Western Corridor talks sustainability

NASA International Space Station risk manager Michael Lutomski speaks to Western Corridor students at USQ Sustainability conferences.

What do a NASA International Space Station risk manager, an award winning environmentalist, reptiles and worms have in common?

More than 600 school students from Ipswich and the Western Corridor are about to find out at the USQ annual sustainability conferences to be held on March 24 and 25.

The Junior Sustainability Conference, designed for years 4, 5, 6 and 7 students and their teachers will be held on Thursday 24 March between 9am and 2.30pm at the USQ Springfield Auditorium.

The Sustainable Business Conference, designed for years 10, 11 and 12 students, TAFE teachers, school teachers, guidance officers and work experience coordinators, will be held on Friday 25 March between 9am and 2.30pm at the USQ Springfield Auditiorium.

NASA International Space Station risk manager, Michael Lutomski, will be one of the keynote speakers at both conferences. Mr Lutomski has spent more than 20 years working on the Manned Spaceflight at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston Texas where he has held various positions within operations, engineering and the International Space Station Program Office.

USQ Springfield’s Professor Marie Kavanagh said the University was privileged to have an excellent line up of knowledgeable keynote speakers for the conferences.

'Mr Lutomski will fly in from USA to engage the students in his talk entitled: ‘Exploring Sustainability – Lessons from NASA and Living in Space,' Professor Kavanagh said.

'Arron Wood, winner of the 2007 Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Award, will speak to the primary students about how young people can actually contribute to sustainable living in our world.'

In conjunction with the conferences the Our Space A Better Place competition will again run in primary schools. There is $500 prize money for the school that has the best sustainability project/s. Judging will take place in November.

Schools interested in taking part in this competition can contact Anita Williamson for further details.

'Lone Pine will entertain the primary students and teachers at the Junior Sustainability Conference about the reptile’s role within the ecosystem.

'Bunnings will also demonstrate worm farming to the students and at the end of the conference will give away a worm farm to one lucky school.'

Professor Kavanagh said the conference, now in its third year had grown from strength to strength each year since it began.

'It has become an event students in the area look forward to and has motivated students to continue to work on sustainability projects back in the classroom with their teachers.'

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096