Environment and Sustainability

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John Abraham

Thermal Sciences Professor, University of St. Thomas

Phone: 
651-962-5766 (office) or 612-963-2169 (mobile)
Email: 
jpabraham@stthomas.edu

Abraham's research is in the fields of energy production and climate monitoring. He developed novel techniques for delivering low cost sustainable power to the developing world and works with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve measurements global warming's impact on oceans. He gives lectures and radio/television interviews on climate change. He was featured in the BBC movie "Meet the Climate Skeptics." He has testified at the Minnesota Senate on climate change and assisted legislators at the national level.

James Dontje

Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, Gustavus Adolphus College

Phone: 
507-933-7206
Email: 
jdontje@gustavus.edu

Dontje's areas of expertise including sustainability, renewable energy, solar thermal system design and construction, ecological design, and aquaculture.

Jim Farrell

Professor of History and American Studies (Department Chair), St. Olaf College

Phone: 
507-646-3143
Email: 
farrellj@stolaf.edu

The "environmental catalyst" at St. Olaf, Farrell serves on the sustainability task force at St. Olaf; he and a student co-created the class Campus Ecology. At a time when St. Olaf is generating one-third of its electricity through a wind turbine and composting all of its food waste, the class aims to generate more ideas for making the college "green."  His books include One Nation Under Goods, a look at shopping and behavioral patterns in shopping malls.

Cindy Gilbert

Faculty and Program Coordinator, Sustainable Design, Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Phone: 
Rob Davis, 612-874-3793
Email: 
rob_davis@mcad.edu

Gilbert's areas of expertise are biomimicry, climate change, polar ecology and creating environmentally responsible and socially just design. She has also taught in the fields of sustainability, biology and natural history. She was the founding program coordinator at the University of Montana's campus-wide sustainability program and the founding director of university education at the Biomimicry Institute.

Arlin Gyberg

Chemistry Professor, Augsburg College

Phone: 
Stephanie Weiss, 612-330-1476
Email: 
weisss@augsburg.edu

Gyberg is one of the people credited with finding a way to make biodiesel with no waste. This technology is used by Ever Cat Fuels, a company (owned by Augsburg alums) that is building a large facility in Isanti County. Gyberg was the adviser to Brian Krohn, who won a Rhodes Scholarship for biodiesel research.

Suzanne Savanick Hansen

Sustainability Manager, Macalester College

Phone: 
Barbara Laskin, 651-696-6451
Email: 
laskin@macalester.edu

Savanick Hansen's areas of expertise are conservation biology, geology and environmental management. She developed the Sustainable Campus Initiative at the University of Minnesota and has worked for the Science Education Resource Center, as a visiting professor at Carleton College and for the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.

Paul Jackson

Associate Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Studies, St. Olaf College

Phone: 
David Gonnerman, 507-786-3315
Email: 
gonnermd@stolaf.edu

Jackson teaches and conducts research in areas spanning analytical chemistry (especially "green" chemistry), environmental science and sustainable practices. Jackson's application of "green" chemistry principles is leading efforts to reduce the environmental impact of college campuses and science building design. His classrooms focus on chemical analysis of surface waters, environmental science and the chemistry of building materials.

Jeff Jeremiason

Professor of Chemistry and Environmental Studies (Department Chair), Gustavus Adolphus College

Phone: 
507-933-6235
Email: 
jjeremia@gustavus.edu

Jeremiason is an environmental chemist who has experience studying the fate and transport of mercury and organic contaminants in the environment, particularly aquatic environments. His recent study sites include Voyageurs National Park, the Marcell Experimental Forest, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, and Seven Mile Creek.

Derek Larson

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies (Department Chair) and History, College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University

Phone: 
320-363-3247
Email: 
dlarson@csbsju.edu

Larson is an environmental historian by training and also broadly trained in environmental studies. Larson's academic and research interests include U.S. environmental history, public lands, history of the Pacific Northwest, environmental thought and popular culture/consumer behavior.

Martha Larson

Manager of Campus Energy and Sustainability, Carleton College

Phone: 
507-222-7893
Email: 
mlarson@carleton.edu

Larson works with students, staff and faculty to foster initiatives like the second wind turbine and the campus Climate Action Plan. A LEED Accredited Professional, she also works with student sustainability assistants and is the chair of the Carleton Environmental Advisory Committee, a group which offers guidance and acts as liaisons to the campus on sustainability efforts.

Ken Petersen

Director of Environmental Studies, Bethel University

Phone: 
Amanda Wanke, 651-638-6266
Email: 
a-wanke@bethel.edu

Petersen is the program director for Bethel University's Environmental Studies program. He teaches courses such as Aquatic Biology, Wildlife Ecology and Management, and Environment and Humanity.

Pete Sandberg

Facilities Director, St. Olaf College

Phone: 
David Gonnerman, 507-786-3315
Email: 
gonnermd@stolaf.edu

Sandberg is an expert in LEED building design and techniques, sustainability practices and can speak about the St. Olaf wind turbine.