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Student Initiatives and Groups

bikes @ brown

Members of the Brown Outing Club (BOC) launched a bike-share in the spring of 2009. Their initial investiment included three new Schwinn Cruisers and four Mongoose mountain bikes. The bikes are available from an office in the university student center and can be signed out for up to two days by students who pay a $5 yearly membership fee. A $20 deposit applies, which is returned when the bike is returned.

BROWN IS GREEN CONFERENCE

The inaugural student-led “Brown is Green 2008: Shaping Strategies for a Sustainable Future” conference was held in April 2008. The conference highlighted the building movement to address issues of sustainability, climate change, livability, and “green” economies. The Brown and RI Community came together with renowned designers, architects, policymakers, activists, artists, scientists, and visionaries to lay out a vision for a sustainable future. More about the conference and a specially created video can be seen by clicking on the Brown is Green Conference link.

Brown progress initiative (bpi)

BPI is a multidisciplinary think-tank for sustainable product design and development. Composed of subcommittees in the sciences, engineering, business/finance, and technology, BPI seeks to harness the creative energy of the entire Brown community to cultivate innovative solutions for a changing world. Ideas will aim to create profitable products by solving current needs in a "green" manner, and BPI will work together to bring its ideas to market.

BROWN UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY CONSULTING AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP (BUSCIP)

This is a group of students primarily dedicated to sustainability consulting in the Providence community for local businesses, and on campus departments and facilities. They seek out local businesses and leverage their knowledge of sustainability to evaluate their operations, and then develop recommendations to make them more sustainable and reduce their impact on the environment. This is an exciting opportunity to work on cases and gain practical experience using knowledge and dedication to environmental improvement to effect change in the community. They will be organizing several events throughout the course of the spring semester and are looking for people interested in sustainability consulting, design, strategy and "best practice" development, and attracting businesses. A website is in development.

EcoReps

EcoReps are select undergraduate students who work to educate their campus mates about environmental issues. They operate on the philosophy that we can reduce our harmful impact on the environment by making simple changes in our lifestyles. Thanks to their efforts, the 2008 Clean Break program collected 6 tons of clothing and 6 tons of miscellaneous donations for distribution to charitable organizations.

emerging green leaders (egl)

EGL are Brown University students and young professionals intent on being part of the green building movement that is rapidly taking hold across the nation. Students are invited to collaborate with and join the Rhode Island Green Building Council, Emerging Green Builders Committee, or any other related committees. The R.I. Green Building Council will offer hands-on education and training workshops, promote sustainability practices, sponsor design competitions, conduct building tours, match students with "green" mentors, and provide internships and leadership opportunities.

emPower Student Group

The emPOWER campaign is made up of Brown University students who believe that Brown must take responsibility for its contribution to global warming and immediately work to end it. The student-run blog outlines the group’s accomplishments and provides information on major milestones.

ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS (EWB)
A group of students and faculty dedicated to using engineering for social and environmental good. To that end, EWB-Brown facilitates working relationships with other groups and communities, in Providence and beyond, to pursue opportunities for socially conscious and environmentally sustainable design.

RHODE ISLAND STUDENT CLIMATE COALITION (RISCC)
Now a coalition of 5 universities and 9 high schools, RISCC is working to push an 80% carbon emission reduction by 2050 bill through the Rhode Island state legislature to help Rhode Island become a leader in the new green economy.

Sustainable Food Initiative (SuFi)

A plan that integrates local food and sustainable agriculture into student life through an on-campus, student-run farm.

Undergraduate Council of Students (UCS)

The Undergraduate Council of Students is a representative body of twenty-seven elected (five from each class plus an executive board) members committed to serving Brown's undergraduate community.

women in science and engineering (wise)

WiSE provides students, particularly women and under-represented minorities, with the information and encouragement they may need to stay in the sciences, succeed, and go on to science- and engineering-related work and graduate study.