April Highlights Sustainability on the UA Campus

Photo Submitted

The University of Arkansas is hosting several events for the month of April in celebration of Earth Day 2012. The Office for Campus Sustainability, the Applied Sustainability Center, Student Sustainability Council, and the Sustainability Minor will all hold events throughout the month.

The Office for Campus Sustainability seeks vendors for this year’s Earth Day Fair on Thursday, April 26, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Union’s Connection Lounge. The theme is “Arkansas Environmental Education, Awareness, and Stewardship.” Anyone who fits this description is encouraged to attend and bring educational material for the public.

Organizations may request space by completing a reservation form found online. There is no cost for vendors tand sales are prohibited. The registration deadline is April 20 and space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis to approximately 50 entities.

The Student Sustainability Council will hold a bicycle awareness campaign on Tuesday, April 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Arkansas Union Mall. There will be Bike shops, bands and burgers. A local bike shop will do free tune-ups and there will be an ice-cream bike. University bicyclists will be able  to register their bike or show that your bike is registered to get entered into a drawing.

The Applied Sustainability Center, along with the Associated Student Government, will host a series about the “Role of Sustainability in Business.” The lecture series will take place every Wednesday in April in Walker Hall Auditorium. The goal of the lecture series is to showcase the importance of sustainability in business and to inspire students to increase their understanding and knowledge of sustainability. Snacks will be served at the event.


In celebration of the first year of the Foundations of Sustainability minor at the University of Arkansas, students will display posters highlighting accomplishments of their capstone projects in sustainability. Approximately 25 students completed the capstone requirement for the Foundations of Sustainability minor during the first year of the program. Each student in the minor must complete an internship, service learning project, or research project focused on sustainability.  The posters will highlight the creativity, dedication, and activism of UA students interested in creating a more sustainable university and society. All members of the public and the University of Arkansas community at large are invited to view these posters throughout the day.  Time and location to be announced.