2008 Woodie Awards
Student sees a green future in Beijing
Yang one of only six Americans at conference
Anne Aaker
Issue date: 5/5/06 Section: Features
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When Lawrence senior Van Yang took the symposium on environmental topics offered last term, he was not aware of the opportunity it would provide him.
Judy Corbett, an important figure in sustainable development, gave a presentation on the importance of the green movement during class one day. Yang met with Corbett, speaking with her about the issue.
"She was really interesting to talk to, and she gave me a lot of Internet resources to look at regarding the green movement," Yang said. That was how he found out about the International Green Building Conference. Yang worked with professor Marcia Bjørnerud and Provost David Burrows to attain the funds to visit the conference.
Yang said that everything was set until "we found out that the website I'd gotten all the information about when and where the conference was going to be was from last year!" It all got worked out in the end, though. Fortunately, this year's conference was at nearly the same time of year as the 2005 conference.
Yang was able to attend the International Green Building Conference in Beijing, and, as he said, it was an eye-opener for several reasons. "There were a lot of important people there," Yang said.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York was in attendance, as well as China's Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. Yet there were no government representatives from the United States.
"There was no American government interest at all," Yang said, adding that it was interesting to note the lack of U.S. involvement, since so many government officials from several other countries-such as the Netherlands, India, Japan and Sweden-were at the conference.
Also in attendance were 60 experts and about 500 people, only six of who were American and Yang the only student.
The basis for the conference was partly the immense growth in China's economy and partly the growing rates of pollution, affecting national health and resources. "The building industry uses 30 percent of the country's resources and 40 percent of the energy," Yang explained.
Judy Corbett, an important figure in sustainable development, gave a presentation on the importance of the green movement during class one day. Yang met with Corbett, speaking with her about the issue.
"She was really interesting to talk to, and she gave me a lot of Internet resources to look at regarding the green movement," Yang said. That was how he found out about the International Green Building Conference. Yang worked with professor Marcia Bjørnerud and Provost David Burrows to attain the funds to visit the conference.
Yang said that everything was set until "we found out that the website I'd gotten all the information about when and where the conference was going to be was from last year!" It all got worked out in the end, though. Fortunately, this year's conference was at nearly the same time of year as the 2005 conference.
Yang was able to attend the International Green Building Conference in Beijing, and, as he said, it was an eye-opener for several reasons. "There were a lot of important people there," Yang said.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York was in attendance, as well as China's Vice Premier Wen Jiabao. Yet there were no government representatives from the United States.
"There was no American government interest at all," Yang said, adding that it was interesting to note the lack of U.S. involvement, since so many government officials from several other countries-such as the Netherlands, India, Japan and Sweden-were at the conference.
Also in attendance were 60 experts and about 500 people, only six of who were American and Yang the only student.
The basis for the conference was partly the immense growth in China's economy and partly the growing rates of pollution, affecting national health and resources. "The building industry uses 30 percent of the country's resources and 40 percent of the energy," Yang explained.
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