Anderson+Draft+Background+Section+(drawing+on+timeline)

Since before the 1970's, students and others have been working hard on various environmental issues, including pollution, energy, deforestation, and biodiversity. In 1970, the first Earth Day was held to raise awareness and show how many people were involved in the environmental movement. College students around the US were involved in the environmental movement. The Clean Air and Clean Water Acts were passed.

College students also formed environmental clubs on their campuses to raise awareness on and off the campus, and to provide a space for which action, etc. could be discussed and planned. These clubs were at times part of regional or national coalitions. Students were also concerned about the impacts of science and technology on human life and the environment. One organization in the US that was founded in 1979 with the mission to [|"][|promote social responsibility in science and technology"] was Student Pugwash. RPI had a chapter; that club became [|EcoLogic] in the mid 1990's. In addition to being RPI's oldest environmental club, EcoLogic is one of RPI's longest-running clubs.

Other organizations/coalitions devoted to promoting college sustainability have been formed. In 2001, the California Student Sustainability Coalition was formed. The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education was founded in 2005.