Earth Month 2018 Schedule
April is Illinois Earth Month!
We offer a big thank you to the Students for Environmental Concerns (SECS) at Illinois for all of their members’ hard work to plan fun and educational events during Earth Week (April 16-22, 2018). In addition to Earth Week, organizations across campus and in the community organized events throughout April to celebrate our planet. Here’s how we celebrated in 2018:
Tuesday, April 3
- “Solving the World’s Challenges: Climate Change” Discussion Panel
Three experts from across campus (from the School of Integrative Biology, the Prairie Research Institute, and the Department of Urban and Regional Planning) will each discuss their research related to climate change – encompassing agricultural and urban ecosystems; flooding, drought, carbon dioxide levels, and heat – and respond to questions from attendees. This panel presentation will be an opportunity for people to come together in the library to learn about and discuss research related to one of the world’s major challenges – climate change.
2:30 p.m. | 2nd Floor, Funk ACES Library (1101 South Goodwin Avenue, Urbana)
Friday, April 6
- “A Return to the Madhouse: Climate Change Denial in the Age of Trump” (CAS MillerComm 2018)
Acclaimed scholar Michael Mann will examine the evidence of climate change, the reasons we should care, and the absurd efforts by special interest groups and politicians to confuse the public and deny a problem even exists. Despite the monumental challenges we face, Mann’s talk will give reasons to be cautiously optimistic that we will avert catastrophic climate change impacts. A book signing and reception will follow.
3:00 p.m. | Levis Faculty Center Third Floor (919 W. Illinois St., Urbana) - Illini Lights Out
Switch off to who you’re in! Grab your friends and join us as we turn off thousands of light bulbs in buildings around the Main Quad to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of our campus. Celebrate your efforts with free pizza!
5:30 p.m. | Foreign Language Building Lobby
Saturday, April 7
- Boneyard Creek Community Day 2018
Help restore the beauty of natural waterways by volunteering for the 13th annual Boneyard Creek Community Day. Both teams and individuals are encouraged to register. Immediately following, a free lunch for volunteers will be served at Scott Park, where there will be music and interactive learning displays. RAIN DATE: April 21, stay tuned to Facebook event. Read more >>>
9 a.m.-noon | Scott Park, Champaign
Tuesday, April 10
- Keynote Address by Amitav Ghosh, environmental writer
Amitav Ghosh is an award-winning novelist and anthropologist. His latest nonfiction book, “The Great Derangement: Climate Change the Unthinkable” examines our inability—at the level of literature, history, and politics—to grasp the scale and violence of climate change. This public keynote lecture kicks off the final event to celebrate Illinois’ 150th anniversary as an institution. View other events in the “Illinois 150: The 21st Century University and the Public Good,” including a day-long symposium on advancing the resilience of the food-energy-water system.
7 p.m. | Foellinger Auditorium
Thursday, April 12
- Illinois Water Day 2018: “Water for Nature”
Organized by the Illinois student chapter of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), IWD 2018 will open with an art and research showcase, illuminating the role of water in society and the problems that face us with works from students and community members. The keynote of the eventing will be a TED-Talk session designed to further engage undergraduate students and inspire them to use their skills and abilities to help solve society’s looming water problems. Light fare and beverages will be served during the event. Register your art or research poster, and see more event details at waterday.illinois.edu.
4-8 p.m. | University YMCA
Friday, April 13
- “Building a Better Environmental Movement” with Bill McKibben
As a final installment of the University YMCA’s Friday Forum Series on Building a Better Environmental Movement, Bill McKibben will speak on the Illinois campus about his experiences as an environmental organizer. McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College and leader of the anti-carbon campaign group 350.org. He has authored a dozen books about the environment, including his first, The End of Nature (1989), about climate change.
Noon | Student Dining and Resident Programs (SDRP) Building (301 E. Gregory Drive
Champaign) - Fridays at Fresh Press: Free Paper Making Workshop
Swing by the Fresh Press Studio near the U of I research Park to try “pulling” a sheet of paper from pulp. Learn more about western hand paper making and how Fresh Press approaches being environmentally friendly. There will be handmade paper for sale, but the event itself is free!
