His contributions to Columbia's environmental stewardship efforts are many. This academic year, Jason Patinkin, CC '09, has been a coordinator of Earth Week activities, a participant in Earth Tutors, and a promoter of campus use of biodiesel fuel.

For his commitment to campus sustainability and his work on its behalf, Patinkin will receive 25 Flex dollars and is this month's Green Lion.

Early in this academic year, Jason Patinkin, CC '09, says he found himself pretty much the lone member of EarthCo, a campus group dedicated to sustainability issues and community service.

But the Chicago native -- whose passion is the wilderness and wildlife and whose major is environmental biology – hung in there.

Because of graduations and shifts in interests in last year's group, this "has been a rebuilding year," Patinkin says, "both with membership and our volunteer base."

According to Patinkin, the group now numbers "about 12 members on a pretty regular basis." They've focused on building relationships with other groups, especially at Barnard, efforts he describes as a "big success."

Among this year's projects, Patinkin is especially proud of EarthCo's work on environmental topics with an enrichment class at the Urban Science Academy in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The project, called Earth Tutors, originated several years ago with Columbia students who have since graduated. Patinkin says that EarthCo picked up the work with fifth and sixth graders in the second semester this year.

As this year's Earth Week winds down, Patinkin, who was its main coordinator, describes "a great turnout" and events that "have gone incredibly smoothly – with more numbers than we would have thought."

Patinkin is quick to point out that Earth Week has been a highly collaborative undertaking -- with BarnardEarth, Columbia Eco-Reps, Students for Environmental and Economic Justice, CoreFoods Coop, Columbia Students for Animal Protection, Columbia University Environmental Biology Society, and the Bhakti Club.

Next fall Patinkin says EarthCo will pick up another project they started this year – use of biodiesel fuel on campus. The group has been working with Environmental Stewardship Director Nilda Mesa, transportation, Housing & Dining, and facilities representatives. A SEAS Gateway project team of first-year students is now designing a process to make the vision a reality, either in powering shuttle buses or grounds maintenance equipment.

No matter the range of sustainability issues and involvements that have been part of Patinkin's work with EarthCo, he's clear on one thing. "My focus is conservation," he says.

"Wilderness land, animals, biodiversity. As a kid that's what it was. Now I still love being outdoors. Climate change may define our generation, but ultimately for me, it's biodiversity and wilderness."