Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Dr. Bill Retzlaff will accept the Sustainability Leadership Award from the Center for Spirituality and Sustainability at its 11th annual Leadership Awards Dinner.
The event is set for the Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in the LeClaire Room on the N. O Nelson Campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Edwardsville.
Retzlaff is a professor of biological sciences and also associate dean of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences. He is being honored for his numerous scientific studies involving SIUE students to find the best environmentally friendly green roof designs for this area. Since Retzlaff, his students and collaborators started the SIUE green roof research program in 2004, new green roof systems have been installed on five campus buildings.
“Without the help of the many undergraduate and graduate research students in my research lab, I would not have been able to contribute to the evaluation, development and placement of green roof systems,” Retzlaff said.
One of Retzlaff’s current projects is assisting with a collaborative research team seeking financial support for a Veggie Rooftop Garden project by garnering donations via online crowdfunding. The project team has posted the on superiorideas.org to initially raise $8,100 from the community to support the students working on the project. The project will establish a vegetable garden on the Morris University Center’s patio rooftop, and the resulting produce will be contributed to the new Campus Kitchen Project and the SIUE cafeteria.
The Center’sSpiritual Leadership Award will go to Rev. Annie P. Clark for her many years of dedication and collaboration on behalf of interfaith understanding in this region. Rev. Clark directed the Radiance Center for Spiritual Living until her retirement, after which she founded Inner-Splendor, an interactive ministry, serving people of all faiths.
For reservations call Juli Jacobson (618) 650-3246 or email jjacobso@siue.edu. Tickets are $50 and partially tax deductible.
The Center for Spirituality and Sustainability is a multi-faith home for spirituality and sustainability efforts housed in the Buckminster Fuller dome on the SIUE campus.
Photo: Dr. BillRetzlaff, professor of biological sciences and also associate dean of the SIUE College of Arts and Sciences.