26
March
2018
|
09:20 AM
America/Chicago

Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability Launches Community Education Program

Although it's surrounded by freeways and skyscrapers, sustainability runs deep at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD).

Thanks to the Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability (CUAS), UHD hosts a pocket prairie and a vegetable garden. The Center also engages students through its sustainability minor, as well as projects aimed at preserving the environment.

Now, CUAS is expanding its educational reach into the Houston community. This semester, the Center launched its Community Education Program aimed at promoting sustainability in the nation's fourth largest city.

The cost of each course is $30 for community members, and $15 for UHD faculty, staff, students and alumni.

"The classes we're presenting reflect the mission of the Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability," said Dr. Lisa Morano, director of CUAS and associate professor of biology and microbiology. "We're dedicated to promoting research, teaching and improving our communities. One of our goals is developing engaging community education courses, and we're proud to offer the first of these courses this spring."

A complete schedule of CUAS Community Education Program courses is as follows:

Introduction to Urban Farming

March 29, 7 p.m.

Instructor: Tommy Garcia-Prats

 

 

Introduction to Wine Grape Varieties: History, Science and Characteristics

April 12, 7 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. Lisa Morano

 

 

Introduction to Renewable Energy Systems

7 p.m., April 26

Instructor: Dr. Vassilios Tzouanas

 

 

Details about each course, instructors and registration information are available here. Upon registration, participants will be provided with parking and classroom information.

UHD faculty, staff, students and alumni should contact Roshani Malla, UHD sustainability coordinator, for the discount code.

The Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability was founded in 2015. Since its inception, it has sparked interest in sustainability among students. In addition to its sustainability minor, the Center engages students through Green Initiative projects in which students apply for grants to fund sustainability research. It also sponsors a Summer Experiential Learning program (funded through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant) that offers students opportunities to work on real-world projects, including hydroponic systems or solar-powered irrigation systems for UHD's Sustainability garden.