The University of South Florida announced its new School of Global Sustainability this week. As an introduction, the school held a two-day conference held yesterday and today at USF's Marshall Center.
Today's conference, included a USF faculty panel, discussed climate change and its relation to health. Faculty present on the panel were Dr. Maya Trotz of the engineering department, Dr. Heide Castañeda of anthropology, Dr. Boo Kwa and Dr. Ricardo Izurieta of public health and Dr. Martin Schönfeld of philosophy. Guest speaker, Associate Director for Global Climate Change National Center for Environmental Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. George Luber (pictured left), was also among the panel.
Each panelist highlighted their area of study and how it related to global sustainability in connection to health.
Dr. Maya Trotz said she works closely with the WARE project (Water Awareness Research and Education), which is funded by the EPA.
It consists of a local community group in east Tampa and also, elementary and middle schools who further examine urban redevelopment and water quality issues in external ponds out here, she said, this project mainly focuses on a neighborhood that is actively reinvesting in properties in this area that are in distress.
Dr. Trotz said she views the project as a long-term goal.
What we are doing right now is using it as a field-site to talk about curriculum changes with the school and also with the community so that we increase science literacy, which will eventually lead to improved community health.