老司机福利网

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Laudato Si Campus

Background: Laudato Si'

In May of 2015, Pope Francis published , the second encyclical of his papacy. The name of the encyclical, which means 鈥減raised be to you鈥 in the medieval Italian dialect spoken by Francis of Assisi (the patron saint of ecology and the saint from whom the Pope took his papal name), references Francis of Assisi鈥檚 famous 鈥,鈥 which praises God through the wonder of the created world. In the encyclical, Pope Francis notes that care for creation is no longer optional, but is an integral part of the Catholic Church鈥檚 social teaching.

In the wake of the publication of Laudato Si', the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development launched the , an initiative developed to support institutions in building real movement to promote care for the common home.

Background: Jesuit Universal Apostolic Preferences

In 2019, Rev. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, promulgated the four (UAP) that are to guide the Society in all of their apostolic works through the year 2029. In particular, the fourth UAP, 鈥淐aring for our Common Home,鈥 emphasizes the disproportionate impact of the ecological crisis on poor and vulnerable populations, and the commensurate responsibility for an 鈥渆cological conversion鈥 that leads to solidarity and real lifestyle changes that are sustainable and respectful of the created order.

In line with Pope Francis鈥 urgings and the guiding principles of the Society of Jesus, the Division of Mission and Identity is collaborating with colleagues across the university to organize the efforts that are already underway to build sustainability into our teaching and research, our policies and practices for maintaining and improving facilities, and our community engagement efforts. This includes elevating liturgical and spiritual offerings that harmonize with Pope Francis鈥 recognition that the entirety of creation gives glory to God.

News

Faculty and Staff Initiatives

Fresh Gatherings

is a student-run cafe operated by the Culinary Program and Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at 老司机福利网. Fresh Gatherings partners with local farms and vendors from the St. Louis and Illinois area to offer customers the highest quality ingredients available.

Urban Garden

老司机福利网鈥檚 urban garden was established in 2002 to address the disconnect between the food people eat and their knowledge of where it originated. It has been fulfilling its mission to improve access to healthy, local foods by providing nutrition and garden education to the St. Louis community ever since.

Food and Justice Action Collaborative
The Food and Justice Action Collaborative is organized to bring together faculty and student resources with institutional, business and community assets to identify and focus on critical change issues in the food ecosystem and supply chain. It serves as a research, support and innovation hub for local, regional and national initiatives that strive to improve the health and welfare of individuals. 
UCC Garden Wellness Series
The University Counseling Center hosts a monthly wellness series focusing on their community garden, including topics such as composting and seasonal garden care.
Sustainable Business Leadership Certificate
Offered through the Emerson Leadership Institute in the Chaifetz School of Business, the Sustainable Business Leadership Certificate prepares participants to consider and integrate sustainable practices into business decision making.

Research and Teaching

Water Access, Technology, Environment and Resources (WATER) Institute

The research conducted at the WATER Institute focuses primarily on three critical areas:

  • Addressing water-related social justice issues at home and around the world
  • Protecting aquatic ecosystems
  • Improving infrastructure to secure water supplies and address key societal needs

The University鈥檚 Jesuit mission to serve humanity is also at the heart of the WATER Institute, whose findings will address public health issues and protect society from natural and human-made water-related disasters. The institute鈥檚 multifaceted, collaborative approach supports research with positive applications for local, national, and global communities 鈥 and their most vulnerable populations.

Reis Biological Station

Reis Biological Station is operated by the 老司机福利网 Department of Biology to promote education and research focused on ecology, evolution and the environment.

Faculty by department and research agenda
  • Orhun Aydin (Earth and Atmospheric Science), computational sustainability
  • Stephen Blake (Biology), biodiversity and climate change
  • Sarah Coffin (Urban Planning), sustainable built environment
  • Amanda Cox (Civil Engineering), hydraulic modeling, erosion control
  • Benjamin de Foy (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), air pollution and emissions
  • Matthew Elia (Theological Studies), eco-theology and Catholic social teaching
  • Jack Fishman (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), climate change
  • Kasey Fowler-Finn (Biology), insect adaptation to climate change
  • Elizabeth Hassenmueller (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences), watersheds and soil chemistry
  • Emily Hite (Sociology), cultural environmental anthropology
  • Jason Knouft (Biology), aquatic biodiversity
  • Liuqing (Cathy) Mai (Finance), green innovation
  • Sam Marquard (Nursing), TBVSON Ambassador of Environmental Health and Sustainability Initiatives
  • Allison Miller (Biology), agricultural systems and climate change
  • Karen Moore (Nursing), TBVSON Coordinator of Global and Planetary Health
  • Laura Muro (Business and Economics, SLU-Madrid), accounting and sustainable finance
  • Cristy Portales-Reyes (Biology), ecosystem responses to global change
  • Vasit Sagan (Earth and Atmospheric Science; Computer Science), food and water security; ecosystem analysis
  • Enbal Shacham (Public Health), community and geospatial health determinants
  • Nitish Singh (International Business), corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability
  • Thomas Valone (Biology), arid ecosystem ecology and conservation
  • Robert Wood (Biology), aquatic ecology; Reis Biological Station

Student Organizations

Green Billikens
are SLU鈥檚 student-led sustainability group.
SLU on the Move
is SLU's urbanist bike club advocating for transportation equity and climate justice by biking.
Student Government Association Sustainability Committee (SusCo)
SusCo works closely with Facilities, DineSLU/Sodexo, HRL and various other departments to provide student feedback on environmental issues and sustainable practices. Contact the sustainability committee via email at sga.susco@slu.edu.
OneWorld Magazine
is SLU's student-run social justice publication