Earth Days Features Many Events Throughout April

Eastern Kentucky University, for the 13^th consecutive year, will mark Earth Days with a month-long slate of events and activities.

On tap are a residence hall energy savings competition, tree plantings, a tour of women-led eco-farms in Madison County,  a showing of the film “Switch,” a Recycle Olympics, a panel discussion on the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), a river sweep, the installation and dedication of a solar panel on a campus building, and more. The primary sponsors of the celebration are the EKU Office of Sustainability and the EKU Green Crew.

“As in the past, we are trying to focus on issues and events that highlight the special characteristics of the natural environment with which we are blessed,” said Dr. Alice Jones, director of EKU’s Office of Sustainability. “We also want to focus on the challenges we face managing that environment in the future.”

A full schedule of Earth Days events is listed under “More Events” at green.eku.edu, a recommended site for those who want to learn more about “green” initiatives at the University. A brief synopsis of each activity/event follows:

• Through April 12 – Bluegrass Unplugged, a competition among residence hall residents to reduce energy usage.
• Thursday, April 4 – Arbor Day ceremony, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Ravine, tree planting, tree climbing and more. Also sponsored by LGE/KU “Right Tree Right Place” Program, EKU Adventure Programs, and Horticulture Club.
• Thursday, April 4 – Chautauqua Lecture, Dr. Tyrone Hayes, 7:30 p.m., O’Donnell Hall, Student Success Building, an examination of the links between conservation, ecology, biology, agriculture, mass food production, environmental policy and health. Also sponsored by the EKU Honors Program and Department of Biological Sciences.
• Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 -- work days at Taylor Fork Ecological Area, south side of campus, 3-6 p.m. on April 5 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on April 6. For more information or to volunteer, contact David Brown at david.brown@eku.edu or 985-634-0733.
• Saturday, April 6 -- tour of five female-led, energy-efficient, food-producing homesteads in Madison County, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, contact Alice Jones at alice.jones@eku.edu by 5 p.m. on April 4. Co-sponsored by Environmental Sustainability and Stewardship, Women and Gender Studies Program and Energy Club.
• Saturday, April 6 – Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative, service project involving the planting of trees on a reclaimed mine site near Pikeville. For more information, contact Brian Perry at brian.perry@eku.edu or 859-622-3855.
• Tuesday, April 9 – “Switch,” a movie that Jones said “takes a balanced look at America’s energy future,” 6:30 p.m. in John Grant Crabbe Main Library Room 108 and 9 p.m. in Herndon Lounge, Powell Building. The film is premiering at colleges and universities nationwide this year. “Given Kentucky’s energy economy, this is a very important issue that everyone in the Commonwealth should make an effort to educate themselves about,” Jones said.
• Wednesday, April 10 -- Recycle Olympics, 7 p.m., Fitness and Wellness Center. Teams of four can register in advance at imleagues.com/eku. Winning organization receives $100. Events include Tower of Power, making the tallest tower out of 100 cans in five minutes or less; Recycle Bowling, knocking down plastic bottles; Taking Out the Trash, taking rides on recycle bins; and Magic Paper Ride, floating a piece of paper using only lung power. Co-sponsored by Campus Recreation and University Housing.
• Saturday, April 13 – Paddle Out Pollution, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., join the Kentucky Riverkeeper, EKU Community Service and Students for Appalachia for shoreline and canoe clean-up in Estill County. Dinner and sign painting to follow. Pre-registration required; contact Brian Perry at brian.perry@eku.edu or 859-622-3855.
• Wednesday, April 17, “Does Kentucky Have a Fracking Problem?” panel discussion on hydraulic fracturing, 6:30 p.m., Room 108, John Grant Crabbe Main Library. Panelists are Andrew McNeill, director, Kentucky Oil & Gas Association; Brandon Nuttall, Kentucky Geological Survey; and Pat Banks, director, Kentucky Riverkeepers. Sponsors: EKU Center for Renewable and Alternative Fuel Technologies (CRAFT) and EKU Energy Club.
• Monday, April 29 -- Dedication Ceremony for Solar Panel Installation on roof outside fourth floor on east end of New Science Building, 11 a.m., fourth floor, NSB. Half the cost of the $10,000 project was funded by a grant from Bluegrass PRIDE. Work will begin soon by manufacturer/installer Alternative Energies of Kentucky, Danville, the only Kentucky-based solar cell manufacturer.

For more information, visit the University’s “one-stop shop for all things green,” green.eku.edu.

Contact Information

Dr. Alice Jones
alice.jones@eku.edu
859-622-1424