LOCH SHELDRAKE — With solar panels, a wind turbine and a working farm, SUNY Sullivan wants to be the face of sustainability in the county and they're leading by example.

The school recently held a symposium where they brought in forward thinking speakers to talk about the current state of sustainability and the environment.

The afternoon was emceed by the SUNY Sullivan's Interim Director of Sustainability Larry Reeger who was able to bring in three speakers from different fields on the theme of “Planting the Seeds for a Sustainable Future.”

Sam Wright, Program Director and Staff Attorney of Water Defense spoke on “The State of Water.”

“Most fresh water is not accessible to us on earth. Water does not care about political lines. It exists according to its own laws and physics,” said Wright. He went on to discuss the chemicals that industry has produced years ago still exist in the environment and finds its way into our drinking water.

“Water is a common good that we all share, we need to plan carefully on how we use water. The laws we have are only as good as the legislators are willing to keep them up to date and the regulators enforcing them,” said Wright.

Rabbi Lawrence Zierler, President/CEO of Sayva Associates, Inc., spoke on the topic entitled, “Sustaining Safe and Inviting Home Environments: New Ideas for Aging in Place.”

“We have to address the problem with aging in this county,” said Zierler. “We will not be able to sustain the growing aging population and provide arrangements that will not only honor but empower and realize that this experienced population can contribute to this society.”

Zierler went on to speak about the advances of “Chapter three” homes, where a home is built with disabled or aging person in mind. The homes are built on ground level and with everything catered to the ease of mobility.

Wendy Gordon, Founder and CEO of 3P Partners, introduced her new app “PIPs Rewards: Powering Student Engagement.”

Gordon created an app that will be able to reward the user with points for doing things that are environment and health conscience.

A test program is currently in place at the University of Colorado Boulder where students used the app during the day to track their activities and the app was able to reward the user.

“This app was used to boost student engagement and get them involved,” said Gordon. “We are trying to create value through engagement...the good is reinforced with value rewards that deliver social and economic benefits.”

The sponsors for the symposium were Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Mullally Tractor Sales who provided two Gators to provide tours of the Hope Farm, and Sullivan Dining Services.