Smith’s CSVC Staging College Park Sustainability Jam Nov. 2-4

UMD One of Three U.S. Sites in ’48 Hours to Save the World’ Effort

After a 2011 launch from 40 sites worldwide, the Global Sustainability Jam debuts for prospective participants in the greater Washington region, thanks to the Center for Social Value Creation (CSVC) in the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

The CSVC-organized College Park Global Sustainability Jam is set for Nov. 2-4 in 2333 Van Munching Hall. Activities will run 5-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

UMD students and representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, EarthColor, Peer Insight, and the University of Maryland's Office of Sustainability will work in groups to generate concepts for sustainable business models, products and/or initiatives toward a more sustainable world.

The results from College Park will be uploaded to the event’s international website along with those from 53 simultaneous “jams” under a “48 hours to Save the World” rallying theme from such locations as Moscow, Tehran, São Paulo, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. The other U.S. sites are in New York City and Kansas City.

“When people hear the term ‘sustainable' they often think of just the environment, but it's more than that. There's an economic and social component as well,” said Kimberlee Robertella, CSVC assistant director for marketing and sustainability. "Jammers will work through an entire design process in just 48 using a 'triple bottom line' (people, planet and profit) approach to develop workable prototypes."

UMD participants will represent various student organizations including Engineers Without Borders, the College Park Scholars Environment, Technology and Economy Program and AshokaU Terp Changemakers.

Robertella said the event is ideal for individuals interested in problem solving and sustainability – from educators and students to artists and business professionals –who are creative and enquiry-minded."This first ever College Park Sustainability Jam also is dedicated to Smith alum Andrew Baer (’80), whose support made the event possible,” she said. (Baer, former Comcast CIO, has joined Smith’s Department of Decisions, Operations and Information Technologies as an adjunct instructor.)

Remaining space for participation is limited. Contact Kimberlee Robertella at 301-405-9454 or kroberte@rhsmith.umd.edu for more information.