PARTNERING WITH INDUSTRY TO IMPROVE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Environmental consulting has become one of the major career paths followed by graduates of geology programs. Traditionally, most environmental consulting work has been motivated by government regulations (e.g., regulations that mandate monitoring for possible groundwater impact). In recent years, however, a new form of environmental consulting has evolved – one that is motivated not by government regulations, but by many businesses' desire to improve their environmental sustainability. These businesses wish to reduce their “ecological footprint” through a wide range of programs such as decreasing the amount of waste generated, decreasing the amount of energy consumed (and CO2 emissions produced), and decreasing the amount of water used.

Some businesses, however, are reluctant to invest in developing sustainability programs that are not mandated by regulation and that are not proven to have significant payoffs. Such businesses can improve their environmental sustainability with minimal cost by partnering with academic departments. In such partnerships, students conduct much of the work required to develop sustainability programs, thereby gaining valuable experience in this growing field of consulting.

In January 2007, the UVSC Department of Earth Science was contacted by United Concerts Inc. of Salt Lake City to help United Concerts “green” their operations. The Department, with technical guidance and support from a Utah business specializing in environmental sustainability and business performance, has teamed with United Concerts Inc. to develop and implement a program that reduces their businesses' ecological footprint, while providing an economic case for making the planned changes. As of the time of this writing, 12 students (including an entire class in Environmental Management Systems) have become involved in the project. If the program is a success, United Concerts plans to publicize it at a convention of entertainment venue operators in 2008, demonstrating the advantages of partnering with academic institutions to embrace new trends in science and business.