On Wednesday, join us for the UW Safety, Sustainability, and Preparedness Expo! We will be in the HUB Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering fun and interesting activities to UW faculty, staff, and students.
The Expo will include light refreshments and door prizes. You'll be able to start your own personal, portable emergency kit while learning more about being safe, sustainable, and prepared from UW departments and safety supply vendors.
Also this week: the former prime minister of South Korea is on campus to talk about climate change, worms help clean oil from the soil, you can find out how composting helps your carbon impact, there are volunteer opportunities to get your hands dirty by helping native plants take root, experts debate the future of Seattle, and much more.
Some of the week's highlights are listed below, and you can find out even more items happening on campus with our full calendar. The full Sustainability Events calendar is the best place to find the most up-to-date listings and details on all events. Also, if you know of any events, please let us know. We’d love to add them to our calendar! And if you'd like to get a weekly email of all the upcoming sustainability events, subscribe here.
Monday, Feb. 8
The Society for Ecological Restoration salvaged native plants this weekend, removing plants from sites which are scheduled for construction. Now they want your help getting those plants potted. Wear clothes that can get dirty - all tools and equipment provided. 2 p.m., Center for Urban Horticulture
Today's lecture in the Wildlife Seminar Series is "Alien vs. Predator: Determining the factors that influence salmon predation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta," by Joseph Smith of the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. 3:30 p.m., Smith Hall 120
Tuesday, Feb. 9
Start your day with a look at how Earthworms can help clean oil from soils in the talk "Crude Oil Remediation of Soils by Earthworm Symbionts." 8:30 a.m., Anderson Hall 223
The ReThink student group, focused on sustainability in business, is hosting an information night on UW's first-ever sustainability case competition. The competition will happen during spring quarter and is open to all students. Come out to Paccar Hall at 6:30 p.m. to learn more.
Wednesday, Feb. 10
Students at UW can get grants from the Campus Sustainability Fund to make their ideas for environmental projects on campus a reality. If you want to learn more about how the process works or talk about possible projects, CSF student staff are available in Suzzallo Cafe from 11 a.m. to noon.
Farm Lunch classes are open to all who want to learn more about agriculture in the urban environment. This week, Dr. Elizabeth Wheat leads the discussion on Nutrition and Food Policy. 12:30 p.m., Wallace Hall 120.
Composting food waste not only creates compost which can be used to improve soils, it also reduces greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding methane that's created when that waste is sent to the landfill. Sally Brown of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences talks more about the carbon impact of composting at 3:30 p.m., Anderson Hall 223.
You'll have to choose between two impressive talks Wednesday evening, both starting at 7:30. At the University Book Store, Courtney White talks about his new book "Two Percent Solutions for the Planet," including a book signing. On campus at Kane Hall, the 2016 History Lecture Series concludes with a panel discussion on the Future of Seattle.
Thursday, Feb. 11
UW Sustainability staff will be at the Health Sciences Rotunda in the afternoon for Sqwatch Talks, when we're available to answer all your sustainability questions. Look for the UW Sustainability sign from 1-2 p.m.
The Departments of American Ethnic Studies, American Indian Studies, and Gender, Women & Sexuality Studies are hosting a Race and Equity Forum to mark the 45th anniversary of the departments. The 90-minute conversation will be followed by a reception to celebrate the three departments’ achievements and continuing presence on the UW campus. 5:30 p.m., Kane Hall's Walker Ames Room.
Several student groups focused on food teamed up for the Food Justice Film Series. Thursday night, they're screening Cowspiracy and will hold a post-film discussion with free food from Homegrown and Chaco Canyon. 6 p.m., Thomson 125.
UW Tacoma's Center for Urban Waters is hosting a discussion series on the proposed Tacoma methanol production plant and export facility. Science Director and UW Tacoma Professor Joel Baker hopes that concerned citizens attending these events or viewing the videos "will walk away with contextual information needed to think critically about the varied environmental, natural resource, economic, and political impacts of this proposed project. There are nuanced local, regional, and global issues at play." The first event in the series is at 6 p.m., in UWT Keystone 102.
The former prime minister of South Korea and current Special Envoy to the United Nations, Dr. Han Seung-soo, is speaking on campus about the challenge of climate change and water management. "Air and water: are they free goods?" is at 6:30 p.m. in Architecture 147. RSVP to reserve a seat.
Friday, Feb. 12
The Campus Sustainability Fund committee determines which student-led campus sustainability projects will be funded. Meetings are open to the public - stop by to hear more about current projects under consideration. 4:30 p.m., Gerberding Hall B36.
Saturday, Feb. 13
Come out to the UW Farm's volunteer hours. This week, volunteers can help plant a new pollinator pathway bordering the Farm's space at the Center for Urban Horticulture starting at 10 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 14
If you're near Everett on Sunday, UW Professor of Wildlife Science John Marzluff will be reading from his book Welcome to Subirdia on the diverse bird populations found in developed bird populations at the Everett Public Library starting at 2 p.m.