Can a childhood spent in nature spark a lifelong passion for sustainability? For Neil Drobny, it certainly did.

Neil Drobny is the program director of the Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact at Western Michigan University. Neil's interest in sustainability began in his childhood, when he was a Boy Scout. He worked as a consultant at Battelle for many years, helping companies to implement sustainable practices. He joined the faculty at Ohio State University in 2004 to teach sustainability courses. He founded the Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact in 2022. The Bronco Challenge is a competition for students to develop innovative solutions to sustainability problems. Neil also talks about the importance of sustainability in business and the challenges of getting businesses to adopt more sustainable practices.

Episode in a glance

-Introducing Neil Drobny
-Neil's Early Influences: The Boy Scout Ethos
-Navy Experience and First Patent for A Toilet for the Antarctic
-Career at Battelle & Environmental Projects
-Sustainability in Business & the Rise of Corporate Social Responsibility
-Consulting Career with ERM & Working with Companies to Implement Sustainable Practices
-Starting ERM in the Midwest
-Developing Sustainability Curricula at Ohio State University
-The EEDS Program
-Common Misconceptions About Sustainability
-The Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

About Neil Drobny

Neil Drobny is a passionate advocate for sustainability with a diverse background in business, academia, and environmental consulting. He is the program director of the Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact at Western Michigan University, a program that empowers student teams to develop innovative solutions to pressing environmental problems. Neil was a key contributor in the development of the EEDS (Environment, Economy, Development, and Sustainability) program at Ohio State University, which has become a leading sustainability-focused major. Neil has a long history of working with businesses and organizations to adopt more sustainable practices, bringing a deep understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of environmental issues. He is dedicated to fostering a new generation of sustainability leaders and inspiring change through hands-on learning and impactful programs.

Connect with Neil Drobny & The Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

→ https://wmich.edu/sustainability/initiatives/broncochallenge

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