Ithaca College

Susan Kinne worked stateside for many years in the electronics and the semiconductor industry. In 1989 she moved to Nicaragua to join the National Engineering University, where she became a promoter of human empowerment through the sustainable use of resources, particularly renewable energies.  With her students she co-founded Grupo Fénix, which led to forming the Alternative Energy Sources Program at the UNI, the business Suni Solar and Las Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa (the Solar Women of Totogalpa). 

Reyna Lopez is the current president of Las Mujeres Solares. She comes to this role after eight years of involvement with the cooperative in a variety of roles, one of the most defining being as part of the Solar Cooker construction committee, where she not only builds solar cookers but teaches local and international groups how to build them. She is also a community health leader with an active role in the village of Sabana Grande’s child development program.

On Monday, October 20, Susan and Reyna will be describing the ways that solar energy development, agro-ecological restoration, and micro-enterprise efforts have transformed the community of Sabana Grande in rural Nicaragua. We will have a prototype of the solar oven they developed on display as well.

Please join us at 3:45 in CNS 112 to meet the speakers and enjoy sustainable snacks supplied by Sodexo, and then at 4:00 for the presentation! 

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Carol Hansen at chansen@ithaca.edu or (607) 274-1822. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.