In conjunction with the distinguished St. Louis Earth Day festival in Forest Park, WashU continues its longstanding tradition of celebrating our planet for an entire week. This year, the first week of April will feature a bounty of opportunities to learn and engage with a broad range of topics such as climate change, the Green New Deal, environmental justice, permaculture, food, bikes, biodiversity, and more.
WashU Earth Week 2019 is hosted by a diversity of organizations that include:
- Student groups: Student Union, Student Environmental Council (SEC), Net Impact,
- Community Partners: Earthday 365, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Mighty Cricket, Big Shark Bicycle Co.
- WashU departments: Environmental Studies, WashU Climate Change Program (WUCCP), Living Earth Collaborative, InCEES, Dining Services, Office of Sustainability.
Downloadable Calendar Available Soon!
Earth Week Events
EDIBLE INSECTS, A SOLUTION TO CLIMATE CHANGE? CRICKET FOOD & FOOD FOR THOUGHTS
Monday April 1st, from 4 to 5p in the DUC (room TBD)
Net Impact and the Office of Sustainability’s Food Team invite Sarah Schlafly, founder of Mighty Cricket, to talk about the production of cricket-based products as an alternative source of protein that is low carbon, highly nutritious, and local! Attendees will have the opportunity to taste samples cooked by WashU Dining Services using cricket powder.
PORTRAITS FROM THE BRINK: THE CRITICAL NEED TO DOCUMENT BIODIVERSITY
Monday April 1st, at 5:30p
During this Science Matters keynote presentation, National Geographic Society photographer Sartore will talk about his career photographing endangered species and archiving the images in his “Photo Ark”. Presentation will be followed by a conversation with members of the Living Earth Collaborative who will discuss saving precious, endangered species in this context of “sixth mass extinction”.
FILM SCREENING – PARIS TO PITTSBURGH
Tuesday April 2nd, from 6 to 8p at the Laboratory Sciences 300
As part of the second annual St. Louis Earth Day Film Series, WashU will be hosting the free screening of “From Paris to Pittsburgh”, a documentary that celebrates how Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change. And as the weather grows more deadly and destructive, they aren’t waiting on Washington to act.
FREE BIKE TUNE-UPS & COMMUTER FAIR
Wednesday April 3rd, from 11a to 2p in the Edison Courtyard outside the DUC
The signature tune-ups are returning this spring and the first event of the series will take place during Earth Week! Attendees will have the opportunity to get a free bike tune-up provided by Big Shark (see rules on the event page), register their bike, learn about programs and services offered by Parking & Transportation Services and Bears Bikes, and of course pick up free bike goodies such as bells, lights, maps, and guides.
GREEN NEW DEAL DISCUSSION
Wednesday April 3rd, from 5:30p to 7p, location TBD
As part of the WashU Climate Change Program panel discussion series, different campus stakeholder will gather to discuss the ins and outs of the Green New Deal, a set of proposed economic stimulus programs in the United States that aims to address climate change and economic inequality.
FARMERS’ MARKET AT THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Thursday, April 3rd, from 10a to 2p, Hope Plaza, Medical campus
The School of Medicine sponsors a weekly Farmers Market on Thursdays from 10a to 2p, at the Hope Plaza. A variety of vendors participate, including Windcrest Dairy, Emmi Lu’s Barkery, Earth Angel Mushrooms, Stringbean Coffee, Great Harvest Bread, Soulard Spice Shop, Grandma’s Nuts, and more.
EARTH WEEK FAIR WITH GREEN GROUPS
Thursday, April 3rd, from 3p to 5p in the Edison Courtyard outside the DUC
Coordinated by the Student Environmental Council, Earth Week Fair will be featuring a collection of WashU “green” clubs such as Green Action, the Student Sustainability Board, Net Impact, Sharing with A Purpose, Burning Kumquat, and more. A great opportunity to interact with student sustainability leaders on campus and learn of ways to get involved, while enjoying a freshly blended smoothie or a piece of Earth Week cake!
PANDORA THOMAS: PERMACULTURE AND SOCIAL DESIGN
Friday, April 4th, from 3p to 4:30p
Pandora Thomas is a passionate global citizen who works as a caregiver for her mother and globally as a teacher, writer, designer, and speaker with over 25 years of experience. Pandora’s work emphasizes the benefits of applying ecological principles to social design. She’s also the co-founder of the Black Permaculture Network, a network of Afro-indigenous people who have come together through the practices of permaculture, agroecology, natural living and care of the earth
TRIP TO THE FARMERS’ MARKET WITH THE ECOREPS
Time and location TBD. More details soon!
RECYCLING EXTRAVAGANZA
Sunday, April 7th from 10a to 2p, at the St. Louis Community College in Forest Park
Recycling Extravaganza is the preeminent recycling collection event in the St. Louis region bringing nearly 20 different collectors of hard-to-recycle materials to one site for public convenience and appropriate disposal. Here is your one-stop shop to responsibly recycle electronics, carpeting, medications, mardi gras beads, clothing and much more.
All events are free and open to the public.
The WashU School of Medicine will also be hosting an Earth Day celebration, on Thursday April 18th.