MIT will celebrate Earth Week 2009 with four days of exhibitions, fairs and a film screening. The events begin on April 21 with a screening of "Our Daily Bread." Following the film Jamey Lionette of the South End's Lionettes Market will lead a discussion of the film and his role in the local food system.
The following day, April 22, the MIT Energy Initiative is sponsoring an Earth Day Colloquium with the Board Chairman of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), James J. McCarthy, in Kirsh Auditorium in the Stata Center.
McCarthy, the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography at Harvard University, teaches courses in ocean and climate science and oversees Harvard's program in Environmental Science and Public Policy. His research interests are related to marine plankton, biogeochemical cycles and climate. He has served on and led many national and international groups charged with planning and implementing studies of global change.
Another highlight of the week is the Earth Day Fair, an exhibition of environmental projects and resources on campus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. This is the trademark event of MIT Earth Week, with food, workshops, displays, giveaways and entertainment. A variety of MIT groups and vendors will be featured, with five major themes: energy conservation, food, green purchasing, recycling and transportation. For more information visit http://web.mit.edu/earthday.
The EcoExpo and Sustainability Summit Poster Session, a showcase of MIT student research and projects relating to sustainability, will be held Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Stata Center.
Wrapping up the week of events is the MIT Sustainability Summit on Friday, April 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., bringing together students, engineers, business leaders, academics, environmental activists and public servants to discuss the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to a sustainable world. For more information visit http://sustainabilitysummit.mit.edu.
MIT Earth Week 2009 is organized by the: Working Group Recycling Committee, Department of Facilities, Environmental Programs Office, MIT Energy Initiative, Sustainability@MIT, Campus Dining, & Division of Student Life.