Ball State University Announces 2025 CERES Forum: Innovation for Sustainable Communities

Topics: College of Architecture and Planning, Miller College of Business, Muncie, Speakers, Student Activities

January 23, 2025

Ball State University's Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) will host the 2025 CERES Forum, a lecture series focused on "Innovation for Sustainable Communities."

The forum will feature nationally recognized experts who bring unique perspectives on sustainability, community development, and innovative practices.

The events-free and open to the public-will take place at 1 p.m. on select Wednesdays in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom, and include:

• Jan. 29: Mark Roseland, professor of sustainable community solutions at Arizona State University and author of Towards Sustainable Communities. He will discuss how Community Asset Frameworks can drive sustainable development.
  
  
• Feb. 12: Ronald Fry, PhD, professor of organizational behavior at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. He will share insights into the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) method he co-created, emphasizing collaboration for strategic change.
  
  
• March 26: Jens Molbak, founder and former CEO of COINSTAR and current CEO of the nonprofit New Impact. He will explore innovative tools and business models that support sustainable development.

Hosted by CERES, the series is made possible through the generous support of the Bracken Environmental Fund and is sponsored by the Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning (ECAP) and the Miller College of Business.

"The CERES Forum highlights the critical importance of innovation and collaboration in addressing sustainability challenges," said David Ferguson, ECAP dean. "By bringing together leading voices in the field, CERES continues to serve as a vital resource for advancing knowledge and fostering meaningful solutions for our communities and beyond."

The Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) at Ball State is an interdisciplinary unit dedicated to addressing energy and resource use, conservation, and alternative solutions. Its mission includes investigating contemporary energy issues, implementing innovative ideas, and sharing findings with professionals, educators, policy planners, and the public.

For more information, visit the CERES website, email [email protected], or call 765-285-1135.