Michael Russell

Hello! I'm sorry I haven't been active in the class the past two weeks. On the 31st my wife and I significantly increased our family's ecological footprint by welcoming our second child to the world. Things have been a little silly since then. 

I'm especially disappointed to have missed today's discussion, since sustainable transportation--especially cycling infrastructure--is a passion of mine. I liked the short piece by Hachadourian. It's interesting how this is almost always a discussion centered on cities, while suburban drivers with longer commutes would also benefit from more sustainable transportation options. Protected bike lanes may be minimal in urban areas, but they are practically non-existent outside of them. At least in my limited experience. 

What do you hope to gain from this course? Name at least one goal each for something you want to learn, a behavior you want to change to be more sustainable, and something you can contribute to your group.

I am a professor at a small college in northwest NJ. My background is in environmental economics and sustainability pedagogy, but I am transitioning into more of a sustainability generalist role. I'm interested in learning how NWEI approaches sustainability. 

I'd like to learn some techniques I can share with my students. I would like to change my behavior so that I am more aware of what I am consuming--so that I can make better choices. I would like to contribute to my group by listening and participating in group discussions in a thoughtful manner.