St. Joseph’s University, New York’s Sustainability Committee hosted several Earth Week-centric events across its Brooklyn and Long Island campuses. Beginning on April 20, students, faculty and staff were encouraged to educate themselves and participate in several initiatives on how to better maintain the University’s environment as well as its surrounding communities.
The Buzz about Bees
The events kicked off that Monday on the Brooklyn Campus with a presentation titled The Buzz about Bees: Urban Beekeeping and sustainability in NYC. Hosted in the Tuohy Student Lounge, guest speaker and master beekeeper Nick Hoefly from Astor Apiaries was invited to speak on the role bees play in environmental sustainability.
He also shared insights on the importance of protecting pollinators and growing green spaces in urban environments, such as New York City. Astor Apiaries is a highly popular urban bee farm and shop based in Queens, New York. It has been featured on numerous television programs including The Today Show, NBC News, Good Morning America and Martha Stewart, to name a few.
10th Annual Earth Day Seminar
Heather Coste, director of ecological sustainability for the Sisters of St. Joseph.
That same day, on the Long Island Campus, the University hosted its 10th Annual Earth Day seminar. The event’s attendees were joined by Heather Coste, director of ecological sustainability for the Sisters of St. Joseph. She discussed the ethics surrounding taking from and giving back to the environment in what she referred to as “growing reciprocity with nature.”
Coste equated a local ecosystem to a family, with all of its members working in tandem to maintain its integrity and benefit its many aspects. This value system aligns with both the University’s, as well as the Sisters of St. Joseph’s sustainability efforts.
“Those who work in Ecology know that it is not cut and dry. It’s a very complicated web. The word ‘ecology’ comes from the Greek word ‘oikos.’ It doesn’t mean ‘science’ or ‘environment’. It means ‘family’ and ‘household.’ Our environment is a family and we’re all a part of it,” Coste said.
The event was also used as an opportunity to award this year’s Francis W. Antonawich Memorial Award for Environmental Stewardship to biology major Cody Knott ’26.
Energizing the Future
On Tuesday, April 21, members of the SJNY community gathered via Zoom for Energizing the Future: Opportunities and Challenges, a roundtable discussion featuring SJNY alumna Alexa Marinos ’18, project manager for environmental affairs and permitting at RIC Energy; and August Ruckdeschel, deputy coordinator of planning and zoning for the Village of Patchogue.
The speakers discussed solar energy and renewable sources, and how replacing fossil fuels could help combat climate change and other threats to the planet and environment.
The event was sponsored by SJNY’s Sustainability Committee and also featured Konstantine Rountos, Ph.D., associate professor of biology; Kirk Lawrence, Ph.D., associate chairperson of social sciences; and William Phillips, Ph.D., associate chair of journalism and new media studies.
Making a Difference on Earth Day and Beyond
As for Earth Day itself, April 22, the University encouraged everyone to support their community by helping to clean their neighborhood streets, local parks and trails, and nearby beaches and river banks.
SJNY’s Campus Activities Board (CAB), Health and Wellness, Biology Club and Green Team celebrated the day on Alumni Plaza during Common Hour with food and activities open to all students.
Those still interested in supporting the environment can continue to do their part. SJNY Sustainability is collecting e-waste in O’Connor Hall until May 15.
