Sustainability is an increasingly discussed subject in communities nationwide, especially in the business world. However, in a small college town like Iowa City, it can often be overlooked as an important subject.
On Wednesday, April 16, the Frontier Co-op’s Well Earth program will host an event at the Iowa City Public Library highlighting how companies in Norway, Iowa, help improve and ensure sustainability in our society and environment.
“One of the reasons we try to integrate sustainability into the classroom and our research and everything that we do is because that’s what students are asking for,” Amy Colbert, a business professor at the University of Iowa, said.
The university is dedicated to not just showing students how to go out into the world and turn a profit, but also to have a positive impact on the communities they are working amongst.
“Students know that as they go out and get jobs, they are going to have to understand how to make a profit, but also how to make a positive impact on society,” Colbert said.
Sustainability and climate change, while always something society was at least aware of, are now more on people’s minds than ever. This is especially true among college students.
RELATED: David Sedaris sends laughter throughout The Englert Theatre
“[Gen Z], more than any other [generation], understands that climate change is a serious existential crisis. That broader acceptance and understanding can lead to really creative thinking, and hopefully, work in the future to incorporate climate resilience in everything that we do, and the Well Earth program is a good example of that,” Peter Gerlach, assistant professor of instruction and Executive Director of Iowa City Foreign Relations Council, said.
“Hopefully, young people — college students — will see that there are lots of ways to be active in sustainability. One doesn’t have to be a climate activist, let’s say. One doesn’t have to be a researcher even,” Gerlach said.
Wednesday’s event is open to anybody with any knowledge or background level. As Gerlach said, sustainability doesn’t have to be a career, but for those interested in becoming more active in helping improve sustainability in our community, events like these can help.
“We all need to be in more spaces where we’re reminded of inspiring work that people are doing in their own lives and their careers and their places of business to be able to have this planet for as long as we can and for as many generations as is possible,” Gerlach said.