Lowell Center for Sustainable ProductionPhoto
spacerHomeAbout the CenterOur WorkPublicationsEventsPersonnelPressContactspacer

summer institute logoProgram at a Glance:
June 27–June 29, 2011

As a leading academic research center in environmental and occupational health, the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production supports people to become agents of change in communities, government, nonprofit organizations, and businesses. The Sustainability Action Summer Institute is an opportunity for the Lowell Center to share its experience, concepts, and tools to promote sustainability solutions.

The 2011 Summer Institute is organized as an intensive, hands-on immersion in the emerging field of alternatives assessment. The format will include stimulating discussions, small group exercises, and hands-on practice in performing the key steps of an alternatives assessment. (Please refer to the Anticipated Agenda below).

Monday, June 27 (start at 1:00pm)

The role of scientific information in deciding on alternatives  

Tuesday, June 28

How to evaluate whether an alternative compares favorably to a chemical or product of concern

Hands-on practice in conducting alternatives assessments

Wednesday, June29 (end at 4:00pm)

Hands-on practice in conducting alternatives assessments (continued)

Promoting alternatives assessments to make products safer, improve policies, and drive innovation

Anticipated Agenda

The final schedule of events for the Sustainability Action Summer Institute will be posted in late spring. An example of components for each day is provided below.

Beyond Green: Sustainability Action Summer Institute

Alternatives Assessment Training

Agenda

Monday,
June 27

Tuesday,
June 28

Wednesday,
June 29

Introductions and the Role of Science in Alternatives Assessment

Alternatives Assessment Steps and Hands-on Practice

Hands-on Practice, Implementation, Further Resources

 

Light Breakfast
8:00-9:00

Light Breakfast
8:00-9:00

 

Overview of the day

Overview of the day
 

Walk through five-steps

 

Hands-on Practice-Session 3

 

Discuss ratings.

 

Research performance criteria.

 

 

Break

Break

 

Comparative chemical hazard Assessment.

Reconsider ratings.

 

Economic considerations.

Program Commencement 1:00

Lunch 12:00-1:00

Lunch 12:00-1:00
Welcome and introductions.

 

How did we get to this point?

  • The failures of current policies, including risk assessment
  • Challenges of acting in the face of uncertainty

Choosing plausibly more sustainable alternatives with limited knowledge.

  • Examples of when we do act with uncertainty
  • Science first vs action first

Hands-on Practice-Session 1

 

Introduce case study of alternatives to BFRs in pallets (based on recent study conducted for the State of Maine). 

  • Problems
  • Goal    

Tools, methods, and resources for studying chemical hazards.

 

Case review with Pure Strategies.

 

Strengths and limits of alternatives assessment.

 

Questions about the process.

 

Implementation opportunities and pitfalls.

 

 

Resources.

 

Break

Break

 

Alternatives assessment in context.

  • Larger substitution framework
  • Status in states and nationally

The Lowell Center Framework.

  • Goals, principles, decision-making rules
  • Comparative assessment process and design assessment process

Hands-on Practice-Session 2

 

Gather data and conduct a comparative chemical hazard assessment.

 

Discuss of data gaps, conflicts, and credibility.

 

Homework.

Future directions.

  • How will people incorporate this in their work?
  • What is needed?
  • How can people help each other?

 

Concluding remarks.

 

 

Adjourn 5:00

Adjourn 5:00

Adjourn 4:00
Group Dinner

Group Dinner

  

 

UML