Students and Sustainability Profile Series
Clare Kucera is an undergraduate in the Program in the Environment (PitE) at U-M.
“My favorite part about being in PitE is that it is such an interdisciplinary major that explores the natural and social science components of complex environmental issues,” said Kucera. “PITE lays the foundation for being able to not only understand the multi-faceted dimensions of the environment, but the major can also be shaped uniquely to my interests through its specialization.”
Kucera loves the fieldwork involved in PitE. She described spending the summer at the Biological Station in a Northern Michigan cabin as one of the best experiences of her life. Kucera expressed a passion for classes that emphasize the multifaceted possibilities of PitE.
Kucera’s favorite U-M class is Environmental Justice (Environ 222) taught by Dorceta Taylor. She credits the course with increasing her knowledge about the history of environmental injustice in America, particularly among poor and minority populations.
“This class has inspired me to work to create sustainable cities that benefit all citizens.”
With a part-time job working as a Planet Blue Student Leader, Kucera is involved in sustainability efforts inside and outside the classroom, allowing her to get real-world experience to complement her scholarly pursuits. She focuses on waste reduction and has been instrumental in numerous projects centered around composting and U-M dining.
“Our primary project is the Bursley Composting Pilot. I'm working with other Planet Blue Student Leaders to pass-out individual composting bins to approximately 100 interested Bursley residents, starting in the winter of 2016,” said Kucera.
The Planet Blue team also introduced post-consumer composting bins in the main lobby areas and hall closets of each residential hall. Kucera coordinated with the student resident hall directors, the building facilities manager, and the dining hall manager to keep the pilot project running smoothly. The project was successful and has support to expand the effort to other resident halls.
Kucera has also been involved in organizing many zero waste events at U-M, including Festifall, reusable water bottle distribution, Earthfest, and the Freshmen Convocation. Kucera is passionate about waste reduction, and the potential for this effort to address a number of environmental problems, including reducing pollution, diverting waste from landfills, and reducing greenhouse gasses.
Kucera believes that the Planet Blue Student Leaders' waste reduction efforts have the potential to reshape the student sustainability culture. "We hope that students will participate to create a cultural norm of waste reduction that lasts long after they graduate. I wish people knew how easy it is to reduce their waste and the large difference that they can make."
U-M provides recycling bins in every university building and is rolling out composting bins across campus to further reduce landfill waste. Individual actions such reducing individual waste, recycling, and composting can lead to significant waste reduction, a U-M sustainability goal.
After graduation, Kucera intends to find a job that combines her love of the planet, with her passion for sustainability and environmental justice. “I plan on keeping my passion for the environment in the center of my career plans,” Kucera said. “I am interested in going into urban planning or environmental policy. I would ultimately like to design cities to be more sustainable in order to make it possible for everyone to have access to a safe, beautiful, and healthy environment.”