University Events Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

The University of Scranton’s Office of Sustainability has organized multiple events in April to celebrate Earth Day – “every day.” Most of the events, which begin on Sunday, April 6, and conclude on Saturday, April 26, are free of charge, open to the public and intended to raise awareness of ecological issues and promote sustainable practices.

On Sunday, April 6, Irene Klaver, Ph.D., professor of philosophy at the University of North Texas, will present “Remembering Rivers: Meander and Model and Metaphor.” Her talk will occur after the screening of the award-winning documentary “River Planet,” for which she was a research consultant. The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Moskovitz Theater of the DeNaples Center. It is sponsored by The University of Scranton’s Education for Justice grant program.

            On Sunday, April 13, hundreds of University students will participate in its “Street Sweep.” Students will  plant flowers in downtown Scranton and clean up areas near campus and at Nay Aug Park. The event, which begins at 2 p.m., is organized by the Student Government in cooperation with its Community Relations Office and community partners Scranton Tomorrow, Penn State Master Gardeners and the Greenhouse Project.

            From Monday, April 14 to Thursday, April 24, the “Earth Day Celebration Library Art Show” will showcase work submitted by faculty, staff and students. The artwork promotes sustainability and ranges from photographs and paintings to repurposed goods. The show will take place in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library and is free of charge during library hours. It concludes Thursday, April 24, at 3 p.m.

            On Earth Day, April 22, University students will join with area business representatives at the “Earth Day Fair” to provide interactive presentations and information about the environment and sustainable practices. The fair, which is free of charge and open to the public, runs between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the DeNaples Center Patio.

            On Tuesday, April 22, and Wednesday, April 23, The University of Scranton Programming Board will host “Pay it Forward for a Sustainable Scranton” to promote living in an environmentally friendly manner. It takes place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on the second floor of the DeNaples Center.

Also on the evening of Tuesday, April 22, a lecture and panel discussion will examine “Water and the Human Condition.” The Spring Sustainability Symposium begins at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center. University Physics Professor Nicholas P. Truncale will introduce the topic, followed by a panel discussion with Pennsylvania State Senator John Blake; University faculty members Erika Lasek-Nesselquist, Ph.D., ecologist and evolutionary biologist; Joan Grossman, Ph.D., dietician and exercise scientist; Linda Ledford-Miller, Ph.D., world languages and cultures; and Jessica M. Nolan, Ph.D., professor of environmental and social psychology; and University student Caroline Earnest, environmental science major. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

On Wednesday, April 23, the “Earth Day Celebration Library Art Show Reception” will be held in the Heritage Room of the Weinberg Memorial Library from 5 to 7 p.m. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

On Thursday, April 24, “An Evening of Environmental Science” will showcase artwork and essays submitted by local elementary, middle and high school students for The University of Scranton and Pennsylvania American Water art and essay contests. The event will include interactive science experiments and displays presented by University students and faculty, refreshments and an evening astronomy observation (weather permitting). Hosted by the University’s sustainability club, the event is open to the public and free of charge, and will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Loyola Science Center. Essay award winners will be announced at the event. The University’s student Sustainability Club is hosting this event.

On Friday, April 25, the Faculty Research Seminar Series will include presentations by professor Truncale, Dr. Ledford-Miller, Dr. Nolan and Abhijit Roy, D.B.A., professor of marketing.

The Weinberg Memorial Library Annual Book Sale will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and on Sunday, April 27, from noon and 4 p.m. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library Endowment.

On Saturday, April 26, the University will hold a “Campus Electronic Recycling and Document Shredding Event.” Area residents can bring paper to shred as well as several items to recycle, ranging from cables to blenders to air conditioners. A list of items accepted at the event is available on the University’s website. The event is sponsored by Cintas Document Management and Vintage Tech Recyclers and is free of charge. It will occur between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Monroe Ave. and Linden St. circle.

Also on Saturday, April 26, the “Environmental Awareness 5 K Fun Run / Walk” will take place on the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Trail. Registration begins at 10 a.m., and the race begins at 11 a.m. at the West Olive Street trail entrance. The event is free of charge and open to the public. The University partnered with the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Association for this event.

Media partners for the University’s Earth Day events are The Northeast Pennsylvania Business Journal and Electric City.

For additional information, visit www.scranton.edu/sustainability/earth-week or call 570-941-7520.