GOLDEN, Colo., March 27, 2013 – Colorado School of Mines will host the first Rocky Mountain Honors Symposium, a gathering of regional honors students competing in an environmental challenge, on April 20.

As many as 140 students from nine front range colleges will compete on the Mines campus in a bid to present the best new idea to address a pressing environmental issue. Participating universities include Colorado State University, CSU-Pueblo, University of Colorado-Boulder, CU-Denver, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Regis University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Denver and University of Wyoming.

The Mines team, consisting of seven students from the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs, has developed a proposal to encourage the university to commit to making water recycling a priority in future construction projects on campus.

"When our team thought about environmental conservation efforts, we realized that it all boils down to altering public behavior. So instead of asking people to use less, we are simply asking them to use what they already have. Altering our construction practices to recycle water is a significant step towards a greener, more efficient society," said Katie Huckfeldt, a senior studying environmental engineering and coordinator of the Mines team.  

Students participating in the symposium are organizing, lobbying and planning on their own – faculty advisors are providing technical advice, but the projects are student-driven.

For more information on the McBride Honors Program in Public Affairs, see the program website.

Contact:
Karen Gilbert, Director of Public Relations, Colorado School of Mines / 303-273-3541 / KGilbert@mines.edu