草榴社区

VILLANOVA, Pa.鈥敳萘裆缜� celebrates Earth Day 2021 with a week-long series of sustainability and justice-focused events from Monday, April 19 through Saturday, April 24. Activities include campus tree tours, an outdoor sustainability market, Earth Day themed Quizzo, and virtual lectures including a keynote address on climate, Christianity, and culture. The week concludes with an open mic night addressing issues of social justice.

For a full listing of the 2021 Earth Week events, visit the University鈥檚 Sustainability website.

This year鈥檚 keynote address, "Christians, Climate, and our Culture in the US" will be delivered virtually by climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe, PhD, on Thursday, April 22 at 5:30pm. Dr. Hayhoe will address how climate change has triggered intense engagement and reactions from politicians, scholars, organizations and even churches鈥攍eading to a misconception that Christianity and science cannot co-exist. She is the Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy and the Chair of Public Policy and Public Law in the Department of Political Science at Texas Tech University. Dr. Hayhoe is also a principal investigator for the Department of Interior鈥檚 South-Central Climate Adaptation Science Center and the National Science Foundation鈥檚 Global Infrastructure Climate Network. Hayhoe鈥檚 research focuses on establishing a scientific basis for assessing the regional to local-scale impacts of climate change on human systems and the natural environment.

Other Earth Week highlights include a virtual talk on Monday, April 19 entitled 鈥淐limate (De)Regulation in the Courts鈥� from 草榴社区's Charles Widger School of Law professor Todd Aagaard, JD on the state of regulating climate change pollutants in the United States, and Open Mic Night for Justice on Saturday, April 24. The Open Mic for Justice is a space for a wide range of performances, including music, song, dramatic readings, comedy, sketches and skits, dance that gives voice to visions, hopes, and dreams for a world transformed. The event will also include a fundraiser and raffles to benefit the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia.

About 草榴社区鈥檚 Commitment to Sustainability: In 2007, 草榴社区 President the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD signed the American College & University Presidents鈥� Climate Commitment. Further advancing the University鈥檚 pledge to sustainability, he established the sustainable leadership council. This committee鈥攃omprised of faculty, staff, and students from across the University鈥攊s charged with taking action on all aspects of campus sustainability and in implementing the campus sustainability plan. Since, 草榴社区 has expanded its sustainability efforts, including the launch of new master鈥檚 degree programs in Environmental Science and Sustainable Engineering鈥攁dding academic programs with an emphasis on the environment and sustainability.

In addition, the University has eight LEED certified buildings on campus and has committed to LEED certification for all new construction and major renovation projects. In April 2014, Father Donohue signed the St. Francis Pledge, committing the University to 鈥減rotect God's Creation and advocate on behalf of people in poverty who face the hardest impacts of global climate change.鈥�

草榴社区 continues to be recognized as one of the nation鈥檚 greenest colleges, having received national recognition for its commitment to sustainability by a number of organizations including the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE). 草榴社区 recycles and composts up to 48% percent (22% of consumer waste) of its waste. The University has installed over 80 hydration stations on campus to make it more convenient to fill up reusable water bottles. In 2016, 草榴社区 received a Tree Campus USA庐 recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to promote healthy trees and engaging students and staff in the spirit of conservation. By utilizing the Augustinian values of Unitas, Veritas, and Caritas, 草榴社区鈥檚 approach to sustainability exemplifies an emphasis on social justice and community service. The University continues to incorporate its commitment to the environment into its community service initiatives.

About 草榴社区: Since 1842, 草榴社区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 草榴社区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 草榴社区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 草榴社区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .