CulTivATinG environMenTAl leAders What will this new role for Bellarmine look like? regionally and globally.” In just one example, Kentuckians have long gone toe-to-toe With climate change shaping our lives and culture in ever on vital issues of resource management, many of which target a more noticeable ways, having a full-fledged School of Environ- product that’s played an impossible-to-overstate role in deter- mental Studies in Louisville will benefit a diverse cross-section mining the economic and cultural identity of this state. No, not of people: state and city officials, farmers and farming advocates, bourbon—coal. energy companies, interest groups, individuals, and other parties “What does Kentucky’s post-coal future look like?” Kingsolver seeking guidance on the opportunities and pitfalls associated with calmly posits over a cup of coffee. His gentle demeanor belies the preparing to live in a more sustainable Kentucky. pressing nature of the question. Regardless of what Kentucky’s “We’re in the fortune-telling business,” Kingsolver says. “We’re environmentalists, neo-hippies, miners, land-owners, and energy prepping our students for a world that doesn’t yet exist—we’re executiveswant, Kingsolver says that coal-powered energy is being going to be changing the way we manufacture, design, transport, phased out due to the increasing difficulty of prizing it from ever- and engineer our world.” harder-to-reach deposits, and also because of the growing demand And what do the students think? for and availability of cleaner-burning natural gas alternatives. “My peers and I are so excited about our school becoming a “It’s just not cost effective, anymore,” says Kingsolver. “But driving force in the region for environmental science and studies,” how should we respond as a community, and what can we do to says Jena Patterson, a rising senior and one of the first students offset the economic hardships that the decline of coal implies?” to have majored in environmental studies at Bellarmine. “It’s Kingsolver doesn’t have any easy answers. “Developing a sometimes been a struggle to coordinate efforts for environmental Plan B for Kentucky’s economy is a big challenge. Our role is to activism on campus, and this program has afforded us opportuni- provide everyone with accurate information. That’s step one in ties to connect with other students across the state, to join forces developing good policy. We want to make sure that the studies and become an even more effective force for change in the region. on which we base our decisions are done accurately, fairly, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the program grows and shapes well. We want to stay on top of the best available research, both environmental development at Bellarmine and beyond.” spring 2013 41
Bellarmine Magazine_Spring2013
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