Category Archives: Events

Exploring the Nature of Illinois

Dr. Michael Jeffords and Ms. Susan Post
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
7 pm
Center for Natural Sciences (CNS) C101

Dr. Michael Jeffords and Ms Susan Post will present their explorations of the stunning landscapes of the prairies, lakesides, river bottoms, and woodlands of Illinois.  These findings were highlighted in their recently published book,Exploring Nature in Illinois: A Field Guide to the Prairie State.  Dr. Jeffords is the retired education/outreach director for the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and was staff photographer for The Illinois Steward magazine.  Ms. Post is a retired INHS research scientist and staff writer for The Illinois Steward magazine, and author of Hiking Illinois. They are co-authors of Illinois Wilds.
Sponsored by the JWP Audubon, the IWU Biology Department, and the IWU Environmental Studies Program.

 

People’s Climate March

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 4 p.m.
103, State Farm Hall

Join Professor of History Tom Lutze and local high school students Nate Jahiel and Christian Prenzler, who just returned from the People’s Climate March in NYC, the largest climate march in history — 400,000 strong! They will share their first-hand experiences, share photos and videos, have discussion about the political significance of this march, and compare the People’s Climate March to other massive demonstrations since the 1960s.

Sponsor: Sierra Student Coalition, Environmental Studies, and the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice.

Tap into WaterAid 

Monday-Tuesday, April 21-22

Memorial Center Dugout and Lobby, State Farm Hall

Wednesday, April 23
The Ames Library

Students from Health 280: Perspectives in International Health are raising money and awareness to bring safe water and sanitation to millions of people in need through the organization WaterAid. 

To donate and learn more about WaterAid, visit their tables in the Dugout from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. or the State Farm Hall Lobby from 1-3 p.m. on Monday or Tuesday, April 21-22, or at The Ames Library from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23.

Calendar of Events

Sustainability Events – View as Google Calendar

Wednesday, April 9
Presentation: The True Cost of Coal
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Eckley Quadrangle 
The Beehive Collective will present the story of coal across time and how it is affecting our health, the environment and the economy.
A lecture also is scheduled in the CNS Atrium at 7 p.m.
Co-sponsored by IWU’s Sierra Student Coalition with support from Student Senate and the IWU Environmental Studies Program.

Thursday, April 3
The Echoes of their Wings: The Life and Legacy of the Passenger Pigeon
7 p.m.
C101, CNS
Joel Greenberg, naturalist, writer, and environmental consultant, will speak about the legacy of the passenger pigeon. The passenger pigeon was unlike any other bird. It probably numbered in the billions, making it the most abundant bird in North America, if not the world. But this huge population was neither evenly distributed across the landscape nor was it any way cryptic: the species often formed aggregations so vast they are difficult for us to imagine. But despite that abundance, exploitation for food and recreation destroyed the species in the wild by the first few years of the 20th century. On Sept. 1, 1914, Martha, the last of the species, died in the Cincinnati Zoo. This talk explores the story of the bird and highlights the important lessons that it presents to those of us in the 21st century. Sponsor: John Wesley Powell Audubon, IWU Biology Department and the IWU Environmental Studies program
Saturday, April 12
9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Shirk Center Arena and classrooms
As the spring season kicks into gear, there’s no better time to focus on creating a healthy mind, body, community and environment. Join IWU Wellness and The Ecology Action Center for the 9th annual Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo (ISLWE) where you will discover a diversity of exhibitors and presenters that provide resources and services about living well and living free. Entry is FREE and everyone is welcome.

Earth Hour

On Saturday, March 29, from 8:30-9:30 p.m., cities around the world will participate in Earth Hour 2014. People are urged to join together to turn off their nonessential lights and equipment for one hour.

This symbolic effort is intended to raise awareness about how energy efficiency and conservation can help reduce the negative impacts of global climate change.

Emergency Public Meeting on Mahomet Aquifer

The City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal are sponsoring an emergency public meeting:

Mahomet Aquifer Summit
Saturday, Feb. 22,  9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Uptown Station (4th floor), 11 Uptown Circle in Normal

PLEASE ATTEND!

Briefly, a local disposal company is seeking approval to operate a chemical waste storage facility near the Clinton, Ill., Landfill site, a short distance from Bloomington/Normal. If approved, large quantities of the banned toxic chemical Polychlorinated Biphenyls, commonly referred to as PCBs, will be moved to the Clinton site. One of many concerns is that this facility would sit directly over the Mahomet Aquifer which provides drinking water for over 1,000,000 people in Central Illinois. Please consider attending for any or all of the meeting. The agenda:

McLean County Mahomet Aquifer Summit

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Uptown Station

4th Floor

11 Uptown Circle

Normal, IL   61761

 

Moderator – Steve Carter, retired City Manager, Champaign

 

 

9:00 a.m.       Registration

9:30                Overview of the Mahomet Aquifer and Sole Source Designation Application

  • Allen Wehrman, Project Engineer, Layne Hydro

 

10:15              Legal Challenges

  • Joe Hooker, Assistant City Attorney, Champaign, IL

10:45              Why Do We Need to Protect Our Aquifer?

  • Remarks by Selected Local, State and Federal Elected Officials

 

12:00 p.m.       Lunch (provided by the Town of Normal)

12:45              Citizen Advocacy Panel…

“Next Steps?  What Can We Do?” 

  • John Marlin, Prairie Rivers Network
  • Steve Bridges, Mahomet Aquifer Alliance    
  • Angelo Capparella, John Wesley Powell Audubon Society

 

2:00                Closing Comments –

  • Mark Peterson, City Manager, Normal

 

For more information, contact Mark Peterson, Town of Normal City Manager.

 

GREENetwork Meetings

Any faculty, staff member or student is invited to join the GREENetwork at our meetings.

This semester we will meet about every two weeks on Thursdays at 12:15 p.m., tentatively scheduled in the Titan Room, Memorial Center:

  • Feb. 13
  • Feb. 27
  • March 20
  • April 3
  • April 17

Feel free to contact a co-chair if you have any questions.

The Expo’s FREE-4-All

Don’t throw it away! Give it away!

In the tradition of Ecology Action Center’s semi-annual FREE-4-ALL, we will be creating an opportunity to give away your unwanted stuff and to take what you like – FOR FREE!

Here are the rules:

Household Items

*Knick-knacks, lamps, vases, paintings, prints etc. Items must be clean and in good condition.

*No large furniture, please.

Clothing Items

Bring in gently used adult or children’s clothing.

*Clothes should be clean and in good shape.

And the popular FREE-4-ALL Toy Giveaway! 

Bring in your gently used toys to give away to others.

*Toys should be in good shape (all parts and pieces etc.) and clean.

Please bring items that deserve a second life to the IWU Wellness Office by April 9. Please contact us with questions or if you need help with pickup, ext. 3334 or wellness@iwu.edu.

Donated items will be available at the Illinois Sustainable Living & Wellness Expo
Saturday, April 12
9 a.m.-4 p.m.,
Shirk Center

Nature Photographer Tom Ulrich

Wed, March 5, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
C101, CNS
A presentation will be given by renowned nature photographer Tom Ulrich. His work has been featured in National Geographic, National Wildlife, Time, Audubon and many other publications. Originally from Illinois, Ulrich now resides outside of Glacier National Park in Montana, but returns to Illinois each year on his photo tour. Every year he dazzles his audiences with amazing photographs, tips for photographers and humorous narration. This year’s focus will be on the nature of Florida, Glacier National Park in Montana, and South Texas, and a special feature will include photographs from his travels to Rome, Greece and Turkey. Open to all. Sponsor: John Wesley Powell Audubon