Events celebrate week of Earth Day

Owl walk, bike ride, Green Cup awards ceremony among events to mark Earth Day at WUSTL

Washington University in St. Louis will celebrate Earth Day Friday, April 22, and many sustainability-themed events are planned for the week of April 18-23 throughout the Danforth and Medical campuses.

Details on Danforth Campus events are below. For more information on events on the Medical Campus, visit news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/22169.aspx.

Monday, April 18 — Owl Prowl

At 6 p.m. Monday, April 18, amateur naturalist Mark Glenshaw, coordinator of audio-visual services at the Brown School, will lead an “Owl Prowl” through Forest Park. At the prowl, visitors can learn about the Great Horned Owls in Forest Park and how studying wildlife leads to a greater understanding and interest in sustainability.

Glenshaw has closely observed and documented a mated pair of Great Horned Owls in Forest Park for more than five years. His work has been featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis Magazine and Show-Me Missouri. He was awarded the Citizen Scientist Award for the 2006 St. Louis Bioblitz.

The walk will begin at the Forest Park Visitors Center and is limited to 12 students, faculty or staff members. To sign up, email sustainability@wustl.edu. For more information about Glenshaw and Forest Park owls, visit forestparkowls.blogspot.com.

Wednesday, April 20 — Bike ride

On Wednesday, April 20, the Danforth and Medical Campus Sustainability Awareness Committees will host a bike ride around Forest Park to raise awareness of alternate forms of transportation. Matthew Brown, research patient coordinator, and Todd Williams, research lab supervisor, both at the School of Medicine, will lead the ride.

Participants from the Medical Campus will leave at 11:30 a.m. from the west parking lot of the CID building.

Participants from the Danforth Campus will leave at noon from the drinking fountains in Forest Park at the intersection of Skinker and Forsyth boulevards.

Helmets are required, and bikes must be in working condition. Participants will be required to sign a release before the ride and must be 18 or older (no children).

The ride consists of either one or two loops around Forest Park, either 6 or 12 miles. Certain parts of the park are hilly, requiring some exertion for the uphill and skill for navigating the downhill safely. Recent riding experience is encouraged.

For more information or to sign up, email Jessica Daues at jessica_daues@wustl.edu.

Thursday, April 21 — Low-Carbon Cook-Off in Tisch Commons

From 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21, WUSTL Dining Services will host a Low-Carbon Cook-Off in Tisch Commons in the Danforth University Center. During the cook-off, campus chefs will pair up with student cooking enthusiasts and compete to produce the tastiest dishes with the lowest carbon footprint.

Friday, April 22 — Earth Day

11 a.m. — “Lessons of the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill Trust” seminar. The Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering will offer a seminar on “Lessons of the Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill Trust” at 11 a.m. in Brauer Hall, Room 12, led by Kent D. Syverud, JD, dean of the School of Law and the Ethan A.H. Shepley University Professor. The seminar will be followed by lunch and a poster session.

Noon-1 p.m. Green Strum Project: St. Louis folk/bluegrass band the Green Strum Project will perform at the Edison Courtyard in front of the Danforth University Center from noon-1 p.m. The Green Strum Project plays on instruments made from various discarded items and features nationally renowned local talent. Students have the chance to play the instruments after the performance.

Noon-2 p.m. Local food barbecue and green organizations’ information booths: WUSTL Dining Services will offer BBQ in Edison Courtyard featuring local foods and WUSTL green groups will host informational tables alongside performers from noon-2 p.m. Groups featured are:

  1. Net Impact “Do One Thing” campaign
  2. WU Bike Gang
  3. Sustainability Pledge/Share Our Stuff
  4. Edison Theatre
  5. Bon Appétit

2:30 -5:30 p.m. Burning Kumquat workday: Come join a workday at the Burning Kumquat — the student-run, organic garden at Washington University — from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at the Burning Kumquat garden, located next to the Alumni House on the South 40. For more information on the Burning Kumquat, visit burningkumquat.wustl.edu.

3:30 p.m. Green Cup Awards Ceremony: The winning residential college will be awarded the Green Cup at 3:30 p.m. at the Clocktower on the South 40. A DJ and free ice cream will mark the celebration. The Green Cup, Washington University’s first energy use reduction competition, recognizes both the residential college and fraternity that reduces its energy use by the highest percentage. For more information on the Green Cup, visit greencup.wustl.edu.

Saturday, April 23 — Tour of Rain Crow Ranch

On Saturday, April 23, the Office of Sustainability is sponsoring a free tour of Rain Crow Ranch in Doniphan, Mo. Rain Crow Ranch supplies beef served in Danforth Campus eateries.

The shuttle to the ranch leaves from Brookings Hall at 7:30 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Please dress appropriately for visiting a farm.

For more information or to sign up, email sustainability@wustl.edu.

For more information on Earth Day activities, visit tinyurl.com/WUEarthDay2011.