STC to hold two-day environmental conference

McALLEN — The Pecan Campus Biology Club at South Texas College will host an Environmental and Sustainability Conference from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday to help promote eco-friendly habits and to provide sustainable living tips to the local community.

The featured seminar topics range from the human impact on the local environment to sustainability projects in the Rio Grande Valley to wildlife conservation.

The conference is an opportunity to learn about the impact that water resources and wildlife conservation have on our community. Six local experts will share their insights and research on how green initiatives contribute to successful and healthy communities. All of the presentations are free and open to the public.

On Saturday, Ouina Rutledge, director of the recycling center for the city of McAllen, will talk about sustainability and environment, and the current programs, plans and strategies employed by the city to promote sustainability; Jeff George from South Padre Island's Sea Turtle Inc. will discuss sea turtle conservation; and Chris Lash, the director of Keep McAllen Beautiful, will lead a discussion about recycling and sustainability.

A second group of speakers will present on Nov. 22 at the school. That event will feature presentations by Laura De La Garza, a former watershed coordinator for Arroyo Colorado Watership Partnership; Dr. Hudson De Yoe, a biology professor at the University of Texas-Pan American; and Bertha Nassiff, a coordinator of public education for the city of McAllen.

All presentations will be in the Cooper Center for Communications Arts at STC's Pecan Campus, located at 3201 W. Pecan Blvd., McAllen. The Cooper Center is on the north side of Pecan Boulevard, across the street from the main portion of the campus.