Pictured Above: Emma Jacobs is a senior majoring in environmental science and policy with a concentration in sustainability and a minor in geography.
Courtesy of Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder
By Edyn Gottlieb
For Emma Jacobs,“think global, act local” is more than just a saying.
It’s a way of life.
Jacobs is a senior majoring in environmental science and policy with a concentration in sustainability and a minor in geography.
Born in Philadelphia, Jacobs moved to Florida five years ago with her mom and siblings. She lived in Miami, then Deland, before making her latest move to St. Petersburg.
Jacobs has found her groove since moving to St. Petersburg and feels at home.
“I just got a hammock, so I’ve joined the St. Pete hammock culture,” Jacobs said. “I take it up to North Shore Park and I just read, hammock and watch the dolphins. I love the beach.”
The programs offered were key in Jacobs’ decision to pursue her degree at USF St. Petersburg.
“A big reason I chose USF was the Honors Program,” Jacobs said.“I knew I wanted to be in at least one nontraditional class in my college years.
“They also had the environmental science program, so I was really attracted to that. Also we’re on the water so not only is it a beautiful campus but it has great resources if you’re into marine science.”
Jacobs joined the Student Green Energy Fund during her first semester.
“I joined SGEF because I knew I was really passionate about the environment and I was really excited about being a person that brings solutions to these problems that I had learned about in (high school),” Jacobs said.
Students aren’t the only ones who benefit from SGEF’s efforts.
“SGEF is a hub for student led sustainability projects that benefit the USF St. Petersburg campus and St. Petersburg community as a whole.” Jacobs said. “It provides you with a really unique opportunity to get involved and spearhead your own projects.”
After joining SGEF, Jacobs held several leadership positions and now serves as the proposal advisor, which “oversees the proposal, approval, and implementation process of student-led sustainability projects.”
Jacobs spearheaded her own project with the help of Andrea Campos, USF St. Petersburg’s SG governor.
Jacobs and Campos’ project, the installation of the ORCA biodigester, is currently operating in The Reef’s (dining hall) dishroom on the other side of the dish return conveyor belt, and was built to avoid the methane production associated with food breaking down in landfills.
“It’s essentially a mechanical stomach,” Jacobs said. “You put your food waste in it, anything from apple cores to leftover spaghetti, and there are microorganisms that digest the food within. The nutrients from the food exits the machine in a nutrient rich water and it goes through the pipeline to the sewage treatment plant.”
“Emma’s hard work and dedication to the ORCA project led to not only to an increased awareness of green initiatives, but to a more sustainable campus,” Campos said. “Emma led the student engagement and education of the project, where she succeeded in increasing awareness of students, staff, and faculty.
“The campus is extremely appreciative of her work.”
Since the last report in February, the ORCA biodigester has diverted 5,465 pounds of food waste from going into the landfills.
Courtesy of Emma Jacobs
Jacobs is working on a project with USF St. Petersburg’s Bishop Center for Ethical Leadership to develop an internship program for students to work as consultants for B corporations.
Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest set of standards for verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose according to corporations.
She hopes to transition this work into her career.
“I want to work as a B corporation consultant but on a professional level, helping businesses get signed as B corporations,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs also wants to engage in “some sort of sustainability consulting, because I really believe in the power of business to create change.”
