About the Center |
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| The partnership between Vulcan Materials Company and Samford University began in 1993 with a grant from Vulcan Materials Company Foundation, resulting in the Environmental Management Masters Degree in the Biology Department. The relationship continues and in 2001 a $310,000 grant from the Foundation established the Vulcan Materials Center for Environmental Stewardship and Education. |  Dedicated October 10, 2002, the center is housed in the Samford Sciencenter. It was funded by a $310,000 grant from Vulcan Materials Company, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. |
| This most recent
partnership encompasses three areas of strategic importance: education,
environmental stewardship and innovative solutions in the area of
environmental management. The Center’s mission is to promote
growth of environmental science education and research within the
Samford community and the Southeast through planning innovative projects,
hosting distinguished speakers, and fostering partnerships with local
and regional businesses.
Vulcan Materials Center is housed on Samford’s campus in the Sciencenter [see campus maps] which opened in the Fall of 2001. The three and one-half story building includes “state of the art” teaching and research facilities, a planetarium and conservatory featuring medicinal plants and natural products. Highlights from the Center2002The Distinguished Speakers series features experts from the areas of environmental protection, management, and policy. The Vulcan Materials Center and the School of Journalism hosted Natalie Pawelski, CNN Environmental Correspondent to speak at “A Symposium on Environmental Journalism.” Her topic, “Deadlines, Hairspray and Oozing Stories: A TV Reporter Tackles the Environment” gave students an opportunity to learn the pros and cons of environmental news reporting. A panel discussion included a variety of viewpoints. The Vulcan Materials Center was dedicated on May 10, 2002. A reception and ribbon cutting ceremony took place in the atrium of the Sciencenter and was attended by Vulcan Materials Company employees and Samford University faculty and staff.. Dr. Corts, President of Samford University and Don James, President, Vulcan Materials Company delivered addresses regarding the success and importance of their new partnership. Each stressed the importance university and corporate education will have on future leaders as they try to find balance between corporate growth and environmental protection. Following the dedication, Lynn Scarlett, assistant secretary of policy, management and budget for the U.S. Department of the Interior spoke on “Alabama Business and Environmental Responsibility.” A panel with individuals representing area businesses, the Alabama Environmental Management Commission and the Alabama Pulp and Paper Council discussed current issues related to the environment A recent gift from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham in the amount of $20,000 enables Samford and its biology department to begin implementing a project with Friend of Shades Creek, Birmingham Audubon Society and The Alabama Rivers Alliance to bring a portion of Shades Creek’s biodiversity back to its natural state and create an area for outdoor teaching and a bird sanctuary. Workshops will be held for teachers to take environmental education back to their classrooms. Ralph K. Schwartzbeck, P.E., Manager, Engineering Design and Analysis, Enercon Service, Inc, Atlanta, GA served as Vulcan Materials Center’s 2002 Summer Scholar. He researched and wrote an eight chapter monograph on “The Role of Risk Analysis Management in U. S. Nuclear Reactor Safety and its Regulation.” The objective of the monograph is to produce a document that will capture the actual risks of the technology and the history, current practices and futures uses of risk analysis in nuclear reactor safety and its regulation in the United States. 2003The Vulcan Materials Center in partnership with Friends of Shades Creek, Alabama Rivers Alliance and the Birmingham Audubon Society received a grant in the amount of $20,000 from The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham.. The funding is being used to begin revitalizing the ecosystem surrounding the portion of Shades Creek owned by Samford University. The property is located across Lakeshore Drive from the campus and will serve as a place to educate the community on the importance of caring for the ecosystem in an urban environment. 2004Vulcan Materials Center Distinguished Speakers Series The Vulcan Materials Center Distinguished Speakers Series hosted a seminar in the Sciencenter Planetarium on August 5. The guest lecturer was Dr. Linda S. Spedding, from the United Kingdom , an internationally known expert in the field of business risk management and due diligence. Dr. Spedding’s topic was, “Environmental Risk and the Corporation: a transatlantic dialogue. A panel discussion followed with panel members drawing from the corporate, academic, and regulatory fields. The VMC continues a dialogue with Dr. Spedding in hopes of pursuing additional ventures. Environmental Management Systems Seminar The Vulcan Materials Center hosted a free one-day seminar on October 14, sponsored by the Business Council of Alabama. The VMC provided meeting space, support personnel and lunch. The seminar addressed the role of an Environment Management System in improving operations, mitigating the potential for environmental accidents, and making companies more competitive by lowering risk. Guest speakers were Bob Danhauser, EMS Program Manage, AQA International, LLC, and Bob Polino, Associate, Malcolm Pirnie. Approximately 20-25 people took advantage of the seminar. Jefferson County Storm Water Management Water Festival Samford University Sciences/Vulcan Material Center hosted the second annual Jefferson County Water Festival on October 25 - 26, 2004 . Over the two-day period, 1,828 fourth grade students, teachers and chaperones, from 81 classes and 25 elementary schools, from both Birmingham and Jefferson County Schools participated. The students were taught water responsibility through the means of three hands-on activities. The activities were Water Cycle Bracelets, Edible Aquifer and Fantastic Filtration. The activities took place in classrooms and biology labs of the Sciencenter. The students, teachers, and parents were treated to a magic show performed by the Fishing Magicians. The magic show was financed by The Vulcan Materials Center. The project was supported by a total of thirteen agencies. Shades Creek Revitalization Revitalization efforts continue along Shades Creek, across from the entrance to Samford University campus. Friends of Shades Creek, Samford Biology professors, and volunteers planted 1,000 herbaceous plants and 150 native trees in the new Samford Butterfly Habitat in the Shades Creek revitalization area. It is hoped that the butterfly friendly plants will attract Gulf Fritillaries, Cloudless Sulfurs, Monarchs and Swallowtails within the next year. The revitalization project and butterfly habitat is being funded by a grant through the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Non native species are routinely eradicated by spraying with an environmentally friendly herbicide.
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