Sustainability Advocates and Veterinary Environmentalists (SAVE)
Sustainability Advocates and Veterinary Environmentalists
About Us
The Sustainability Advocates and Veterinary Environmentalists (SAVE) Committee pledges to establish and consistently maintain a professional and academic community upheld by sustainable environmental practices. Our role is to provide awareness and continuing education throughout the region, and to reduce our carbon footprint here at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine (LSU Vet Med).
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability is defined as “the human ability to ensure that the current development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
~ The Brundtland Report and Sustainable Development [1987]
Sustainability affects everything!
- Economy
- Environment
- Equity
- Politics
- Human Rights
- Education
Who We Are
The current SAVE team is comprised of people from various backgrounds, interests, and skill sets. We are a group of people who are passionate about the environment and want to facilitate a sustainable and green movement at LSU Vet Med!
Adding new members to the SAVE team will ensure a greater diversity of ideas and perspectives!
Lucy Barre
Class of 2026
Ashlee Lineberger
Class of 2025
Taina Rodriguez
Class of 2025
Kimberly Boykin
DVM, MS, Instructor of Zoological Medicine and PhD Candidate
Our Goals
As veterinarians, our role in conservation and sustainability is particularly essential in that we serve as the bridge between human and animal species, as well as the voice for all animals’ rights and welfare. One of the tenets of our oath is that we swear to use our knowledge for the benefit of society through conservation of animal resources. To that end, we seek to accomplish the following:
- Increase student participation at LSU Vet Med
- Provide opportunities to practice sustainable activities
- Incorporate community involvement
- Reduce LSU Vet Med's carbon footprint
- Bridge connections between animal health, human health, and environmental health
We plan to accomplish these goals through the utilization of working groups.
- Honey Bees: Working with Southern Italian Honey Bees near the LSU Vet Med campus to incorporate bee husbandry, medicine, and care into the curriculum
- Recycling: Collecting various forms of plastics and having appropriate locations for making
- Recycling/reusing more accessible for LSU Vet Med (not limited to just plastic but also includes all aspects of reduce, reuse, recycle (e.g., thrifting, paper, etc.).
- Food Waste: Reducing food waste at LSU Vet Med by utilizing a composting program with Fluker Farms and by collaborating with 3 Little Pigs, LSU Vet Med's dining hall
- Outreach and Advocacy: Working with SAVE in efforts to involve the community in educating about sustainability through social media, lectures, and events
Sustainable Development Goals
Dean's Approval and Support
Dean Garden shows full support of the S.A.V.E. committee and will oversee all activity.
Dean Garden recently joined a national task force on climate change. The dean's commitment and support of the SAVE mission will help ensure that the sustainability goals of our committee and of the School of Veterinary Medicine are aligned.
Contact Us
Student Chapter of the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead