An organic chemist with a focus on systems-level thinking, Associate Professor Michael Wentzel is out to make science more sustainable.

“Chemistry doesn’t have to be the solution to the problems it created—it could just not create them,” he says in the June 2022 cover story in Private University Products and News Magazine.

to learn more about Wentzel’s path from his family’s Iowa hardware store to chairing Augsburg’s chemistry department, how green chemistry is “benign by design,” and why he’s on a mission to improve science communication.

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(MINNEAPOLIS) – The 27^th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum will explore the world’s most pressing peacemaking issues faced by people across the globe. The March 6-8 event, at the Radisson Blu Downtown, will explore different aspects of peace building including human rights and democracy, disarmament, sustainability and inclusivity. Speaker highlights include:

• March 6 – Human Rights and Democracy
  • Honored Laureate��in a moderated discussion, “Call to Action: Women, Religion, Violence, and Power.”
  • , Deputy Chair of The Elders and Former Prime Minister of Norway, will discuss human rights and democracy.
  • , former Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and signatory to the Good Friday Agreement.

• March 7 – Disarmament and Sustainability
  • Honored Laureate the represented by Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü will discuss disarmament and peace.
  • Adama Dieng, the United Nation’s special adviser on prevention of genocide, will discuss the murder, torture, looting, and destruction of property that likely is a war crime and ethnic cleansing.
  • of Kaduna, Nigeria, work to resolve conflicts between warring religious youth militias, but a decade ago the two men were mortal enemies.
  • , author of The Better Angels of our Nature, will talk about four human motivations that can turn us away from violence and toward cooperation and altruism.

• March 8 – Inclusivity in Peace Building
  • , cofounder of the International Civil Society Action Network, will address the issue of women and extremism.
  • , who grew up indoctrinated in Adolf Hitler’s Germany, will discuss her experience and that of ordinary German citizens.
  • Roxanne Mankin Cason, of the Cason Family Foundation; and Ingrid Stange, the founder of Partnership for Change; will discuss how women business leaders are promoting peace and empowering girls and women.

Purchase tickets, review the full schedule, and learn about lodging accommodations at

Under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum inspires peacemaking by focusing on the work of Nobel Peace Prize laureates and important international peacemakers and peace builders. For more than 27 years, the Forum has been one of only three programs officially associated with the Norwegian Nobel Institute.

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Elinor Ostrom, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics, will be the keynote speaker. This professor of political science at Indiana University won the 2009 Nobel for research that demonstrates the worldwide importance of the commons.

She found that—counter to conventional wisdom—people could collaborate to use and manage natural resources, intellectual property, and other shared resources. Her work runs counter to current ideas about common property management, regulation, and privatization.

The concept of the commons is founded upon principles including collaborative and participatory governance, responsibility to prevent harm and repair damage, creation of a sense of shared ownership and belonging, enhanced relationships built upon deep connections to one another and the earth, and stewardship that creates sustainability for coming generations.

Learn more about Ostrom’s ideas and theories in this YouTube .

What is the commons? Read more .

The Festival of the Commons: Celebrating All That We Share

All events are free and open to the public.

Friday, October 7

3 p.m. – Commons Gathering featuring the Brass Messengers and theater performance, plaza at Foss Center

3:30 p.m. – Keynote Address by Elinor Ostrom, Nobel Laureate, “Constructing Common Property Regimes,” Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center

5:30-7 p.m. – Commons Festival with music and food, Murphy Park Saturday, October 8

10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Commons Walking Tour of West Bank and Seward Neighborhood, Garry Hesser, Sabo Center Chair

1-3 p.m. – Commons Bike Tour of Minneapolis, Jay Walljasper, author of All That We Share: A Field Guide to the Commons, and Lars Christiansen, Associate Professor of Sociology and Sabo Senior Fellow

The Festival of the Commons is a joint project of the Augsburg College Center for Citizenship and Learning, the Center for Democracy and Citizenship, and On the Commons. For more information, contact Elaine Eschenbacher at eschenba@augsburg.edu.

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For all of human history until about 200 years ago, our atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. Parts per million is simply a way of measuring the concentration of different gases, and means the ratio of the number of carbon dioxide molecules per million other molecules in the atmosphere. 275 ppm CO2 is a useful amount without some CO2 and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in our atmosphere, our planet would be too cold for humans to inhabit.

Today, according to 350.org the atmosphere contains nearly 390 ppm CO2. In order for the Earth’s people and systems to survive, we need to reduce the level to 350. That’s what this Saturday’s 350.org Day of Action is all about.

Inspired by McKibben’s convocation address in September, a group of students set out to organize Augsburg’s Day of Action to raise awareness for and promote the cause of clean energy, sustainability, and political action to affect real change.

Day student body president, Sam Smith, is part of the organizing group. He is hoping to create a sustainability fund at Augsburg that will aid the College in energy-saving projects to help further reduce CO2 emissions. “This day will be meaningful not just for Augsburg but for the entire community,” he says.

Throughout the day, student organizations will host a variety of activities to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and support for legislation that will bring the nation’s carbon emissions to an appropriate level. The group will be joined by Minneapolis city councilman, Cam Gordon, on the bike ride to the Capitol. Gordon will also speak at the afternoon rally

9:30-10:45 Rally in Murphy Park

10:45 “The Most Important Number in the World” Bike Ride from Minneapolis to the State Capitol

Halftime of the Augsburg-Gustavus football game: 350.org picture

3:30 March to the River — gather in Murphy Park and march (or ride) to the river just below the Washington Avenue bridge

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Original story, July 25, 2008

How can a major metropolitan area — with all its concrete, glass, and steel — be green? How can it be eco-friendly and implement measures that will ensure its healthy future? That is precisely what students in the Sustainable Cities summer course are attempting to discover. Sociology professors Nancy Fischer and Lars Christiansen are leading a group of students through Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, British Columbia to examine different facets of sustainability in an urban context. The course is a faculty-led seminar through Augsburg Abroad.

Looking at food systems, waste and recycling programs, transportation, public policy, and community development, students will see how nature and the city can coexist. According to Fischer, the purpose of the course is to learn what’s being done and how to promote sustainability in North America. “It’s easy to get down and say there’s nothing we can do,” she said. “We want students to know what can be done and hope they see what they can do in their own city and on campus.”

Fischer got the idea while teaching Human Community, Modern Metropolis at Augsburg two years ago. She shared an article on peak oil, the theory that predicted the terminal decline of the world’s petroleum production, with the class. “The students thought the idea that we would run out of oil was crazy,” Fischer said. Ensuing class discussion about the world’s dependence on oil led Fischer to examine urban efforts to “go green.”

At the same time, she and Christiansen began to see reports on Vancouver, ranked consistently at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s livability survey. Vancouver is a leader in sustainability measures, particularly with regard to urban planning, public transit, waste management, and food production. Based on their shared interest in urban sustainability the two began discussing the idea of a course to explore Vancouver’s initiatives.

The class began its journey on a flight from Minneapolis to Portland. After their arrival, students and instructors will use public transportation, bicycles, and their own two feet to get around. In each city Christiansen and half of the 13 students in the class will use bicycles to travel. Fischer will join the remaining students, getting around on foot or by light rail train, bus, or streetcar. Fischer said, “We won’t be getting in a car for 20 days.”

While in Portland, the class will stay in Epler Hall at Portland State University. Epler Hall is Portland’s first mixed-use LEED certified building. The design includes “stack” ventilation and a rainwater harvesting system that is used for onsite irrigation and toilet flushing. The building was designed to integrate new technologies with wind and sun for climate-responsive heating and cooling systems.

The class will travel from Portland to Vancouver by Amtrak. From its green building strategy to energy conservation measures including using methane gas captured from the landfill to generate heat and electricity, Vancouver is a leader in urban sustainability. The city has 40 km of off-street bike routes and 393 km of on-street routes with 258 cyclists’ right-of-way buttons and 1,000 bike racks. There are five producer-only farmers markets in Vancouver that allow for the purchase of locally grown food year round.

Portland has now surpassed Vancouver on sustainability measures. In the downtown area, all public transit including light rail, bus, and streetcar, is fare-less. Portland also has more bicycles than any U.S. city. When the professors visited the city to prepare for the course, Fischer said they timed bicycle sightings in the downtown area. “We saw a bicycle every 30 seconds,” she said.

The class will meet with policy makers, university professors, and community organizers to discuss sustainability efforts in both cities. They will also have an opportunity to participate in several bike rides including the Critical Mass demonstration in Vancouver and the Night Ride in Portland. Beginning in early evening, the Night Ride’s costumed or pajama-clad riders take off from the Portland Train Station. They watch bike-themed movie shorts at stop one, have a disco party at stop two, and enjoy an all-you-can-eat midnight donut feast at the finish line. This 15-mile street ride benefits the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) which promotes bicycle use and works to improve cycling conditions in Oregon.

