BGSU to celebrate Earth Week April 16-24

Bowling Green State University will celebrate Earth Week 2018 April 16-24 with a series of free events intended to encourage participants to “Embrace This Place.”

The week kicks off at 7:30 p.m. April 16 with the annual Lamb Peace Lecture in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union Theater. The lecture is titled “Policy, Politics and Pollution in the Great Lakes Basin: If Protections Are Good, Why Are Regulations Bad?” with Lana Pollack, chair of the U.S. section, International Joint Commission (IJC). The IJC was established by the U.S. and Canada to address issues related to boundary waters including the Great Lakes.

A tree planting on the west side of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union will also be held April 16, at 1:30 p.m. Tools and gloves will be provided to anyone who would like to help add to the campus’ native tree population.

In addition, the annual When You Move Out, Don’t Throw It Out collection begins April 16 on campus. Bins will be located in the residence halls and lobby of the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. All items will go to local food pantries and shelters. The collection has helped needy community members while keeping tons of material out of the landfills.

At 7 p.m. April 17 in the Bowen-Thompson Student Union Theater, guests can view the film “The Call of the Scenic River: An Ohio Journey” and learn about the Ohio Scenic Rivers program, the first such program in the United States, now celebrating its 50-year anniversary. Christina Kuchle, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Scenic Rivers program manager, will answer questions and share how participants can be part of protecting, preserving and enjoying these vital water resources.

On April 18, guests can stop by tables from environment- and sustainability-related organizations from both on and off campus at the Eco-Fair in the Union Oval. Tree seedlings and plants, reusable bags, involvement opportunities and more will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In case of rain, the event will be held in the Memorial Hall lobby.

At 7 p.m., also on April 18, there will be a Rights of Nature Panel/Forum organized by the Environmental Action Group/UPSA. The panel, which will be held in 113 Olscamp Hall, will include faculty members from biology, environment and sustainability, economics, philosophy and geology.

Guests can register for an April 20 tour of the DG AMP Solar Field on Carter Road. This is the largest solar field in the state. Vans will leave at 1:30 p.m. from the Union parking lot (Lot 7). Registration is required by emailing greenbg@bgsu.edu with “Solar Tour registration” as the subject line by April 17.

Later in the day, volunteers can help reduce BGSU emissions by participating in Friday Night Lights. Volunteers should meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Union Theater (Room 206) before venturing out to turn off lights in selected buildings. Volunteers will receive Earth Week treats, and a special guest will introduce the evening’s program.

The final event of the week, “Values-Based Investing: The Environment, Social Responsibility, Corporate Governance and Our Portfolios,” will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 24 in 201 Union. Industry experts will explain the origins and current status of the ESG (environment, social responsibility and governance) investing industry. Investment managers will be on hand to discuss environmental and faith-based investment portfolios.

The Office of Campus Sustainability and the Department of the Environment and Sustainability co-sponsor Earth Week; events are free and open to the public. More information is available on the Earth Week flyer.