6 MAG 2022

22 APR 2022 · We started this podcast series nervous and antsy; after-all, we’d be chatting with super successful and accomplished Alumni who really know their stuff…it’s intimidating! The more we got into the process we realized that people in the Sustainability space have big hearts that persist throughout their careers. Take Erin Tobin, for example, a Research Coordinator at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. She’s extremely experienced in networking within the sustainability and environmental space throughout the city of Pittsburgh and lets us in on the tips-and-tricks of effective communication, project development, and fund-sourcing. Erin talks about the importance of maintaining green spaces and the innovations brought to such areas to relieve urban problems like redirecting rainwater to gardens to lessen flooding. Epic stuff. You better start listening. Questions? Suggestions for future episodes? Contact sid27@pitt.edu, jle79@pitt.edu, or zns6@pitt.edu!

22 APR 2022 · We promised a diverse group of alumni, and that’s 100% what you’re gonna get. For this episode, we have Ben Vauter. Ben is an International Environmental Program Specialist at the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently working on reducing Mercury emissions and use. It’s a pretty intense and awe striking mouthful we know! Aside from his pensive thoughts, what’s really interesting is how Ben’s journey towards his current position isn’t as straightforward as you may think, which is endearing in our eyes. Many of us get caught up in following a straight path…but Ben assures us that if we stay involved, passionate, interested, and determined, we’ll find ourselves somewhere that we can make a difference. We’re trying to get you to listen to the episode so we won’t give too much away, but, at some point he found himself in the peace corps….so….you better get to listening. Questions? Suggestions for future episodes? Contact sid27@pitt.edu, jle79@pitt.edu, or zns6@pitt.edu!

1 APR 2022 · Listen in on our chat with Nick Goodfellow, the Sustainability Coordinator for Pitt’s very own Office of Business and Auxiliary Services. What does he do? A whole lot. Seriously. He’s involved in overseeing the sustainability aspects of almost every department that keeps Pitt running. He’s super into Sustainable food systems, circular economy, and active transportation…all of which he’s been able to incorporate into his job here. What’s the tea on Pitt administration listening to our Sustainability ideas and suggestions? Have we achieved institutionalized sustainability? How can we normalize Sustainability to engage the broadest possible audience? How can we best influence higher-ups into funding our ideas? Get answers to these and more in the first installment of the Green Connections Podcast! Questions? Suggestions for future episodes? Contact sid27@pitt.edu, jle79@pitt.edu, or zns6@pitt.edu!