11 a.m.-1p.m. | Fresh Press Studio (2116 Griffith Dr, Champaign) - The Environmental Challenges of Tomorrow: 24th Annual Engineering & Science Symposium at the University of Illinois
Held each spring semester, this symposium gives graduate students in the Environmental Engineering and Science (EES) program an opportunity to present their current research to the UIUC community. This year’s theme is The Environmental Challenges of Tomorrow. The EES program is delighted to welcome Dr. Charles N. Haas, Head of the Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering and LD Betz Professor of Environmental Engineering at Drexel University, to give the keynote address.
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | I Hotel and Conference Center
Sunday, April 15
- Earth Week Common Ground Food Co-Op Tour
Join SECS’ Sustainable Business Committee for a tour of the Common Ground Food Co-Op and learn about their sustainability efforts. Follow up it up with a low-waste vegan cooking class.
12:30-2 p.m. | Common Ground Food Co-op (300 S. Broadway Ave, Urbana)
Monday, April 16
- Beyond Fossil Fuels Art Show
Hosted by the Beyond Coal student group, this art exhibition highlights both the detrimental effects of fossil fuels and our hope for a future of clean energy. The show will be on display at the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant during their regular lunch hours. A special artist showcase will take place on Wednesday, April 18th, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the University YMCA on Wright Street.
11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (April 16-20) | Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant (1209 W. Oregon St., Urbana) - “Meat-Free Monday” Free Lunch & Talk
Large-scale meat production is a heavy users of water and energy. Lighten your environmental footprint by going meat-free one day or more per week. Enjoy a free lunch of vegetarian and vegan options from local restaurants as community members and students share short talks about why they chose to be low-meat or no-meat. All are welcome.
Noon-1 p.m. | University YMCA (1001 S. Wright St., Champaign) - Bike Safety/ FREE Bike Registration on the Quad
Did you know bike registration on campus is mandatory so that F&S can better plan cycling infrastructure? Come get your registration sticker on the Main Quad and pick up some hints and tips for staying safe around buses, cars, and pedestrians on campus.
1-3 p.m. | Main Quad near the Union - Political Action Call-In
The Illinois state government is debating two important policies regarding hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for natural gas and pollinator protection. Get a quick primer on these issues as they apply to Illinois and then have the chance to call a local representative and make your voice heard! Snacks and sweets will be provided.
3-4 p.m. | University YMCA
Tuesday, April 17
- Workshop: Being Environmentally Sustainable in the Dorms
Join Vaishnavi Naidu of SECS’ Sustainable Business committee at Snyder Hall’s weekly “Talk About It Tuesday” event to discuss how to live more sustainably in the dorms!
9-10 p.m. | Snyder Hall Lobby (206 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign)
Wednesday, April 18
- Sustainable Business & Organization Expo
Check out the annual Earth Week Expo to learn about sustainable businesses in the Champaign-Urbana area and local environmental organizations! U-Cycle, Feed the Thing, the Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant, and The Bike Project are just a few of the groups you’ll have the chance to talk to.
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Illini Union Room 104 - Night Out Bike Out
An evening bike ride open to all members of the Champaign and Urbana communities! Free snacks! Also, take a bike safety quiz and get entered for a raffle prize!
4-6:30 p.m. | Neutral Cycle (624 S. Fifth St., Champaign)
Thursday, April 19
- Earth Week Plant Sale
For just $3.50, buy a wonderful little succulent to brighten your indoor space and a packet of native plant seeds to spruce up an outdoor space. Thanks to SECS’ Urban Agriculture group and the Red Bison habitat restoration student for growing the plants for adoption.
10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Main Quad
- Bike Sharing Programs: Dockless or Docked?! (CCNet Third Thursday Event)
Bike sharing is on the rise across the country and across the world. Join us for a discussion about different program types including dockless and docked systems. There is an active discussion in CU about bringing dockless bike sharing to our fair city. How will that work? Let’s find out! Facebook event >>>
Noon-1 p.m. | Champaign County Economic Development Corporation (1817 S. Neil St., Suite 100, Champaign) - Geology Colloquium: “The Greenland Ice Sheet: Will it Stay or Will it Go?”
