Weekly Sustainable Digest

Summary: An interview with PhD candidate, Robert Griffin-Nolan, from the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology. Robert discusses grassland resilience to extreme drought in the Great Plains as well as other drought experiments ongoing at CSU. Credits: Written and narrated by Robert Griffin-Nolan and Erika Foster. Edited and produced by Erika Foster References: Knapp, A. K., Carroll, […] The post Episode 13: Robert Griffin-Nolan on Grassland Droughts appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Sara VanHatten, a student in the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability program, discusses the environmental impacts of fast fashion and poor quality clothing and describes alternative clothing sources. On Saturday, SOGES is hosting a Clothes Mending Cafe to teach clothing repair to the public. Credits:  Written and narrated by Sara VanHatten. Edited and produced by Rod Lammers. Reference: […] The post Episode 12: Fixing fast fashion – mending your old clothes doesn’t have to be a chore appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: PhD candidate Tony Vorster describes the environmental pitfalls of Congress’ claim that burning forest products is good for the environment. Credits: Written and narrated by Tony Vorster. Edited and produced by Rod Lammers Reference: http://blog.sustainability.colostate.edu/?q=vorster This episode was originally aired on April 12, 2018. The post Episode 11: Carbon neutral forest bioenergy— it’s not as simple as recent policy suggests appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Conservation biologist Rachel Buxton describes her research on natural soundscapes and threats to quite landscapes in our fast moving world. This episode was originally aired on April 6, 2018. Credits: Written and narrated by Rachel Buxton. Edited and produced by Erika Foster. Reference: http://blog.sustainability.colostate.edu/?q=buxton   The post Episode 10: Listen to this! Natural soundscapes in a fast paced world appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: An interview with Chemistry PhD Student Kerry Rippy dives into her work on organic solars cells. As a lightweight, flexible, transparent material, the possibilities with organic solar are incredible, used for windows, as fabrics, and even for power up in space. This episode was originally aired on March 29, 2018. Credits: Written and narrated […] The post Episode 09: Unbelievable solar energy with flexible, transparent materials appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Colorado State University redesigns a 2016 Camaro for the EcoCar3 electric car competition in May of 2018. Colorado State is the only team to include a vehicle-to-grid on board charger, to use the car as a storage system for energy from the grid. CSU student Emily Taylor walks us through this charger and other […] The post Episode 08: The electric car is alive and well: Meet the Colorado State Camaro appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Heavily militarized borders split countries that have long been at odds. While these areas might be hazardous to humans, they can allow nature to thrive. We look at two such examples – the DMZ separating North and South Korea and the former border between communist East Germany and democratic West Germany. Conserving these areas […] The post Episode 05: Conflict zones creating accidental parks. appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Climate change is not an imminent threat, species around the globe are experiencing its impacts already. Human refugees, polars bears, and tigers are all fighting for their lives due to this rapidly warming world. In response to climate change, migration can be a last remaining option that many species, including humans, must take. This […] The post Episode 06: Climate migrants: Humans, and tigers, and bears, oh my! appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: The plight of the honeybee has been the focus of many news stories over the last several years. But, honeybees are primarily an agricultural animal and saving them might not do much for the 20,000 other species of bees on the planet. Also, a new study has found that snowpack is declining all across […] The post Episode 07: Looking beyond the honeybee and hunting for the west’s missing snowpack. appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Wild pigs, also known as feral hogs, are an invasive species that damage crops, destroy habitat, and can spread diseases. To control their population, biologists and environmentalists are encouraging hunters to take action and eat these invaders. This episode was aired on January 25, 2018. Credits: Written, narrated, and produced by Rod Lammers References:  […] The post Episode 01: Wild pigs are running amok – is eating them the answer? appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Why are women crucial for global water conservation as scientists and as community leaders? Women are under-represented in water management careers and training. But the countries that are most affected by water issues will most benefit from a conscious and gender-inclusive scientific approach to sustainable water conservation. The impact of scientists in water conservation resonates […] The post Episode 02: Women and Water appeared first on KCSU FM.

Summary: Why are peace treaties and post conflict policies so important for environmental sustainability around the globe? Because it brings opportunities to repair the environmental damage and rethink a country’s development. Credits: Written, narrated and produced by Carolina Gutierrez References:  https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2016/08/25/statement-president-colombia-peace-agreement http://www.eltiempo.com/archivo/documento/CMS-16658796 http://sustainability.colostate.edu/events/environment-and-conflict-latin-america-symposium http://sostenibilidad.semana.com/medio-ambiente/articulo/medioambiente-es-clave-para-el-posconflicto-onu-medio-ambiente/37385 http://sostenibilidad.semana.com/medio-ambiente/articulo/la-paz-y-la-proteccion-ambiental-en-colombia/36925 https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/oct/24/peace-colombia-government-guerrilla-environment The post Episode 04: Peace Treaties and the Environment appeared first on KCSU FM.