Colgate students have fanned out across the globe to apply their liberal arts know-how in a variety of real-world settings. They are writing back to campus to keep our community posted on their progress. This article was written by Grace Thomas ’17, interning at the Glimmerglass Festival, where Francesca Zambello ’78, H’12 serves as artistic and general director.
I am fortunate to be working this summer as a member of the Summer Field School within the Upstate Institute, pursuing my interests in environmental sustainability.
This opportunity blends academic research with a more traditional working setting. My goals for the summer are to assess and advise the staff at the internationally famous Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, N.Y., on a variety of sustainable initiatives, from water use to energy efficiency, with a host of projects in between.
Picturesque and rural, the nonprofit Glimmerglass campus is miraculously able to support an increase of 30 full-time staff this year — to more than 300 summer participants for the festival. They produce four main operas and a number of side performances, drawing impressive audience members like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Sondheim. Glimmerglass staff are creative, passionate, and above all, proud of the work they are doing in the opera world and for the community in which they live.
To initiate sustainability efforts, I will collect and access preliminary data on the resource usage of the Glimmerglass campus and assist staff in achieving short-term sustainability focused projects. The data I am collecting is focused on energy, water, and waste and will result in baseline information that will allow the staff to begin making choices regarding efficiency initiatives (low flush toilets, updated lighting) and renewable energies. I also hope to research implementation of a garden, more straightforward recycling systems, and greening concessions for the opera house.
In the meanwhile, I have made some great connections within the company and local community. I recently spent an afternoon with Mohican Farm’s Bob Sutherland learning about advanced local composting operations.
I hope my work this summer will help staff and visitors to the Glimmerglass Festival engage with the beautiful natural environment more mindfully and responsibly and that I can help aid the staff in making cost-effective, meaningful choices about greening their operation.
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