Sustainability Symposium Examines Pope’s Encyclical on the Environment

Nov 2, 2015

The University of Scranton’s Fall Sustainability Symposium will examine Pope Francis’ Encyclical on the environment on Tuesday, Nov. 10, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. The event, titled “Care for our Common Home, World in Crisis,” is free of charge and open to the public.

In his Encyclical “Laudato Si’” Pope Francis states “The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development … I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet.”

University of Scranton Chaplain Richard Malloy, S.J., will provide the keynote address at the event, which will be followed by a panel discussion. The panelists include University of Scranton professors Sister Maryanne Foley, Ph.D., theology; Oliver Morgan, Ph.D., counseling and human services; Charles Pinches, Ph.D., theology; and Nicholas Truncale, physics; and student Veronica Sinotte of the University’s Class of 2016. Joining them will be Mary Ann Smith, professor of chemistry at Marywood University and University of Scranton alumna, and Rabbi Daniel Swartz, spiritual leader of Temple Hesed in Scranton. Rabbi Swartz guides his temple’s social action committee to make the congregation more environmentally conscious.

Also speaking at the event will be Joseph Dreisbach, Ph.D., associate provost of international education at Scranton, and Michael Cann, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, who has been actively engaging sustainability efforts at the University for more than two decades. Dr. Cann has integrated green chemistry into environmental chemistry courses at Scranton, and his book, “Real-World Cases in Green Chemistry,” is used today in classrooms by other colleges, as well as in industries to teach green chemistry to employees. He has also led the University’s effort to infuse the issues of sustainability across the curriculum through its inclusion in existing and new courses in multiple disciplines.

The symposium is sponsored by the University’s Office of Sustainability and the College of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office.

For more information, contact Linda Walsh at 570-941-7520 or linda.walsh@scranton.edu.

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