Sustainable Omaha

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Sustainable Omaha? University of Nebraska at
Omaha PA 4890/8896 - Spring 2007
Imge source http//www.unmc.edu/pharmacy/tour/tou
r23.htm
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Dr. John Noble School of HPER Office HPER
207T Office Phone [phone] Office Hours MTR
230-330 e-mail jnoble_at_unomaha.edu Dr.
John Bartle - Public Admin. Office Annex
27 Office Phone [phone] Office Hours M 3-5
o.b.a. e-mail jbartle_at_mail.unomaha.edu Dr.
Harmon Maher Geol. Geog. Office DSC
266 Office Phone [phone] Office
Hours e-mail hmaher_at_mail.unomaha.edu Dr.
Doug Paterson - Theatre Office WFAB
302 Office Phone [phone] Office
Hours e-mail jnoble_at_unomaha.edu Mr. Patrick
Wheeler Env.HeaSaf.Office EAB 100 Office
Phone [phone] Office Hours e-mail pwheeler_at_m
ail.unomaha.edu Mr. Rick Yoder - NBDC Office
RH 308 Office Phone [phone] Office
Hours e-mail ryoder_at_mail.unomaha.edu Ms.
Patricia Carlson Social Work Office Annex
40 Office Phone [phone] Office
Hours e-mail pcarlson_at_mail.unomaha.edu Dr.
Arwiphawee Srithongrung - PA Office Annex
27 Office Phone [phone] Office Hours MTh
1200-500 e-mail asrithongrung_at_unomaha.edu Dr
. Andrew Jameton UNMC Office Annex 4, rm.
204 Office Phone [phone] Office Hours
by appt.
The players!
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• Students
• 2 undergraduates.
• 7 graduate students.
• 1 retired professor.
• variety of backgrounds.
• taught seminar style.

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Course goals 1) develop expertise in
sustainability issues, with a focus on Omaha. 2)
stimulate conversation in the Omaha community
about what is it that should be sustained.
Directed at 1 weekly readings, lectures and
discussion (in Blackboard forum and in class),
and for the grad students a research paper on a
chosen topic. Directed at 2 3 teams developed
(each with a faculty advisor), community
discussion group forums held (3 per team) with a
common set of questions addressed, the results
were reported to the class, and three city
government representatives who gave feedback.
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• Lecture topics
• - History of Environmentalism.
• - Defining and mapping sustainability and
  sustainable community development.
• Market-based strategies for promoting
  sustainable communities.
• The 3rd E in sustainability EQUITY or Is there
  equity in sustainability?
• Sustainability and the UNO campus.
• Sustainable Residential Design The New
  Urbanist concept.
• Sustainable Transportation Systems.
• Prevention (systems approach) Tragedy of the
  Commons.
• Sustainability and Public Health.
• Renewable energy and alternative energy.
• Omahas surface draining and flooding Omahas
  water supply.
• Theatre for Development Creating grass
  roots legislation.
• Transtheoretical Model of Behavioral Change.

Real hodge-podge reflection of interests and
expertise of participants.
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• Resources
• taught on an under-the-radar overload basis.
• 4 guest lecturers.
• existing seminar course.
• used existing infrastructure.

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• Course origins
• outcome of UNO research triangle on
  sustainability.
• evolution of discussion
• what is sustainability?
• what can be done to promote sustainability?
• what can be done to promote sustainability in
  the Omaha area?
• what is that needs to be sustained in Omaha?

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• Future of the course?
• not known.
• it may have served its purpose.
• the future is directly related to available
  resources.
• discretionary versus mandated efforts.
• great variety of sustainability related
  initiatives on campus.
• one product across the curriculum fertilization
  of sustainability issues.