PATEL SCHOOL OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITYUniversity of South Florida

4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CGS 101Tampa, FL 33620-8100, USA

(t) +1 813.974.9694

www.psgs.usf.edu

“Drs. Kiran C. and Pallavi Patel, through their generous gift to

create the Dr. Kiran C. Patel Center for Global Solutions, have

not only provided the means to inspire solutions to the world’s

most pressing issues, but they have shown visionary leadership that

influences great outcomes when combined with the resources of a

world-class research university like USF.”

- Judy Genshaft, President, USF System

“Our vision is to develop real on-the-ground solutions to

some of the major global problems the world faces today.

We want the Center to be a ‘do-tank’ and not a ‘think-tank.’

The Patel Center could be a driving force for the University

to become recognized around the world. It gives us great pleasure

to support this institution.”

- Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel

Sustainability programs and initiatives at USF and around the worldThe Patel School of Global Sustainability fosters sustainable urban communities and environments through collaborative

research, education and community involvement. Its research generates innovations and new knowledge that helps cities around the world, including those in developing countries, reduce their ecological footprint while improving their form and function to

make them healthier, more livable and resilient.

The Patel School of Global Sustainability comprises the Patel Center for Global Solutions, the M.A. School of Global Sustainability and the Office of Sustainability. It is an inclusive and holistic school based on

interdisciplinary research, design, and education.

Patel School of Global Sustainability

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Patel Center for Global SolutionsThe Patel Center for Global Solutions generates cutting-edge research along with on-the-ground sustainable solutions. Its research is based on USF’s broad interdisciplinary expertise in the areas of water, public health, energy, global security and social equity. Research generated at the Center is helping to set the global agenda in urban environments by tackling the challenges surrounding the growth of resilient, livable and healthy cities in the developing world. The Center uses a multidisciplinary approach to come up with unique solutions to existing and emerging problems.

Key Research Areas Include:• Global change drivers – their impact on

healthy, livable and resilient communities.

• Urban form – its influence and impact on resource flows (water, waste, energy, people, goods).

• Urban metabolism – modeling and optimizing urban resource flows to minimize the ecological footprint of cities.

• Urban water – integrated urban water management frameworks, flexible and adaptive design, optimizing transitional pathways.

Setting the Global AgendaA vibrant team of international researchers ensures the Center remains at the forefront of the international water scene. The Center works in close collaboration with several top UN institutions in order to develop, inform and influence the global water agenda.

Select partners include:• World Bank selected the Center to

help develop and implement its urban water strategy in Africa, including the development of strategic papers for the “Cities of the Future in Africa” program. To this end, the Center’s research team is developing innovative integrated urban water solutions coupled with demonstration activities, for towns and cities in Kenya, Uganda and Cameroon.

• United Nations Environmental Program commissioned the Center to develop and write their report: “Decoupling Water Use from Economic Growth” for the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management (IRP).

• UN-Habitat has asked the Center to lead the development of their flagship report “State of Water and Sanitation in the World Cities 2012 – Looking ahead to 2050.”

• UNESCO-IHP invited the Center to be part of its IHP VIII Task Force, a committee charged with developing IHP’s main intergovernmental water program for 2014 - 2019.

Given the close partnerships with top intergovernmental organizations, the Center is regularly invited to play key organizing roles at many prestigious global events throughout the year. The Center is actively involved in the Scientific Committees for both Singapore International Water Week and Stockholm World Water Week and part of the Technical

Committee (TEC) of the Global Water Partnership. The Patel Center also hosts the International Water Association’s ‘Cities of the Future’ Secretariat and is a UN HABITAT preferred university partner (HPUI).

Creating Impact LocallyThe Center helped spearhead the Resilient Tampa Bay initiative, which aims to reduce Tampa Bay’s vulnerability against flooding caused by extreme events and sea level rise. Building upon its strong M.A. curriculum, the Center has created a top notch Pre-College summer program in Global Sustainability for rising high school juniors and seniors. The Center is also helping to shape the environmental sciences curriculum at a magnate school in Hillsborough County, FLA.

Walking the Talk at USFThe Center is developing an Urban Metabolism Model for USF’s campus. This model will simulate resource flows (water, waste, energy, people and goods), across the 1,567 acre campus, and display these through an online Central Dashboard system. The model will be supported by a battery of smart sensors strategically located across the campus, to monitor the resource flows. Using the Central Dashboard system, USF will be able to accurately assess and implement more sustainable practices across campus, reducing USF’s ecological footprint and making USF a member of the few prominent smart city projects around the world.

Office of SustainabilityThe Office of Sustainability actively supports faculty, staff, students, alumni and neighborhood partners in their efforts to transform USF into a “green university.” In the four years since President Judy Genshaft signed the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, USF has made great strides in sustainability around campus. USF has recently been recognized as an AASHE STARS Gold institution, a “green college” by the Princeton Review, a Tree Campus USA school by the Arbor Day Foundation, one of the top 50 “coolest schools” by the Sierra Club, and a finalist for the 2012 Second Nature Climate Leadership Award.

