Dear colleagues and friends,<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s\u00a0Undergraduate Symposium<\/a>\u00a0coincides with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, a fitting complement to the extraordinary research being conducted by our faculty and students.<\/p>\n Northern Arizona University is a leader in climate change research and curriculum, with a new\u00a0School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability<\/a>\u00a0that brings together a large number of environment-focused programs and faculty, the\u00a0Ecological Restoration Institute<\/a>\u00a0that has a long and well-respected history of fighting for forest health, and numerous faculty members engaged in climate change research and solutions for alternative energy.<\/p>\n And through collaborative efforts throughout campus Northern Arizona University is doing its part to build a sustainable campus.<\/p>\n Only last week did we receive word that the building housing\u00a0Extended Campuses<\/a>\u00a0received a \u201cGold\u201d from the Leadership Energy and Environment Design building rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council. This is the fourth NAU building to receive a LEED rating, including a \u201cPlatinum\u201d rating making Applied Research and Development building one of the greenest in the world. Princeton Review calls NAU a “green building superstar.”<\/p>\n We also are close to surpassing former Gov. Janet Napolitano\u2019s directive to reduce energy use by 15 percent per square foot by July 2011. Creating a sustainable campus has been a part of our strategic plan for several years, and we continue to work toward a carbon-neutral campus by 2020.<\/p>\n