Students in Conservation Geography Apply for $20,000 UST Sustainability Grant
Written by Conservation Geography students, this $20,000 grant proposal would fund the purchase of 666 annual Nice Ride subscriptions – 250 would be distributed to incoming freshmen, the rest to other members of the UST community. Nice Ride has agreed to discount these subscriptions and provide data on how members of the UST community use their bike share system. Geography students will analyze usage data to track trends in campus bike use, estimate the total number of miles pedaled, and estimate carbon reductions resulting from decreased car use. Students have already started an advertising campaign to promote the Nice Ride system as a means of promoting urban sustainability, strengthening community, improving health and increasing student access to local businesses and recreational opportunities.
The project has three main goals:
- Cut carbon emissions by encouraging members of the UST community to use the Nice Ride bike system instead of cars for short, local trips.
- Improve the quality of life for UST students (and attract future students) by building community, promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing access to nearby recreation, shopping and entertainment.
- Actively involve students in the creation and execution of this proposal, in marketing the Nice Ride system, in analyzing campus bike use, and in estimating reductions in carbon emissions.
Click here to view poster presented by students at the Healthy Minnesota: Communities in Action Conference, Friday, September 28, 2012, Ramada Mall of America.
Geography majors Nick Ronnei and Joey Mohlin discuss the grant with Dr. Regina Benjamin, the Surgeon General of the United States at Recent conference.
