November 13, 2015   
Award-winning filmmaker weaves personal stories with world problems
  
Sean Peoples is an award-winning international film producer who documents strong and compelling personal stories and weaves them with major global issues and policy questions. It is a unique form of storytelling.

Until recently, Peoples was a multimedia producer/program associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars where he spent 9.5 years. He is now a producer at Think Out Loud Productions.

On a recent visit to the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University, Peoples talked about his filmmaking career with WOUB's Tom Hodson.

People's latest film, Broken Landscape: Confronting India's Water-Energy Choke Point, premiered at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival in 2015. Since then, it has been selected for a number of film festivals including the Athens International Film + Video Festival.  The film was also recently featured in the Fall Sustainability Film Series at the Athena Cinema.

The film focuses on the battle between coal mining and water quality in a remote area of India. It features the human stories behind a battle between clean and safe resources and jobs and economic survival. It has won numerous awards including a Silver Telly Award where it was selected for recognition from over 12,000 entries. Recently it was shown on CNN India to over 54 million viewers. Soon the film will appear on the National Geographic website.

Listen to the full interview on WOUB.
TODAY: International delegation featured at environmental studies and ecotourism session  
  
"Creating National Parks in a Biodiversity Hotspot" will be the focus of a public session featuring an international delegation of national park directors and non-governmental organization experts from Kosovo on the third floor of Alden Library from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13.

The delegation members will share their experiences with developing transboundary ecotourism, fighting illegal logging, protecting traditional livelihoods, fostering sustainability in economically challenged areas, and much more. The event is free and open to the public.

The delegation is visiting Ohio University during a two-week U.S. study tour as part of an ongoing partnership with the OHIO Environmental Studies program as part of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, the Office of Global Opportunities and its partner, International Peace Park Expeditions (IPPE). OHIO and IPPE offer a three-week study abroad program on Environmental Peacebuilding and Sustainability in the Balkans, where students take hands-on learning courses in environmental studies.

For more info about this public event or the 2016 Balkans study abroad program, contact Environmental Studies Director Geoff Dabelko at [email protected] or Danny Twilley at [email protected].

Innovation Center receives award from UBI Global
  
Ohio University's Innovation Center has been recognized as a Top University Business Incubator in North America by UBI Global, an organization that benchmarks business incubators and accelerators around the world. The program was ranked number eight in the North American region and number three in the United States. The University's technology business incubator was one of 10 programs that received the Top University Business Incubator in North America award during a recognition ceremony co-hosted by UBI Global and Ontario Centres of Excellence Nov. 3 in Toronto. UBI Global received 97 applications from North American incubators for the award, according to the organization.

The Ohio University Innovation Center has supported university and regional entrepreneurs in Southeast Ohio since its inception in 1983. The jobs generated by Innovation Center companies in 2013 and 2014 garnered an estimated $10.5 million in labor income and $1.3 million in state and local tax revenues. The number of jobs created (directly, indirectly or induced) by the Innovation Center businesses was 123 in 2013 and 140 in 2014.

The Innovation Center's success stems from being part of a larger university and regional entrepreneurial ecosystem that includes TechGROWTH Ohio, the Technology Transfer Office, the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, the College of Business, the Edison Biotechnology Institute and the Center for Entrepreneurship, Jennifer Simon, director of the Innovation Center, said.

"Ohio University's regional ecosystem provides outstanding resources to entrepreneurs," Simon said. "This award recognizes that our clients have access to world-class services to accelerate their growth right here in Southeast Ohio."
OHIO to celebrate Zero Waste Week with series of campus events

Ohio University will join thousands of local organizers to celebrate America Recycles Day, a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, with a Zero Waste Week of events from November 14 - 20, 2015, to raise awareness about recycling and waste on campus.

America Recycles Day is the only nationally recognized day and coast-to-coast community-driven awareness campaign dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States. It has been held on Nov. 15 since 1997.

 "The Zero Waste Initiative at Ohio University has made huge steps in improving the University's waste profile, especially in the past several months," Kate Blyth, student zero waste coordinator, said. "Our work with Athletics, Event Services, and Culinary, as well as our partnerships with Campus Recycling and the Office of Sustainability, has allowed us to make great progress towards reaching our goals."

Find the #ZeroWasteWeek Crew at these events on campus during OHIO Zero Waste Week: To become part of the #ZeroWasteCrew and volunteer to help with recycling at events on campus, contact [email protected].

Visit ohio.edu/zerowaste, or follow @OHIOzerowaste to learn more about zero waste projects on campus and #ZeroWasteWeek.

Voinovich School coordinates summit to assist adult allies of youth-led programs

The Voinovich School has been working in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network to coordinate a statewide training for adult leaders of youth-led programs. The adult leader summit, titled "Creating Opportunities for Youth to Lead: Building Skills to Produce Community Change," will be held Dec. 4 and will feature national experts in the fields of youth development, education and community health.

Jessica Collura, Voinovich School research associate, is working with the planning committee for the summit. "In order for young people to create meaningful change, they need strong adult allies who are guiding them through the process," Collura said. "This summit is designed for adult allies who are assisting young people in leading local change efforts. It's an opportunity for adults to come together to bolster their own skills, and critically think about the ways in which they're helping young people build the skills that are necessary for creating change in their own communities."

The adult leader summit will include a morning session and interactive afternoon workshops. The panel presentation in the morning will feature Stephanie Krauss with the Forum for Youth Investment, experienced community health psychologist Debra Holden, specialist in creativity and creative learning Susan Keller-Mathers, and educator Anthony Colannino. The speakers will focus, respectively, upon readiness abilities and practices, the role of adult allies, creative problem solving and growth mindset.