In keeping with USF’s strategic goals, the Office of Sustainability has identified a number of targeted initiatives including:

EnvironmentUSF has outlined a cross-campus Greenway, anchored by the USF Botanical Garden at the southwest corner of campus and by the Ecological Research Area (a biological reserve) in the northeast corner. These two preserves are linked by a “no-build, no-disturb” Greenway belt that protects wildlife, links habitat islands, provides opportunities for recreation, and aggregates storm water for ponds. More than 2,000 trees have been planted on campus in the last 15 years. And since 1995 the use of drought-tolerant, native plants has increased.

EnergyThe Solar Energy Charging Station at the College of Engineering was established in 1995 and represents the first 20,000 watt solar charging station in the U.S. A solar golf cart retrofit for existing electric carts is currently underway. The Clean Energy Research Center at USF has received more than $15 million in funding over the last 10 years for renewable energy project research, design, and development. The million-dollar Student Green Energy Fund, sponsored by a $1 per-credit-hour student fee, helps support energy projects on campus. A recent award supported the installation of solar panels on the USF Marshall Student Center.

TransportationAll USF students, faculty and staff have fare-free access to the bio-diesel fueled Bull Runner shuttle system. All students can also ride Hillsborough County public transportation for free. The Borrow Our Bikes Green Bike Program allows students to check out bicycles for free. USF WeCar is a car sharing service that allows access to four hybrid vehicles on campus. USF reached record numbers of Zimriders in 2011, with students, faculty, and staff sharing carpool opportunities.

USF CommunityUSF students participated in the Solar Decathlon and won a spot to exhibit their “flex house” on the National Mall in Washington, DC (2011); Recyclemania and took top spots in USF’s school size and division in the waste diversion category (2010, 2011); the US EPA Game Day Challenge where they captured a top spot in USF’s school size and division (2010); as well as several other national competitions.

USF student organizations include:

• Engineers for a Sustainable World

• Engineers Without Borders

• Student Environmental Association

• Students in Free Enterprise

• Emerging Green Builders

The M.A. in Global Sustainability prepares students to address complex regional, national and global challenges related to sustainability and provides them with the ability to innovate in diverse cultural, geographic and demographic contexts. It offers a multidisciplinary study of environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability and enables students to make informed decisions to create tangible change toward sustainable futures. Leading experts provide national and international perspectives on sustainability issues.

Program OverviewInterdisciplinary Seminar - to properly orient each new cohort of M.A. students, the program begins with a weeklong Interdisciplinary Seminar Course featuring lectures and workshops by leading USF faculty and external experts. In addition, students undertake several exciting field trips.

Courses - for their degree, students study with top USF professors in sustainability, across multiple disciplines. Program concentrations are offered in Water, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Tourism. Online classes feature videos and interactive materials.

Global Internship - in an effort to provide students with international research experience, USF provides opportunities to travel the world and work with leading companies, major international bodies

and premier universities. The Patel School facilitates placements through its extensive international networks.

Graduation - students join a strong and vast USF alumni network. The USF Career Center, along with dedicated Patel School staff members, help identify employment opportunities in the area of sustainability. Recent alumni are employed as EHS+S Specialist/Environmental Engineers, Aquatic Ecologists, Sustainability Coordinators at NGOs and Legislative Aides, amongst other exciting positions.

ConcentrationsLeveraging faculty expertise in global sustainability that parallels student demand, the M.A. Program offers concentrations in Water, Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Tourism. Graduates are trained to become the champions of the developing green economy and promoting policy changes.

The water concentration provides the tools needed to understand the complex regional and global water-related sustainability challenges and the skills to develop innovative sustainable solutions in the specializations of green infrastructure, urban water and coastal issues. Upon completion, students will be able to apply the appropriate environmental models to analyze problems that relate to the management and exploitation of environmental systems.

The entrepreneurship concentration provides a comprehensive understanding of concepts, tools and skills in sustainability and green technology. Focus areas include green technology, transportation, energy, and sustainable enterprise. In concert with the nationally recognized USF Center for Entrepreneurship, students learn the fundamentals of intellectual property, new venture formation, legal structures, strategic market assessment for new technologies, venture capital and private equity for sustainable enterprises. Upon completion, students will be able to develop a business plan and learn how to attain funding for a potential sustainable enterprise.

The sustainable tourism concentration provides a holistic approach to tourism that minimizes the impacts on the environment and local culture. Students will learn how tourism development and implementation can balance the interests of all stakeholders including indigenous people, local communities, visitors, industry and government. Upon completion, our graduates will be able to exhibit the leadership and management skills necessary to ensure that tourism development brings positive experiences for local people, tourism companies and the tourists.

M.A. Program in Global Sustainability

“I firmly believe that our M.A. program is the realization of an idea whose time has come. All students today, regardless of their major or profession, need environmental literacy, but our program goes beyond that. We present a multidisciplinary approach to a common topic.

Sustainability is the umbrella that unites us all.”

- Sharon Hanna-West, JD, Exide Distinguished Lecturer of Ethics and Sustainability, University of South Florida