Give Your Life a Green Makeover During Earth Week at UCSD

Christine Clark | April 13, 2009

Find a green job. Switch to a greener car. Revamp your diet with locally grown, organic foods. Members of the UC San Diego community will learn how to give their lifestyles a green make-over during Earth Week events on campus April 20 to 25.

Students will take part in a green jobs fair April 22.
For more information about Earth Week events, visit the Earth Week 2009 website

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Extreme Green,” and activities will include a green jobs fair, a talk on organic food and a clean car show. The university’s environmental research also will be featured. Other events include a sustainability award ceremony and green film festival put on by students.

 “This year’s theme ‘extreme green’ illustrates how UC San Diego, a world leader in climate change research, is aggressively committed to sustainability through  the development of alternative fuels, renewable energy sources, waste diversion, water conservation and green building strategies and others,” said Maggie Souder, the university’s sustainability coordinator.

A clean car show will feature cars powered by alternative energy sources.

The week’s celebrations will start with the annual Earth Week trash sort at 11 a.m. April 20 in the UCSD town square, in front of the Triton statue and near the Student Services Center. Students and staff will dig through more than 1,000 pounds of trash to demonstrate how ordinary garbage is full of recyclable items. Also, starting April 21, members of the campus and San Diego communities are encouraged to bring their old computers, stereos and cell phones to the Myers Loop between 7:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., where their “e-waste” will be collected, so it can be reused, refurbished or recycled. 

Members of the UCSD community also will get pointers on how to find locally grown organic food at 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, when Steven Casad, UCSD’s dining director will give a presentation on the campus’ green meals program. The event will also feature an interactive roundtable session with farmers, a fresh-crop tasting and open forum with community food-related organizations. Throughout the week, organic breakfasts, lunches and dinners will be served at different campus dining halls.

Meanwhile, students also will learn how to find green jobs, one of the few sectors of the economy where opportunities are growing. They will be able to attend a job fair, starting at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, featuring companies such the Center for Sustainable Energy, enXco and others. Thursday, April 23, professionals from the energy, recycling, conservation and environmental education industries will share their knowledge of the green jobs industry with students.

Members of the UCSD community will learn more about locally grown, organic food, including organic meals served in UCSD dining halls like the one pictured here.

Members of the UCSD community also will learn how to switch to more sustainable transportation during the “Green Machine” Clean Car show and Bicycle Breakfast, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23, which also marks Alternative Transportation Day. The clean car show will feature hybrid vehicles, a smart car called “Gidget,” a Tesla Roadster and the “Greenline” shuttle, UCSD’s first shuttle to run on biodiesel fuel. Many on campus are already committed to reducing their carbon footprint: more than half of campus commuters ride their bikes, carpool, take the shuttle or drive fuel-efficient cars to campus.

Finally, everyone will get tips on how to green their wardrobe during an eco-Fashion Show featuring “Project Trashion,” starting at 7 p.m. Friday, April 24. Students will model environmentally friendly designs from student designers and local boutiques on a green runway.

The third annual “VidFest” green film festival will take place at 5 p.m. Friday and feature original short films produced by UCSD students about sustainability and the environment.