UMD Hosts First Washington Area Global Sustainability Jam

College Park, MD - After a 2011 launch from 40 sites worldwide, the 48 Hours to Save the World Global Sustainability Jam debuts in the Washington area at the University of Maryland Nov. 2-4.

The College Park Global Sustainability Jam will be one of more than 50 simultaneous jams to be held around the world, during which hundreds of people will brainstorm and share ideas for sustainability. One of only three jams in the U.S., and the only at a college campus, the University of Maryland event is hosted by the Center for Social Value Creation (CSVC) in the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

At the College Park event, University of Maryland students and representatives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, EarthColor, Peer Insight, and the University of Maryland's Office of Sustainability will work in groups to generate ideas for sustainable business models, products and initiatives for a more sustainable world.

"Jammers will work through an entire design process in just 48 hours using a 'triple bottom line' --people, planet and profit -- approach to develop workable prototypes," says Kimberlee Robertella, CSVC Assistant director for marketing and sustainability. "When people hear the term sustainable' they often think of just the environment, but there's an economic and social component as well."

The College Park results will be uploaded to the events international website (http://www.globalsustainabilityjam.org/) with those from 53 simultaneous jams under a 48 hours to Save the World rallying theme from such locations as Moscow, Tehran, São Paulo, Amsterdam and Hong Kong. The other U.S. sites are in New York City and Kansas City.

UMD participants will represent various student organizations including Engineers Without Borders, the College Park Scholars Environment, Technology and Economy Program and  AshokaU Terp Changemakers.

Robertella says the event is ideal for people interested in problem-solving and sustainability, including educators,students, artists and business professionals. 

The  College Park Global Sustainability Jam will be held in 2333 Van Munching Hall, Friday, Nov. 2, 5-8 p.m.; Sat. Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m; Sunday, Nov. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  

SusJam