CSU launches environmental school to push research and jobs

ColoradoBiz, Sept, 2008 by Mike Cote

Colorado State University is upping the ante on its campaign to become known as a "green" university by creating a school focused on the environment that will drive research and prepare students for the work force.

The School of Global Environmental Sustainability encompasses the university's environmental education and research. Diana Wall, who will lead the school as founding director, will form advisory committees over the next year to help create curriculum and programs for the school. New courses could begin as early as 2010.

Wall is a professor in the Department of Biology and a senior research scientist at the Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory. She wants to ensure that every department on campus offers an environmental course or experience for students.

"Environmental problems are expansive and require expertise in all disciplines to ensure that sustainable solutions are developed and implemented," Wall said in a prepared statement.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The renewable energy job market could create 40 million jobs nationwide by 2030, according to studies cited by CSU, which also noted that Gov. Bill Ritter's Colorado Climate Action Plan calls for integrating sustainability material into classes beginning at the K-12 level so students have academic and technical skills needed by employers.