In 2000, the Rachel Carson Institute launched, under the direction of its former director, Dr. Ellen Dorsey, a new initiative on Women and the Environment. Building upon the successes of past college programming, a new and sustained project was developed to provide a more comprehensive set of programs. The goal of the initiative is to stimulate debate about gendered perspectives on sustainable development, address environmental issues of critical concern to women, and offer new analysis on critical policy issues at the nexus of women's concerns with the environment and the development of women's leadership in the environmental movement. Programs include: policy dialogues, lectures, special topics programs and leadership development initiatives. The Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham College is based at a historic women's liberal arts college; the alma mater of one of the most important female figures in the environmental movement.
 
The women and environment project was launched with WELL (Women's Environmental Leadership Legacy), a cyber exhibit of the history of the environmental movement told through women's eyes and profiles of women leaders. Additional seminars and lectures have sparked new and collaborative projects.
 
Early local programs have led to exciting new initiatives, like the Pittsburgh Women ACT! project. Launched in August 2001, Pittsburgh Women ACT! is an 18 month campaign to engage women in critical issues of environmental health and economic development. Launched with Penn Future, RCI will provide educational opportunities and support for implementation of the local action plan through monthly discussion forums.
 
International projects have also been developed. Planning for the WASTE Summit, Women Assessing the State of The Environment, began in 2000, looking forward to the ten year anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit and assessing what progress has been made since that time.
 
LAUNCH THE WASTE SUMMIT SITE

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