Here at UCLA, students have an amazing opportunity to research different environmental topics with peers and share them with other students and activists in hopes of bringing about change and improving the conditions of the environment from local to global levels. Eight of these action research teams participated in a presentation session in Reiber Fireside Lounge on May 27th which was put on by UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and the Education for Sustainable Living Program. It was free to students and there was a huge variety of topics that were addressed by these research teams, which offered attendees a wide range of ideas to think about and get interested in pursuing as well.
I am the Delta Gamma Director of Intramural Sports, so the presentation on whether or not the installation of Astroturf on the Intramural Field was particularly interesting to me, and the sustainability effects that would result from this effort surprised me. The main argument in favor of laying turf on the field is the amount of water that would be saved since Astroturf does not require watering for its up keeping. As Southern California is constantly in a state of drought and Los Angeles has no local source of fresh water, being smart with our water usage is imperative in keeping the environment strong and respecting its resources. Although the production of Astroturf uses other resources like crude oil to make the plastic that the turf is made of, and the purchase and installation itself can be pricy, the research team showed that it is a smart investment in the long run. In one year, UCLA facilities management would save billions of gallons of water just by ending the need to water the Intramural Fields on a daily basis. Not only does this proposition save immense amounts of water, but it also saves money. California has decided to raise the price of water, so UCLA will save money on its water bills every year after the turf installation. Additionally, the University will save on its human resources as it will require much less maintenance to keep the field alive and functioning for all of the activities that are held on the grass.
This team not only conducted research in regards to the environmental sustainability that will result from Astroturf, but they surveyed the individuals that will be directly affected by this change; the students and athletes of UCLA. They randomly surveyed almost 300 students and found that 71% did not mind or they fully endorsed the installation of turf. They also performed a more narrow survey of the athletes who use the field most often, the rugby, lacrosse, and soccer teams, and the results were almost the same with 70% of these student athletes who do not mind or who support the change to turf.
As long as UCLA has the funds, or can raise enough money to enact this eco-friendly project, it should definitely be considered and worked towards in the near future. As a soccer player, I always enjoy playing games on Astroturf with its divot-free surface and fast pace, but knowing that the Intramural Field’s turf is saving water, money, and the environment would make the game that much better. Thanks to environmentally conscious students and researchers, the University of California Los Angeles is well on it way towards a more sustainable campus and a better future.
Shannon Skelton
