NDSU is hosting a new lunch-hour speaker series called "BE GREEN." The series aims to spur discussion and creative thinking related to sustainability. It is intended to engage NDSU students, faculty, staff and Extension Service staff in sustainability issues, as well as foster connections with the City of Fargo, private businesses and the public. The presentations are open to anyone interested in sustainability.

"BE GREEN" was given its name as a way to assert that citizens, companies and the university are not only on the path to making efforts to “go green,” but they are solidly taking action and working together to be green and make a difference, said Amy L. Nash, sustainability coordinator for the Downtown Community Partnership and graduate student in the NDSU natural resource management department.

The series embraces green and sustainability as a multi-faceted effort to make the planet a better place socially, environmentally, economically and politically. Topics will focus on cutting-edge sustainability practices as well as exciting work on the horizon. Question and answer time will accompany each talk and refreshments will be served.

City of Fargo Commissioner Mike Williams is scheduled to give the first talk of the series, titled "Sustainability and the City of Fargo," on Thursday, Feb. 7, at noon in the NDSU Memorial Union Gallery. He will discuss what Fargo is doing to be green and ways the city and citizens can look to the future. 

"BE GREEN" series schedule: 
(All presentations are scheduled in the Memorial Union Gallery. They will be held noon to 1 p.m. unless indicated otherwise.)

• Thursday, Feb. 7 – "Sustainability and the City of Fargo" – City of Fargo Commissioner Mike Williams
• Thursday, Feb. 21 – “Recycling: Changes, Innovations and Impacts ” –  Mary Aldrich, sales manager, Minnkota EnviroServices, Inc.
• Thursday, March 7 – “Energy Efficiency in a Cold Climate That Gets Hot” – Kenneth J. Hellevang, agricultural engineer and professor, NDSU Extension Service
• Thursday March 21 – “Sacred Earth” – Monte Yellowbird with traditional stories of earth, water, animals and lifestyle in conjunction with his art exhibit in the NDSU Memorial Union Gallery. Evening reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Talk to begin at 7 p.m.
• Thursday, April 4 – “Civic Engagement and Sustainability” – Amy L. Nash, sustainability coordinator for the Downtown Community Partnership and graduate student in the NDSU natural resources management department
• Thursday, April 25 – “MATBUS and Sustainability” – Gregg Schildberger, City of Fargo transit planner, MATBUS
• Thursday, May 2 – “Local Food and Growing your Own” – Todd Weinmann, NDSU Horticulture agent, Cass County Extension

"BE GREEN" is co-sponsored by Xcel Energy, the Memorial Union Gallery and Civic Engagement Programming at NDSU.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.