This week is Earth Week, and that includes — well, everybody.
Many clubs and organizations at Cal Poly are participating to put sustainability-focused Earth Week events together. Much of the week was organized by three students: president of Surfrider Club Marisa Miller, Green Campus team manager Audri Long and Green Campus team member Logan Babcock.
“We try to cater Earth Week to be open and welcoming to everyone,” environmental management and protection sophomore Miller said. “That’s why we have such different events that are kind of directed towards different people.”
That includes everything from — but not limited to — festivals, beach cleanups, learning about starting a career in sustainability, and simply enjoying nature.
“My goal is to have more conversations,” environmental earth and soil science senior Long said. “I’m hoping more people are exposed to not just facts, but people and communities that are working on these things and how important it is to them and engaging with them and having conversations with them.”
Tuesday
Careers in Sustainability
Three professionals from San Luis Obispo County will come to Cal Poly to talk about their careers and how their industry interacts with sustainability. There will be a chance for students to ask questions, and a “speed-dating” session at the end so each student gets an opportunity to talk to the professionals one-on-one.
“[It is] a really good way to get engaged with people around us who are in great spots in their careers and have seen a lot of the industry,” Logan said.
Chumash Auditorium
11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Create Your Own Cleantech Company
This event is “geared towards students who are interested in creating their own startups with a sustainability-oriented goal,” Miller said.
There will be a panel of representatives from organizations and Cleantech startup companies describing resources available to students and how to further develop a company or product. Students do not need to have an idea to attend.
“They just have to be interested in it,” Miller said. “They might have an idea, they might have a team, they might have neither, and any of that is fine.”
The event is free, but students need to reserve a spot.
Julian A. McPhee University Union, Room 220
7 p.m.-9 p.m.
Wednesday
Solar Farm Tour
Check out the solar farm along Highway 1 that provides about 25 percent of Cal Poly’s energy, according to Long.
Cal Poly Solar Farm
10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Surfrider Make Waves Film Fest
The Surfrider Foundation will host a film festival featuring student-made films, food, live music, art, and information booths about their projects.
The films are all either made by students, students’ friends, or organizations that Surfrider has worked with, according to Miller.
“The goal of the whole film fest is to get people really fired up and inspired to protect the places they love,” Miller said. “We wanted to tie it into the community here more and make people see that they can do these things, too.”
The tickets are all donation-based, suggested at $7,“but you can give as much or as little as you can afford because we wanted to keep it open so everyone can come,” Miller said.
All of the proceeds go to Surfrider programs and include watching the films, seeing the art, and food.
Advanced Technologies Lab (building 7, room 2)
6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Thursday
Earth Week Festival
More than 30 clubs and organizations will table to put on an Earth Week Festival on campus.
“There’s a good amount of non-profits and organizations within the county and town that want to come on campus and talk to people, so I like fusing communities so it makes me happy,” Long said.
Dexter Lawn
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Future of Food with the Real Food Collaborative
Real Food Collaborative, a local organization that provides vegetable box subscriptions from local organic farms, will put on a documentary and a potluck in the University Union.
“They help bring fresh local produce to students in a really grassroots kind of way that connects people,” Miller said.
Julian A. McPhee University Union, room 220
7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Saturday
SLO Earth Day Festival
Earth Day Alliance will host its 29th annual Earth Day Festival at Laguna Lake with both on- and off-campus organizations.
This year’s theme is “Bee the Change.” The student-designed logo features a large monarch butterfly with a small bee in it to celebrate not only the earth at large, but specifically San Luis Obispo County.
“San Luis Obispo is a captivating place with some of the best views. I appreciate organizations or events that celebrate and support the beauty of this area happy and to be able to work with one,” artist and Cal Poly student David “Dingo” Carter said in a press release.
The event will feature live music, as well as more than 60 exhibits hosted by students, non-profits, business and government agencies.
Laguna Lake
11 a.m.-5 p.m.