Iowa Staters who've helped this university make impressive sustainability strides in a few short years, green thumbers who cultivate urban gardens and a best-selling author with an urgent message about how many people Mother Earth can accommodate will be part of the Symposium on Sustainability, Feb. 24-25.
The annual green fest, in its fifth year, is open to the university community.
Online registration
If you're planning to attend any symposium events, register online by 7 p.m., Feb. 23. Remote viewers needn't register.
"Students, faculty and staff are behind the 'gold-certified' sustainable achievements that we celebrate," said sustainability director Merry Rankin. "I encourage all to join us for the afternoon, an hour, an evening, or remotely, and enjoy what they have made possible."
Remote viewing
The Tuesday afternoon (1-5 p.m.) symposium events can be viewed remotely. If you plan to watch online only, there's no need to register. But make sure your computer is set up for Adobe Connect.
Here are some symposium activities. All events will be held in the Memorial Union.
Our last best hope?
Feb. 24, 8 p.m., Great Hall
Author Alan Weisman will share experts' bleak insights about overpopulation in a lecture that carries the same title as his recent book Countdown: Our Last Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
Poster presentations
Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun Room/South Ballroom
Dozens of posters on a variety of topics, including sustainable agriculture, sustainability in art and green student organizations, will be on display.
ISU leaders on successes, challenges
Feb. 25, 1-5 p.m., Sun Room/South Ballroom
Leaders across campus will discuss sustainability successes and challenges in areas such as information technology services, facilities planning and management, residence, transportation, purchasing and student activities. All symposium participants will join in a visioning session (4-4:20 p.m.). Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability will be presented, directly following the visioning session.
Reception
Feb. 25, 5-6 p.m., Sun Room/South Ballroom
Awards and sustainability poster session reception.
Sustainapalooza
Feb. 25, 5-8 p.m., Great Hall, South Ballroom, Sun Room
Visitors can take part in green-it-yourself demonstrations on upcycling T-shirts (BYOT, if desired), urban gardening, green transportation and waste diversion. They also can view students' 6-second Vine videos on how to make campus greener, walk the Live Green carpet and collect sustainability giveaways.
Climate preparedness in Iowa
Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m., Sun Room
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie will discuss "Climate Preparedness and Resilient Cities: What It Means in Iowa." Cownie is a member of a task force that will make recommendations to the White House on preparing at local levels for increasingly frequent extreme weather.
Food collection
Feb. 25, noon-8 p.m., outside Sun Room door
Students will collect food for the student-run, on-campus food pantry (The SHOP). Bring nonperishable items.
