Kappa Alpha Omicron

Kappa Alpha Omicron (KAO), the student chapters and honor society in Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies/Science for the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA), is a new honor society called for in the IEA constitution. The Greek letters of the organization stand for the perspectives that can be used to address environmental issues: kosmos (the universe), anthropos (humanity), and oikos (household [“ekos”]). An active chapter of KAO may be chartered and established in any regularly incorporated and properly accredited four-year college or university granting the Bachelor's or higher degree (subject to such restrictions as may hereinafter be set forth in the By-Laws of the Association), whereas high schools and two-year colleges may apply for an affiliated membership. KAO would give high school and college/university students (and faculty) working on interdisciplinary environmental issues around the world an academic home and support, a hub for networking across disciplines and countries, and some much-needed recognition for the outstanding interdisciplinary work being performed around the world. An honor society in interdisciplinary environmental science and environmental studies would also help promote and encourage new students to enter environmental fields while providing a foundation to support the expansion of environmental research and contacts both here and abroad.

ΚΑΟ is presently under organization, and we hope to have the first chapters organized within the next year. By vote of the IEA, the Alpha chapter of ΚΑΟ will be assigned to Assumption College, the home college of the initial founders of the IEA. Other assigned chapters:

Beta:         Bethune-Cookman University (home university of the first elected President)

Gamma:    University of the Witwatersrand (home university of the first elected VP and current President)

Delta:        Marietta College (home college of the second elected VP/President-elect)

All other Single Letter chapters will be assigned to home institutions of the members of the original Advisory Council in order of application.