Mother Nature Takes Center Stage For UC San Diego’s Celebration of Earth Week

April 15, 2010

By Christine Clark

Students participating in last year’s trash sort.

A green job fair, clean car show, giant trash sort and eco-friendly rock concert are just a sampling of the many events that will take place during the University of California, San Diego’s celebration of Earth Week April 19-23. As one of the greenest universities, UC San Diego will showcase Earth Week festivities to illustrate how the campus, a world leader in climate change research, is aggressively committed to sustainability.

“This year’s theme, E.A.R.T.H.  Environment, Awareness, Restoration, Teaching Healing, reflects our commitment to sustaining planet Earth,” said Maggie Souder, UC San Diego sustainability coordinator. “Earth Week is an opportunity to share how innovative UC San Diego’s students, faculty and staff have been in making this campus more sustainable.

From climate change research, to energy saving competitions, to organic food and recycling, the UC San Diego community continues to be a leader when it comes to finding sustainable solutions.”

The week’s events include the following. For a complete list of activities visit: http://earthweek.ucsd.edu/

• Trash Sort: Monday, April 19, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Town Square: Students and staff will dig through more than 1,000 pounds of trash in the Town Square. The event will demonstrate how ordinary garbage contains recyclable items.

UC San Diego students sought out eco-friendly jobs at the Career Services Center’s green career fair.

• E-Waste Collection: Tuesday through Thursday, April 20-22, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Rupertus Lane: Everybody is encouraged to bring old computers, stereos and cell phones to Rupertus Lane the e-waste collection where it will be reused, refurbished or recycled. 

• Green Job Fair / Career Panel: Wednesday, April 21, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Career Service Center Plaza: Hundreds of students are expected to attend the annual Green Job Fair at the Career Services Center. The Center for Sustainable Energy, WIiLDCOAST, I Love a Clean San Diego and other companies will be represented. Following the job fair, at 2 p.m., professionals from the energy, recycling, conservation and environmental education industries will convene at the Career Services Center to discuss the green job industry with students.

• “Tapped” Film Screening and Water Panel: Wednesday, April 21, 6 p.m., The Price Center Theater: The free public screening of the documentary about the role of the bottled water industry and its effects on our health, climate change, pollution, and reliance on oil will be followed by a panel discussion.

• “Green Machine” Clean Car show: Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Warren Mall: The day’s events include a clean car show and bicycle breakfast. The “Green Machine” clean car show, which is open to the public, will feature hybrid vehicles, a hydrogen fuel cell powered bus, “Gidget” the Smart Car, UC San Diego green fleet vehicles and more. More than half of the university’s commuters ride bikes, shuttles or commute in something other than a single-occupant vehicle.

• Tree Planting: Friday, April 23, 9 to 11:30 a.m, East side of Sixth College Apartments and along Gilman Drive: Students will plant California sycamore trees in homage to Mother Earth. Oxygen released by urban forests are one of America's first lines of defense against adverse climate change.

• Eco-friendly Rock Concert: Friday, 3 to 11 p.m., Muir Quad: The traditional John Muir Week music festival, “Muirstock,” organized by Muir College students, will celebrate the spirit of naturalist John Muir by officially going green. Muirstock will feature a solar-powered stage, organic food venues and recycled and reusable prizes.

Media Contacts: Christine Clark, 858-534-7618, ceclark@ucsd.edu