Earth Day Celebration at Stetson: Keeping it Green

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Science Saturday at Gillespie Museum: Apr. 16:

The Stetson University Gillespie Museum’s annual Earth Day celebration is Sat., Apr. 16, 10 a.m. -1 p.m. This Science Saturday event will feature two workshops. In Upcycling 101, environmental artists of all ages can turn recyclable materials into beautiful and useful goods, giving common items a second (or third) life. Make It Grow is an informal presentation on saving, sowing and planting heirloom vegetables and Florida Wildflowers.

The Museum will be open for visitors to browse its collections and earth science displays. A special photographic exhibit, Sandhill Symphony: A Natural History of High Pine, features print photos and digital images of the flora and fauna of longleaf pine ecosystems, taken by Stetson Professor of Biology Peter May, Ph.D. The event is free and open to all.

Environmental Forum: Tues., Apr. 19:

20150619_153817_resized[1]Join us at the Gillespie Museum on Tues., Apr. 19, 4 p.m., for Stetson’s second Environmental Forum. As part of campus Earth Week celebrations, Chris Castro, energy specialist for the City of Orlando and founder of IDEAS for Us, will lead the discussion.

Orlando participates in the National City Energy Project in order to cut energy waste in large buildings and become “healthier and more prosperous through energy efficiency,” and Castro directs this mission. The IDEAS movement is focused on educating, engaging and empowering citizens around the world to advance sustainability for all. Castro will be discussing “Solutions for All”—that is, what all of us can do to make this a more sustainable world.

Sponsored by the Campus Environmental Coalition, this event is free and open to the public. Cultural credit is available to Stetson undergraduates.

Science Café: Water Conservation in an Era of Climate Change, Thurs., Apr. 21:

During the campus observance of Earth Week, Kirsten Work, Ph.D., professor of biology, will be the guest speaker for the Gillespie Museum’s Science Café, Thurs., Apr. 21, at 7 p.m.

Work will discuss her research as a spring ecologist and its implications for our understanding of climate change. “Some scientists have suggested that at this point in Earth’s history, all ecosystems have been impacted by human activity, if only through climate change,” said Work. “Do we accept this proposition? If so, where do we go from here? Have we seen any evidence that our local systems have been affected?”

Professor of Biology Kirsten Work
Professor of Biology Kirsten Work

Her current research is primarily in Volusia County’s Blue Spring, with projects on algae, snails, fish ecology and the effects of invasive snails and fish on ecosystem function. She also has worked on the ecology of local lakes, as Central Florida is one of the areas of the country with the highest densities of lakes due to its karst (limestone) geography.

This event is free and open to all. Cultural credit is available for Stetson undergraduates.

Hatter Harvest
Hatter Harvest

Earth Day Fair, Fri., Apr. 22:

Join the Stetson Environmental Coalition and other groups dedicated to sustainability on Fri., Apr. 22, for our first ever Earth Day Fair! The event will take place on the Stetson Green from 1-5 p.m. There will be many interactive activities and opportunities designed to help us learn about our environment. Additionally, there will live musical performances by Stetson students. Some of the activities include tie-dying carbon footprint shirts, upcycling jewelry, starting seedling pots and much more. Project H2O from the Marine Discovery Center, the Institute for Water and Environmental Resilience, Stetson Scrappers, the Gillespie Museum, Stetson Environmental Club, Hatter Harvest, Stetson Beekeeping Club, are only a few of our participants in the fair. Stetson University has celebrated Earth Day since its creation in 1970, and we want you to join in the festivities.

The Gillespie Museum is located at 234 East Michigan Ave., on the southeast corner of Stetson’s DeLand campus. For more information about these and other Earth Week events, e-mail [email protected] or visit www2.stetson.edu/gillespie.