Wesleyan Celebrates Earth Day with Film, Panel Discussion

“Keeping Our Feet to the Fire: Joining Art and Science to Engage Environmental Issues” is the topic of Wesleyan’s 2010 Earth Day celebration on April 22.

The event will feature a world premier screening of Paul Horton’s film Connections within a Fragile World.

A  panel of environmental experts will discuss the question “are art and science as natural allies in communicating environmental issues to the public?” It will be moderated by Jeremy Isard ’11, with panelists: Godfrey Bourne, University Missouri St. Louis; Marda Kirn, EcoArts Connections, Colorado; Cassie Meador, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Washington, D.C.; and Barry Chernoff, the Robert Schumann Professor of Environmental Studies, professor of biology and director of the Environmental Studies Certificate Program at Wesleyan.

The Schumann Prize for Distinguished Environmental Stewardship will be awarded to a member of the class of 2010 and a reception will follow the event.

Earth Day 2010 begins at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Arts Hall.

In addition to the film, Wesleyan’s Sustainability Advisory Group for Environmental Stewardship suggests participating in the following Earth Week events:

On April 22, Bon Appétit’s will host Low Carbon Day at campus dining sites.  Read more.

Professor of Physics Brian Stewart will lead his Third Annual Earth Day Rant 4:30 p.m., refreshments at 4:15 Exley 58. See http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/annual-earth-week-rant-by-brian-stewart.html for more information.

A Farmer’s Market Feast will begin at 6:30 pm Foss Hill. See http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/feast-on-foss.html for more information.

On April 23, Students can attend WesFRESH Cooking Demonstrations  in kitchens across campus. Check http://www.wesgreenscene.blogspot.com for times and locations.

At 8 p.m., Reggie Wilson / Fist & Heel Performance Group will perform at the Center for the Arts Theater. See http://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/events.html#breaking for more information.

On April 24, students can participate in a Riverfront Clean-up between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Harbor park in Middletown. The clean-up is sponsored by Middletown Lions Club and The Jonah Center for Earth and Art. See  http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/riverfront-clean-up_16.html for more information.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., students can participate in a Connecticut trail maintenance outing at Bicentennial Park in Berlin, Conn. See http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/earth-day-trail-maintenance-workshop.html for more information.

On Sunday, April 25, students can take a bus to Washington D.C. for the Earth Day Network rally. E-mail weseon@gmail.com to reserve a spot.

At 4 p.m., students can attend a panel on the Present and Future of Sustainable Foods at 4 p.m. in Usdan University Center. See http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/panel-on-present-and-future-of.html for more information.

An activity called TAP THAT! Campus water fountain awareness is ongoing. Look for signs and information about campus water fountains and facts about bottled water presented by the TAP THAT! Bottled Water Awareness week, an Earth Day Week program of the Environmental Organizers Network (EON). See http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com/2010/04/tap-that-campus-water-fountain.html for more information.

For events happening after Earth Day Week visit http://wesgreenscene.blogspot.com. For more information about sustainability at Wesleyan, visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/sustainability/.