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On Thursday, April 18, the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) Office at the ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½ surprised their students and researchers with an Easter egg hunt that doubled as a lesson in sustainability.

The team’s sustainability co-ordinator, Karen Pankraz, has been working diligently over the last several months to help the office incorporate more sustainable practices. From removing single-use cutlery and dishes, to encouraging more compost and recycling, she has created a workspace that inspires everyone to think about their daily choices and environmental impact.

Pankraz, as a participant in the Co-ordinator’s Summer Sustainability Challenge, recently applied for reusable metal straws from the Sustainability Resource Centre and began planning a creative way to distribute them.

Recycled Easter eggs were stuffed with sustainability tips, treats, and — for some lucky hunters — a reusable straw. Participants were given a recycled compostable bag and set off on the hunt.

The event was not only a great way to bring the team together before the holiday, it was also a fun way to educate and spread awareness about ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½â€™s efforts to support students, faculty and staff in becomimg sustainability leaders.

A mandate for CERC students and researchers who work alongside Dr. Steven Bryant, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Material Engineering for Unconventional Oil Reservoirs, is to develop technologies that reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the carbon footprint of unconventional hydrocarbon extraction.

The CERC Office plans to continue finding ways to incorporate sustainability in the workplace and by engaging in other activities on campus like the Campus Cleanup on April 26.

For more information on how to make your office space sustainable, check out ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½â€™s Sustainable Offices Program. To get involved in sustainable initiatives on campus, visit the Sustainable Resource Centre in SB 101 or email sustain@ucalgary.ca. For any departments seeking reusable straws, they are available for purchase in the campus bookstore.

The ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½â€™s Institutional Sustainability Strategy provides a roadmap for continuous improvement in our pursuit of excellence and leadership in sustainability. We aim to become a Canadian post-secondary education leader in sustainability in our academic and engagement programs, administrative and operational practices and through supporting community and industry in their aims for leadership in sustainability. Learn more about ²ÝÝ®ÎÛÊÓƵµ¼º½â€™s leadership in sustainability.