For more information on Augsburg Abroad programs including faculty-led seminars go to��

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Looking at food systems, waste and recycling programs, transportation, public policy, and community development, students will see how nature and the city can coexist. According to Fischer, the purpose of the course is to learn what’s being done and how to promote sustainability in North America. “It’s easy to get down and say there’s nothing we can do,” she said. “We want students to know what can be done and hope they see what they can do in their own city and on campus.”

Fischer got the idea while teaching Human Community, Modern Metropolis at Augsburg two years ago. She shared an article on peak oil, the theory that predicted the terminal decline of the world’s petroleum production, with the class. “The students thought the idea that we would run out of oil was crazy,” Fischer said. Ensuing class discussion about the world’s dependence on oil led Fischer to examine urban efforts to “go green.”

At the same time, she and Christiansen began to see reports on Vancouver, ranked consistently at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s livability survey. Vancouver is a leader in sustainability measures, particularly with regard to urban planning, public transit, waste management, and food production. Based on their shared interest in urban sustainability the two began discussing the idea of a course to explore Vancouver’s initiatives.

The class began its journey on a flight from Minneapolis to Portland. After their arrival, students and instructors will use public transportation, bicycles, and their own two feet to get around. In each city Christiansen and half of the 13 students in the class will use bicycles to travel. Fischer will join the remaining students, getting around on foot or by light rail train, bus, or streetcar. Fischer said, “We won’t be getting in a car for 20 days.”

While in Portland, the class will stay in Epler Hall at Portland State University. Epler Hall is Portland’s first mixed-use LEED certified building. The design includes “stack” ventilation and a rainwater harvesting system that is used for onsite irrigation and toilet flushing. The building was designed to integrate new technologies with wind and sun for climate-responsive heating and cooling systems.

The class will travel from Portland to Vancouver by Amtrak. From its green building strategy to energy conservation measures including using methane gas captured from the landfill to generate heat and electricity, Vancouver is a leader in urban sustainability. The city has 40 km of off-street bike routes and 393 km of on-street routes with 258 cyclists’ right-of-way buttons and 1,000 bike racks. There are five producer-only farmers markets in Vancouver that allow for the purchase of locally grown food year round.

Portland has now surpassed Vancouver on sustainability measures. In the downtown area, all public transit including light rail, bus, and streetcar, is fare-less. Portland also has more bicycles than any U.S. city. When the professors visited the city to prepare for the course, Fischer said they timed bicycle sightings in the downtown area. “We saw a bicycle every 30 seconds,” she said.

The class will meet with policy makers, university professors, and community organizers to discuss sustainability efforts in both cities. They will also have an opportunity to participate in several bike rides including the Critical Mass demonstration in Vancouver and the Night Ride in Portland. Beginning in early evening, the Night Ride’s costumed or pajama-clad riders take off from the Portland Train Station. They watch bike-themed movie shorts at stop one, have a disco party at stop two, and enjoy an all-you-can-eat midnight donut feast at the finish line. This 15-mile street ride benefits the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) which promotes bicycle use and works to improve cycling conditions in Oregon.

For more information on Augsburg Abroad programs including faculty-led seminars go to .

The post Auggies traverse the concrete jungle appeared first on News and Media.

Several speakers are scheduled, including Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Part of the purpose of the conference is to connect government and citizen efforts so they can work in concert to build sustainable communities.

Topic Tracks workshops are offered on several subjects, including:

• School, Congregational and Neighborhood Organizing
• Watershed Education / Restoration
• Gardening / Greening / Urban Forestry
• Transportation — Walking / Biking / Transit Use
• Energy Conservation / Green Buildings / Renewable Energy
• Local & Sustainable Food Systems
• Zero-Waste Initiatives, Greening Your Business, Green Careers
• Developing a Community-Wide Sustainability Plan

In the afternoon, time will be devoted to project planning with resource organizations available to help groups as well as outreach tips.

A social hour and networking event with refreshments will follow at 4 p.m.

Interested participants can register online at or by calling the Alliance for Sustainability at 612-331-1099, extension 1.

An organic lunch is available for $10, or you can bring your own.

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