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Monash green with passion

1 April 2009

CEO of World Vision Australia Tim Costello

More than 200 staff and students attended a recent one-day environmental sustainability conference at the Clayton campus as part of Monash Sustainability Month.

Guest speakers such as CEO of World Vision Australia Tim Costello, Founder of Planet Ark Jon Dee, and 2007 Environmentalist of the Year Aaron Wood inspired the audience to make sustainability top-of-mind in every activity whether related to study, work or home.

"Our aim was to engage with the broader Monash community by examining current environmental issues and the role the University can play in embedding sustainability into teaching, research and practice," Director of Office of Environmental Sustainability Paul Barton said.

"The conference was a huge hit and I want to thank everyone involved in helping to make it such a success."

The conference included a debate hosted by SBS 'Dateline' presenter George Negus on the topic: "Conservation will always win out over technology for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions."

"The debate was passionate and lively and it was good to see the level of support we have here at Monash on issues relating to sustainability," Mr Barton said.

The next Sustainability Month event is a public lecture called, "A water sensitive future for Melbourne" on Monday 6 April from 6 - 7 pm at the Clayton campus.

The lecture will be presented by Monash Professor Tony Wong, principal of the international design firm EDAW.

Professor Wong has an international reputation for linking research and practice in sustainable urban water management.

He will speak on the potential for a water sensitive future for Melbourne through the innovative management of urban stormwater.