Did you know that Native California plants restore our soil and ecosystems?
Did you know that CSUN's historic orchard provides tons of oranges to our food insecure community?
Did you know that the botanical garden is a living lab with hundreds of unique plant species?
Did you know that CSUN's sustainability efforts includes all of the solar power you see on campus?
Have you explored CSUN's Tree Atlas and our campus urban forests?
Have you seen our new zero waste compost and recycling bins?
Have you thought about minoring in Sustainability?
Have you thought about volunteering in our sustainable food garden?
Are you interested in our Associated Students Sustainability Programs?
CSUN earns Certification as a Bicycle-Friendly University
In Memoriam
It is with great sadness that we received the news that Dr. Kyriakos Pontikis, Professor of Interior Design and one of the founding members of the Green Core Team, passed away Saturday, September 26, 2015 after a long battle with cancer.
Kyriakos was a compassionate, calm and gentle person with a true concern for the environment, aesthetics, and sustainable living. He was a mentor for many students, and a leader in espousing the values of sustainability. We will all miss him dearly.
Kyriakos was committed to the value of sustainability education, served as an active member of the university’s Sustainability Curriculum committee 2010-2012, and led the College of Health and Human Development’s Sustainability Committee. He assisted with the development and implementation of the Minor in Sustainability, which began in 2011 and was a significant step forward for the campus. He taught several sustainability-related upper-division and graduate level courses in his home Family and Consumer Sciences Department, and co-taught the Interdisciplinary Perspectives in Sustainability course with other Institute faculty. He worked closely with CSUN’s architect to give FCS students experience in incorporating green design concepts and principles into the design of the USU Wellness Center and other campus buildings.
Kyriakos was generous and kind. He founded CSUN’s Chapter of Habitat for Humanity and worked with disadvantaged communities through local organizations such as MEND and Pacoima Beautiful to providing livable and sustainable design solutions for various community building and landscape projects. He developed the conceptual framework of “Eco-Humane Design” which unifies ecological design with humane design in an effort to create livable and sustainable community and building environments.
Green Core Team members will remember Kyriakos as a kind-hearted and charming person. He was a true ambassador for advancing sustainability at CSUN and in the community and providing students with meaningful learning experiences. He will be greatly missed by all those that knew him.