In addition to the panel presentation, each of these speakers will also facilitate afternoon breakout sessions, during which attendees will have the opportunity to engage with speakers in small groups for hands-on learning experiences. Participants will spend one hour in each breakout session.

"As opposed to just having 200 people in the audience with someone delivering one large presentation, these adult leaders are going to be in groups of 40 to 50 and attend small sessions where they get to really interact with experts in the field," Collura said.
JOB HIGHLIGHT
Sustainable Technology Coordinator with Oberlin College
   
Location: Oberlin, OH

Description: The successful candidate will play a central role in the development and management of hardware, software and data associated with "Environmental Dashboard," a novel technological system that provides community residents, faculty, students and facilities personnel with real-time feedback on energy, water, and other environmental conditions in residential and commercial buildings at the College in the in City of Oberlin.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
OU Senior is already a full-fledged entrepreneur  
 
Michael "Alex" Geiser is a senior in the College of Business at Ohio University and he already has launched one start-up company and he is working on a second.

Last year he created Cubic LLC, a cell phone accessory. During Start Up Week at Ohio University, he and a team developed a protective armor case for cell phones. For his work, he was named a finalist for the 2014 Student Entrepreneur of the Year competition at the university.

This year, he is working on a new product called Smart Headband.

During a conversation with WOUB's Tom Hodson, Alex explained his products and the opportunities for student entrepreneurs at the university.

Several students at Ohio University have already experienced unprecedented success in entrepreneurial development due to resources available here, according to Geiser.

Several entities on campus focus on student engagement in innovation. Those include the Center for Entrepreneurship, the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, the Scripps College of Communication, the Russ College of Engineering, the College of Fine Arts and the Ohio University Innovation Center.

These collective efforts extend beyond the classroom to include events, competitions, mentoring and entrepreneurial education.

Geiser is undecided about his plans after graduation but he assures WOUB that he is not finished with his innovation activities.

Listen to the full interview on WOUB.
STUDENT UPDATES 
APHL seeks new students to join organization    
  
The Association of Public Health Laboratories is seeking students to join their exciting organization that represents scientific professionals working to influence policy and progress in their respective fields. APHL works to shape national and global health outcomes by promoting the value and contributions of public health laboratories and continuouly improving the public health laboratory system and practice.

By joining APHL, students gain access to valuable resources like a weekly electronic newsletter, an online career center and volunteer opportunities to work to increase laboratory capacity in developing countries. Students interested in joining should go to www.aphl.org/member to fill out an application.

REMINDERS
National Geographic environmental photojournalist featured at GIS Open House   
  
Award-winning National Geographic photojournalist Dennis Dimick will lead the celebration of International GIS Day and Geography Awareness Week at Ohio University during the second annual GIS Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Steven L. Schoonover Center for Communication on November 18.

This event is free and open to the OHIO community and the public, and light refreshments will be available.

The special presentation by Dimick, executive environment editor of National Geographic, will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. in Schoonover Room 145. He will lead a narrated visual journey using photography, animations, maps and time-lapse satellite images that reveal the dramatic human-induced transformation of the planet, or as scientists have called it, the "Anthropocene Era."
 
For updates, follow www.ohio.edu/ce3 and @OhioGISDay!
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Attend the First Annual Saturday Symposium   
  
Join The Voinovich School Alumni Society, current students and community members for the first-annual Saturday Symposium on November 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at The Ridges, Building 21.

This educational mini-conference is intended for all students enrolled in or working with the Voinovich School. The Symposium will feature interactive sessions on topics such as finding an internship, engaging in meaningful networking, creating an effective elevator pitch, tailoring your resume, leveraging your internship and learning how to make yourself marketable to employers.

Represented organizations include Live Healthy Appalachia, TechGROWTH Ohio, Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs and more.

Refreshments and hors d'oeuvres will be available throughout the day.

For more information, or to RSVP, please contact Tracy Kelly at [email protected].
 
 ON THE HORIZON
First Annual Saturday Symposium
Nov. 14,
11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

The Ridges,
Building 21
More information

3 Minute Thesis�
Nov. 16, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Glidden 550
More information

Global Entrepreneurship Week Celebration: Randy Fleitman
Nov. 16, 5:30-7 p.m.
Baker Center Theater

Women in Entrepreneurship: Rene Banglesdorf
Nov. 19, 5:30-7 p.m.
Baker Center Theater

Fall Film Sustainability Series: Wrenched   
Nov. 18 7-9 p.m.
Athena Cinema
More information
  
GIS Day
Nov. 18, 11 a.m-3 p.m.
Dennis Dimick, Executive Editor of National Geographic
Schoonover Center  
More information
 
CE3 Brownbag Lunch Series
Nov. 20, 12 - 1 p.m.
Tracy Sabetta,
Initiative Consulting
The Ridges,
Building 22

Important Dates
Nov. 25
Thanksgiving Break begins
 VERBATIM
Voinovich School in the News   
 
"The foreign companies would have an opportunity for the first time to show the damages or economic harm from that outcome and get compensated for the lost economic opportunity that was denied to them because of the failure to receive necessary state permits."   
Michael Zimmer, Executive-in-Residence at the Voinovich School, quoted in Herald and News' article, "Trans-Pacific Partnership And The Environment: What's The Deal?."

Impact & Innovation is a newsletter for the students, faculty and professionals of the Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs.

Have an article idea? Contact Laura Alloway, Voinovich School Director of Marketing and Communications.
 


  Impact & Innovation is written and created by undergraduate students Diana Wiebe, M.C. Tilton, Jasmine Grillmeier, Daniel Kington, with photography by Jillyann Burns.
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