KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥� April 12, 2011 鈥� The 溏心vlog免费B站 has entered a partnership with Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, Pa., one of the world鈥檚 most energy-efficient and sustainable conservatories.
The five-year partnership will help to provide information on a proposed energy-efficient conservatory at 溏心vlog免费B站 and enhance 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 and Phipps Conservatory鈥檚 educational programs.
Richard Piacentini, executive director of Phipps Conservatory, a 溏心vlog免费B站 College of Pharmacy alumnus, and catalyst of the collaboration, is looking forward to sharing information.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 has a rich history in natural plant product chemistry. At Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, we are very interested in the knowledge the University can bring to our exhibits, educational programs, and in particular, to our upcoming exhibit, Tropical Forest: India, focusing on Indian vegetation,鈥� said Piacentini. 鈥淎s an additional component of the partnership, we are eager to share with them our knowledge of green buildings, conservatories and medicinal plant collections.鈥�
溏心vlog免费B站 President David M. Dooley and 溏心vlog免费B站 alumni attended a recent event held at Phipps in Pittsburgh to highlight the new partnership.
Dooley said partnerships such as these benefit both parties and provide great opportunities for 溏心vlog免费B站 students and faculty to work with leading institutions outside Rhode Island鈥檚 borders.
鈥淲e are delighted with Director Piacentini鈥檚 interest in having the conservatory work with our students and faculty in the College of Pharmacy and the College of the Environment and Life Sciences on critical issues such as sustainability and medicinal plant science. These are the kinds of relationships that can transform our students鈥� experiences here at 溏心vlog免费B站 as they work on important issues for our country and the world. I am very grateful for the hospitality extended by the conservatory to our 溏心vlog免费B站 contingent. I know that the first meeting was only the beginning of a very exciting partnership.鈥�
Ian Lester, lead information technologist for 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 biomedical science program and co-chair of the pharmacy building committee, is excited about discussions with Phipps related to energy efficient techniques for a proposed conservatory and medicinal garden at the new College of Pharmacy building now under construction.
Ronald P. Jordan, dean of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 College of Pharmacy, shares similar sentiments about the partnership.
鈥淧hipps Conservatory and 溏心vlog免费B站 share many of the same values including the desire to educate and promote sustainable practices in gardening, landscaping, healthy nutrition and the use of natural products and herbs to promote health. 溏心vlog免费B站 will extend our research and teaching to Pittsburgh and beyond with this partnership.鈥�
In addition, 溏心vlog免费B站 is facilitating communication between Phipps Conservatory and international experts regarding the upcoming exhibit focusing on Indian vegetation. Along with networking resources, 溏心vlog免费B站 will also make prior research on the topic available to the conservatory.
Although for some Rhode Islanders the almost 10-hour drive might seem far, Lester points out various ways the two organizations have been able to avoid expensive and time-consuming travel.
鈥淎s part of our collaboration, we will be developing joint teaching opportunities, either physically or virtually by video conference. With the new pharmacy building, we will include the necessary technology to conduct these virtual meetings and will encourage the conservatory to do the same. If we use the technology in the right way, it negates the distance factor between the two organizations,鈥� said Lester.
Pictured above
Phipps Conservatory. Photo Credit: Alexander Denmarsh
This release was written by Alicia Blain, an intern in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Department of Communications and Marketing and a public relations major.