Students invited to ‘Greenovate NYS’

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A third annual student competition sponsored by the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute will provide students across the state the opportunity to green their campuses or help to green their local communities.

As part of its Research and Development Program, NYSP2I is challenging teams of full-time students enrolled at any institute of higher education in New York state to identify a specific activity at their university or in their community with a large environmental footprint and define a solution for reducing it. Teams will compete in “Greenovate NYS” by undergraduate or graduate level.

“It’s been exciting to see the innovative solutions students have developed in previous years to make their campus more sustainable,” says Anahita Williamson, director of NYSP2I. “This competition encourages students to take a vested interest in their local community while incorporating practical environmental, economic and social considerations in their approach to solving real world environmental challenges. This year’s competition allows students to expand their work beyond their campuses and partner with organizations in their community to drive sustainable changes. We are looking forward to seeing their inventive ideas.”

To be eligible, teams must have two to four members of any major, as well as a faculty or staff adviser. Applications are due Nov. 1 and projects will be selected in December. Selected teams will be given up to $1,000 for project materials.

Selected teams will compete at an exhibition at Rochester Institute of Technology on Earth Day, April 22, 2014, when students will exhibit their projects and give an oral presentation to a panel of judges. Winners will be announced at the exhibition awards luncheon and will receive cash prizes. Opportunities for company sponsorship of the competition are available.

About NYSP2I

NYSP2I, located at Rochester Institute of Technology, was created in 2008 by the state and is supported by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The institute provides statewide, comprehensive and integrated programming in technology research, development and diffusion, training and education aimed at making New York state more sustainable for workers, the public, the environment and the economy. Additional partners include Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Clarkson University, State University of New York at Buffalo and New York’s 10 Regional Technology Development Centers.