Dickinson Farm's Matt Steiman Honored With Sustainability Lifetime Achievement Award
Matt Steiman (right), energy projects manager at Dickinson's farm, recently hosted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, to discuss sustainability issues and the farm's biodigester operations. Photo by Dan Loh.
Award honors a career dedicated to environmental practices and sustainable stewardship
Matt Steiman, energy projects manager at the Dickinson College Farm, was recently awarded the prestigious Epstein Lifetime Achievement Award. The award, presented annually by the Sustainable Energy Fund, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing sustainable energy practices.
"I'm humbled to be recognized with the Epstein Award," says Steiman, noting that Eric Epstein and the Sustainable Energy Fund helped launch his career in renewable energy more than 20 years ago. "Receiving this honor feels like coming full circle, but there's still plenty of work to do—I'm not done yet!"
Steiman, who co-founded the 80-acre educational production farm in 2007 with the farm's director, Jenn Halpin, has been a driving force in the field of sustainable agriculture for decades. He has been instrumental in implementing numerous renewable energy systems at the farm, including solar thermal, PV, electric vehicles and a biogas system.
Steiman's passion for renewable energy began at Wilson College, where he was an original trainee in the Sustainable Energy Fund Solar Scholars program. Since then, he has been building and teaching practical renewable energy solutions to students of all ages, and recently he and the farm hosted Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to discuss the farm's groundbreaking biodigester project.
"Our waste-to-energy biodigester finally has life after several years in development, and we are thrilled to be putting it to work," he says. "The pursuit of sustainable energy at Dickinson's farm has been a team effort, and numerous students, apprentices and colleagues have shared the load on this long and exciting journey."
The Epstein Lifetime Achievement Award honors Steiman's commitment to environmental stewardship and his unwavering belief in the power of sustainable practices. His work has had a lasting impact on the Dickinson and wider community and has inspired countless others to join the movement toward a more sustainable future.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPS
Published September 2, 2024