has an application in to the EPA for funds to develop a closed-loop,sustainable food system rooted in Native Hawaiian culture and values. It would have multiple components, such as a large-scale compost system.
The new HPU Green Club (with Prigge as vice president) has begun to implement changes on both the Hawaii Loa and downtown campuses and throughout the community. For example, it recently partnered with Blue Planet Foundation to exchange CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) for incandescent light bulbs throughout the HPU campus.
Members also sell young koa trees for Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods, working to reforest Big Island. The club has partnered with Hagadone Printing to implement a paper recycling system on campus, and it manages all of the office paper and newspaper recycling efforts on HPU’s downtown campus.
A farmer’s market is in the works for the Windward campus, where it would have multiple benefits, Prigge said.
“It would further promote Hawaii’s local agricultural industry, provide venue for students, staff and the community to purchase fresh, locally grown foods, as well opportunities for the public to tour our student-run organic garden and aquaponic system.”
The Green Club also will sponsor a Sustainability Fair April 21 on Fort Street Mall for schools, nonprofits and green-related businesses to display their products and missions.
For more information, e-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
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