Urbana, Illinois
March 10, 2008
The
University of Illinois Agroecology/Sustainable Agriculture
Program (ASAP) has been active for almost 20 years. Recently the
program has created an interactive website to foster dialogue
and sharing of information on sustainability.
The site is located at
http://asap.sustainability.uiuc.edu.
"This new dimension will provide connection and integration,
with research on campus, students, Extension, and the
community," said Michelle Wander, director of ASAP. "With this
new technology, people will be able to come into the site and
post information and their opinions on topics that relate to
sustainability."
Wander said that visitors can come to the site and read anything
they want. "If you want to post information, list an opportunity
on your farm or write a book review, you have to have an
identity with your name and email address," said Wander. The
free membership creates a profile much like other social and
interactive websites.
"We don't mind if someone wants to post a discordant view, but
it has to be done with appropriate language. Opinion pieces need
to be civil and not slanderous," she said."Idea exchange on this
important topic is what we want to promote."
To become a member, visitors just click on join and it sends an
email to site manager Melissa McEwen. "It takes five seconds.
Then you're given a login and password.
"If people need training on how to post their event or article,
we'll provide it, either by phone or in person. If someone
doesn't feel confident about how to use the site, we can walk
them through how to post an item or whatever and like anything,
once they do it a few times, that confidence will build," said
Wander.
Wander said that she hopes the site will become a repository of
articles about the sustainable agriculture research being done
at the U of I that folks on and off campus can easily use. "We'd
like to feature their research that's relevant to agriculture
and environment, food systems, and organic agriculture, as well
as education that's related to agriculture and sustainability."
"Students are already posting items about their clubs and
activities, so that's good advertisement for them, but it also
lets the faculty and campus know what students are interested
in," she said. |
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