Laura Barnhart Participates in National Wildlife Federation Program

Laura Barnhart

WOOSTER, Ohio - Laura Barnhart, a senior philosophy major and geology minor at The College of Wooster, recently participated in the National Wildlife Federation's Women for Sustainable Development Project in Washington, D.C.

This highly selective program educates women about sustainable development, particularly population and environmental issues, and encourages them to move into leadership roles in the environmental field. During the training seminars, participants met with professionals working in the sustainable development fields, including Sarah Craven of the United Nations Population Fund and Caron Whitaker of the National Wildlife Federation. Workshops focused on such topics as campaign organizing, media relations, and the development of action plans for individual projects.

Barnhart, a senior from London, Ohio, first became interested in environmental issues when she joined her local 4-H club, which was started by her father. One of her most vivid memories is from a field trip to the Big Darby River. "I remember collecting samples from the river," she says. " The leaders talked to us about the health of the water and the impact of humans on the earth."

Following that initial experience, Barnhart's concern for the environment blossomed, and she made a conscious decision to become more involved. For the past two summers, she worked with federal land agencies (the U.S. Park Service and the U.S. Forest Service) on sustainable development. One of her primary concerns is the inclination to make the environment a partisan issue. "I think it is deplorable that this always seems to become political," she says. "We all live off the land. Making this a Republican and Democratic issue is no longer an option. Humans are one of many species who rely on the environment to sustain them. It's not something we can turn on and off. "

Barnhart will now begin organizing an event, either on campus or in the community, to increase public awareness about international sustainable development. "I'm not sure what I will do yet," she says, "but I hope to use the logistical skills from the workshop to plan something that will have an impact in our area."

Lori Bettison-Varga, associate professor of geology and associate dean for research and grants, expects Barnhart to greatly benefit from her experience. "Laura has the knowledge, energy, and passion necessary to bring community attention to the issue of sustainable development," she says. "I look forward to working with her as she develops her project this spring. "