Learning about the aeration and clarification steps of the water treatment process
While there are many ways to engage in and out of the classroom at MENV, there are a plethora of additional opportunities within Boulder and at CU to dive deeper into your interests, meet new people, and give back to the community.
Some students volunteer at the Boulder Farmers Market or get their hands dirty with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Other students work with local farms, such as FrontLine Farmers, to share their unique skills and knowledge with the community. Attending lectures, talks, and interacting with community leaders can elevate conversations outside of the classroom. One student is exploring bridging LGBTQ+ rights and environmental injustice together through work with a local activist and historian, Dr. Glenda Russell. Dr. Russell is a CU alum, a psychologist, an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and a community historian of LGBTQ+ rights movements and countermovements.
The Environmental Center provides many ways to get involved on campus, including volunteering, attending lectures and tours, and offering on-campus jobs in zero waste, event coordination, and more. There also exist opportunities to become involved in Ralphie’s Green Stampede, CU’s sports sustainability program that encourages sustainable behavior at sporting events on campus. To meet people with similar interests, join a trip or course with the Outdoor Program. I took my AIARE Avalanche Safety Training Level 1 course with them last winter! With CU’s more than 550 clubs, there’s no shortage of opportunities.
At the Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric plant
During my time at MENV, I’ve had the opportunity to join and lead the CU Energy Club. For me, the energy club has been a way to explore topics in the energy transition that aren’t discussed in the classroom by going on field trips, learning from guest speakers and local professionals, and engaging in discussions with other club members. The energy club has also provided me with a unique opportunity to interact, learn from, and make friends with students outside of MENV.
This semester, we have club meetings every Friday afternoon, consisting of either a tour, guest speaker, or discussion among club members. The highlight from this semester has been all the awesome tours we’ve done, including visiting the Boulder Canyon Hydroelectric plant, the Bouder Water Resource Recovery Facility, as well as touring CU’s LEED Platinum Rec Center.
For those interested in getting involved with the CU Energy club, follow us on Instagram, subscribe to our newsletter, or send us an email at cuenergy@gmail.com.