Sonoma State University hosts a month long celebration of Earth Day to promote sustainable lifestyles on and off campus.
Special Earth Day celebrations include lectures, a local creek clean-up, a tour of SSU's Environmental Technology Center, screenings of educational, environmental documentaries and a special live music performance.
The School of Science and Technology features two talks for Earth Week 2009.
On Thursday, April 23 from 4-5:30 p.m., the Engineering Science Department presents a public lecture on "Energy Technology and the Carbon Imperative: The Case for a Bold New Vision" with Professor Alexandra von Meier, Department of Environmental Studies and Planning. It will be held in the Cerent Engineering Science Complex, Salazar 2009A.
Dr. von Meier will argue for the abolition of fossil fuel combustion and discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by different technologies and strategies to this end. Specifically, she will analyze issues of scale, coordination and infrastructure that need to be addressed for carbon capture and sequestration, nuclear power, and a portfolio of renewable resources. For more information, call (707) 664-2030.
On Wednesday, April 29, the Mathematics Department features a colloquium lecture called "Mathematics, Energy, and Climate Change" with Juan Meza of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Darwin 103 from 4-5 p.m. Meza will discuss the connections between mathematics, the development of new and efficient energy sources and methods for analyzing the effects of climate change. For more information, call (707) 664-2368.
A tour of SSU's unique Environmental Technology Building is offered at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24. The ETC features include passive solar heating and cooling, daylighting, advanced window systems, "smart building" control technologies, photovoltaics, and energy and water-efficient landscaping.
Project Earth and Cotati Creek Critters host a Cotati Creek Earth Day trash pick-up from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sun., April 26 to help maintain SSU's local creek ecosystem.
Volunteers will also have the opportunity to work alongside Sonoma Land Trust volunteers from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday, April 24 to clip and weed pervasive plants in the grassland meadows and oak woodland areas of the historic Glen Oaks Ranch property in Glen Ellen. Volunteers will also be treated to a hike on the 234-acre property.
Other events include:
An Earth Day Super Nooner offers celebrations and educational programs with a live performance by Old Jawbone and opportunities for students to plant mini trees, pet snakes and win sustainable prizes. Noon, Tues., April 21, Darwin Quad.
Student tabling in the main quad on Wed. April 22 include many sustainable projects such as:
- The Engineering Science Department hosts a table about the amount of energy consumed by typical consumer products and how these items, when turned on, contribute to the much larger global energy crisis and climate change. The presentation will also show how solar panels work and demonstrate their energy
efficiency.
- The Student Health Center raises awareness about the environmental danger posed by improperly discarded cigarette butts with "No BUTTS Day." Students will collect cigarette butts on campus and display them to raise awareness of the pollution caused by butts that do not biodegrade and can hurt animals if ingested.
Special screenings of two documentaries include:
"Sisters of the Planet" illustrates the stories of four extraordinary women fighting against climate change in their communities. 7 p.m., Wed., April 22, Schulz 2015B.
"Everything's Cool" explores the quest to move the United States away from its dependence on fossil fuels to a clean energy economy. 7 p.m., Tues., April 28, Student Union Multipurpose Room.
For more information, call (707) 664-2382 or visit www.sonoma.edu/as/asp.
