Whitman College

Scope

 To create a comprehensive, up-to-date wiki about Whitman College programs, resources and activities related to sustainability and climate change. The wiki will be actively used and updated by the Whitman College community, and will provide a model for other colleges and universities to create a network of schools sharing similar information and best practices.

Schedule

Below is an outline for the monthly goals of the three month internship program.  The monthly goals progress from article identification and writing to local media interaction. 

Article structure and format

There are several basic structural elements to a wiki page.  While there are different ways to structure a wiki page, using consistent structural elements maintains a format that is easy for readers to recognize and identify.  (See "How to Layout a Wiki Page") Basic Climate Lab page elements include:

• Title: The title identifies the subject of the article (ex., “Solar Lanterns”).
• Introduction: The introduction defines the article’s subject, places it in the context of climate change, and provides an overview of significant related issues.
• Sections: Sections and subsections organize information in articles around different topics or subtopics. Sections should be organized consistently and with a sense of progression, starting generally with the most accessible information. For example, an article about solar lanterns might follow its intro with sections such as: “Background,” “Technology basics,” “Applications,” “Advantages,” “Barriers,” “Costs,” “Footnotes,” and “Resources.”
  • To create a section: Simply change the Style in the page editor and type the header.
• Footnotes: Footnotes refer to specific passages of an article and cite the sources for those passages. All pages on the wiki should have a Footnotes section and should cite at least three different credible sources.
  • To insert a footnote: Move the cursor to where you want to insert the footnote in the text and click the “Insert Citation” button. In the pop-up dialogue box, type the full footnote reference information and click “Insert.”
• Resources: Resources are relevant information sources on the article topic not specifically covered by footnotes.  

While there is a basic structure for wiki articles and some fairly universal sections, particular articles may call for different or additional sections and subsections.

Whitman College wiki page outline

•  Campus Climate Challenge
  • GHG audit
  • cool the schools
  • environmentalism and spirituality
• Campus Greens
• Environmental Education for Kids (EEK)
• Organic Garden
• Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF)
  • microgreens project
• Outdoor Environmental Leadership Fund (OELF)
  • composting project (recently approved)
• Youth Adventure Program (YAP)
• Network for Young Walla Walla
• Action For Animals
• The Outhouse
• Conservation Committee
• Recycling program
• various LEED certified buildings (Reid, Science, Baker Ferguson, Fouts, Sherwood)
• use of renewable energy
  • 37 wind turbines
  • 20% of energy from Pacific Power Blue Sky which supports renewable energy
  • recent reduction of water use through more efficient washers and less dishes (no trays)
• environmental studies program
• encouragement to bring bikes, not cars (more bike racks than parking spaces)

Resources

• Please check the "How To" section, which should answer many formatting and editing questions.
• Watch the Climate Lab How to Create a New Wiki Page video. (Note: See the handout "Starting Your Climate Lab Wiki Article" for updated information on footnotes.)