A talk by Research Assistant Professor Andy Aschwanden of the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, followed by a reception. More on the Spring 2018 Geology Colloquium >>>
3:30 p.m. | Natural History Building Room 2079 - Bike Path Clean-up
The name says it all; help us tidy up the bike path starting at the intersection of Armory Avenue and Wright Street. We’ll supply trash bags and gloves, you supply the willing spirit!
afternoon – TBD | Corner of Armory & Wright — in front of Gregory Hall
- Green Observer Magazine’s Eco-Trivia Night
Come join the Green Observer for a fun night of trivia at Murphy’s Pub! Bring your friends to form a team for a chance to win some prizes and support our campus’ only environmental magazine 🙂
8-10 p.m. | Murphy’s Pub, (604 E Green St, Champaign)
Friday, April 20
- Fridays at Fresh Press: Free Paper Making Workshop
Swing by the Fresh Press Studio near the U of I research Park to try “pulling” a sheet of paper from pulp. Learn more about western hand paper making and how Fresh Press approaches being environmentally friendly. There will be handmade paper for sale, but the event itself is free!
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Fresh Press Studio (2116 Griffith Drive, Champaign)
- Earth Week Clothing Swap & Sale
Do some spring cleaning and drop off all your gently used clothing – then swap out your donations for other students’ items. Every item you donate gets you one item at the swap. Last year we had thousands of items to choose from and hundreds of participants! If you didn’t get a chance to donate clothes, don’t worry – we will also be selling them at cheap prices.
2:30-5 p.m. | University YMCA
- Friday Bike Ride: Riding Bikes with Friends is FUN!
We will be riding a half hour loop and probably ending at Blind Pig Brewery, per usual, but everyone is welcome on the ride! Please bring your own bike. Ride starts at the University YMCA on Wright Street.
5 p.m. | University YMCA
Saturday, April 21
- “Plogging” Fun Run/Walk
“Plogging” is picking up plastic while you jog. To celebrate Earth Day, iSEE is hosting a non-competitive plogging fun run/walk in a student residential area of campus. This event is part fitness, part environmental action, part community service — and definitely ALL FUN. Come try out this European fitness trend where you take a bag along on a walk or run to collect trash and recyclables along your path. Register for FREE here >>>
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Oak Street Library Facility (809 S. Oak St., Champaign)
Sunday, April 22 — Earth Day!
- Red Oak Rain Garden Work Day
Join the Red Bison Ecological Restoration student org and Students for Environmental Concerns for a few hours of eco-volunteering. To prepare the Red Oak Rain Garden for future plantings, we’ll remove felt fabric and landscaping rocks from the beds. Come out and support native plant gardens!
1-3 p.m. | Red Oak Rain Garden, just south of Allen Residence Hall (1005 W. Gregory Drive, Urbana)
Tuesday, April 24
- Ed Zipser — “Organization of Deep Convections into Large Mesoscale Systems” (Ogura Lecture 2018)
This talk by University of Utah Atmospheric Sciences Professor Ed Zipser will outline some of the milestones along the 50-year quest for understanding of the importance of organized convection — the force responsible for warmer air rising and cooler air sinking toward earth — its modeling, and its forecasting, such as improved severe weather forecasting.
3:30 p.m. | Natural History Building Room 2079
Wednesday, April 25
- Eban Goodstein — “Climate Change Turns 30: Tribalism and Sustainability” (Charles David Keeling Lecture 2018)
As a global social phenomenon, global warming was born around the year 1988. At just thirty years old, climate change has already profoundly shaped our culture. In the US, the politics of denial have risen to prominence and power.” In this talk, Goodstein takes the long view and argues that climate change action will increasingly occupy the center of an expansive tribalism, a global political, civil society and business movement for a sustainable future. Read more >>>
5 p.m. | NCSA Auditorium
Friday, April 27
- Illinois Arbor Day Celebration
Every year, we plant a new tree on campus to celebrate National Arbor Day. A dozen shovels will be available for students, staff, faculty, and community members who want to not only witness the planting but be a part of it. Stay a while to play “TREE-via” (trivia game) for PRIZES, and hear the official proclamation of April 27, 2018, as campus and community Arbor Day. Fun will be had by all. Please join us for this tree-planting extravaganza!
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Main Quad, in between Foellinger Hall and Lincoln Hall
- Fridays at Fresh Press: Free Paper Making Workshop
Swing by the Fresh Press Studio near the U of I research Park to try “pulling” a sheet of paper from pulp. Learn more about western hand paper making and how Fresh Press approaches being environmentally friendly. There will be handmade paper for sale, but the event itself is free!
11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Fresh Press Studio (2116 Griffith Dr, Champaign)
- Illini Lights Out
Switch off to show you’re in! Grab your friends and join us as we turn off thousands of light bulbs in buildings around the Main Quad to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact of our campus. Celebrate your efforts with free pizza!
5:30 p.m. | Foreign Language Building Lobby