The University of Washington is hosting events to recognize Earth Day, our planet and the environment during the entire Earth Month and beyond. Here is a sampling of the events happening around UW as part of the Earth Day celebration:
Saturday, April 5
Urban Trees Tour: How to Better Manage our Urban Forests
meet outside Denny Hall, 2 – 4 p.m.
On this stroll around campus, participants will learn some of the ways that we as a city and society can tackle a myriad of environmental problems by tapping into the power of trees. This guided tour will show off different tree species on campus, and will include discussion of threats they face in an era of climate change, and inform participants about how we as human beings can utilize our urban forest to mitigate the worst effects of a warmer world. This tour will last about two hours, with around half a mile of walking. Participants who need to leave early are more than welcome to do so. For questions or for more information, please visit the UW Campus Tree Tours website.
Wednesday, April 9
UW Green Futures Lab: Past, Present & Prospect exhibit reception
Gould Hall Gallery, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Join us for the opening reception of the Green Futures Lab exhibit at the Gould Gallery. Celebrate the Lab's innovative work advancing sustainable urban spaces through research, design, and community collaboration, and honor the many people who have contributed over the past decades. This is an opportunity to connect with professionals, students, and community leaders as we reflect on the Lab’s impact and look ahead to its future.
Engineering Careers in Public Utilities
Molecular Engineering & Sciences 115, 4:30 p.m.
The student group Global Renewables for Infrastructure Development (GRID) is hosting this discussion with guest speaker Max Emrick. Open to all students interested in sustainable infrastructure, power systems and energy careers.
Thursday, April 10
Sustaining Our World lecture with Hilary Franz, former Washington state commissioner of public lands
Kane Hall 110 or via YouTube Live, 7 - 8 p.m.
The Sustaining Our World lectures explore complex issues of natural resource conservation and management in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This year's lecture features Hilary Franz, speaking on "Climate change and resilience: How science and solutions can bring society together." The lecture will be live-streamed on YouTube by the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.
Wednesday, April 16
"Doing Right by Land and Each Other; Gardens for the Next World"
Architecture Hall 147. 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
David Godshall, co-founder of TERREMOTO, will present this lecture, hosted by the UW Landscape Architecture Professional Advisory Council. If gardens are mirrors of culture, and our present culture is a hot mess, how might we go about making gardens that reject the materially consumptive and ecology destroying power of late-stage capitalism? TERREMOTO believes that through self-investigation into our relationships to Land, Labor, Materials and Ecology, we can forge a new path and paradigm and create landscapes that are in service of the whole. The event is free, but registration is required by April 7.
Thursday, April 17
"Oceans, climate and health: The cholera model"
Population Health 155 or Zoom, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
This lecture by Dr. Rita Colwell is hosted by the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. Dr. Rita Colwell serves as Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health and is Founder and Chairman of CosmosID, Inc. Through her research, innovations, and 40 years of scientific leadership, Dr. Colwell was able to define current understanding of the ecology of infectious diseases, notably cholera, and develop use of advanced technologies to halt their spread. RSVP for Zoom link.
Friday, April 18
“Harnessing Law and Policy to Reduce Food Waste”
Gowen Hall 1A Olsen Room, 12 - 1:30 p.m.
This talk is part of the Duck Family Colloquium Series, hosted by the Center for Environmental Politics. The speaker Emily Broad Leib is a Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Harvard Law School Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, and Founding Director of the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, the nation’s first law school clinic devoted to providing legal and policy solutions to the health, economic, and environmental challenges facing our food system.
Saturday, April 19
Earth Day at the Arboretum volunteer event
Washington Park Arboretum, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
UW Botanic Gardens, Seattle Parks and Recreation, and the Arboretum Foundation co-host their annual Earth Day community and volunteer event. Help remove invasive weeds and build pollinator hotels. This volunteer work party is open to anyone aged 15 and over, but space is limited and pre-registration required.
Earth Day with the UW Farm
UW Farm Center for Urban Horticulture Site, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Join the UW Farm for a volunteer shift before Earth Day. Projects will include planting the new perennial strawberry patch and planting flowers for pollinators. All are welcome, but are asked to complete the volunteer signup forms before arriving.
Monday, April 21
Sustainability walking tour
meet outside the HUB by the Husky Statue, 1:30 p.m.
Join UW Sustainability for a walking tour highlighting just a few reasons that UW’s campus is a leader in sustainability. The tour will meet at the Husky Statue in front of the HUB. From there we will explore some of UW’s sustainability features including innovative buildings and secluded green space. This tour focusing on spots around north campus will take about an hour and finish near the Burke Museum.
Wednesday, April 23
Virtual environmental nonprofit expo
The UW Combined Fund Drive is hosting a virtual nonprofit expo featuring organizations that are dedicated to environmental conservation. Organizations include Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, Environmental Coalition of South Seattle (ECOSS) and Long Live the Kings. Registration with NetID required.
Culinary Heritage and History: "The Mystic Kitchens of Nepal"
Thomson Hall 317, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
“The Mystic Kitchens of Nepal” is a comprehensive cookbook based on over 15 years of research, travel, and trekking through Nepal. Author Bikram Vaidya not only traveled the country, but also lived with local communities, documenting their oral stories and culinary traditions. He explores how Nepalese food connects to history, geography, culture, migration, and sustainability. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is advised.
Friday, April 25
UW Tacoma Spring Day of Caring
Milgard 110 & Giving Garden, 12 - 5 p.m.
Day of Caring is a biannual service day project hosted by UW Tacoma's Husky Volunteers group. This year's focus is on the UWT Giving Garden. Get your hands in the dirt and help the Giving Garden team enhance the garden by installing a new walkway, revitalizing some sleepy garden beds, learning about sustainable practices, and more! We will begin with lunch at 12 p.m. in Milgard 110 and transition as a group to the Giving Garden afterward.