Annual Earth Day Symposium Expands to Earth Week at Fullerton College
When it comes to environmental activism and discussing challenges and solutions to protect the Earth, a single day is simply not enough. Fullerton College is taking it one step further this year by hosting a series of activities for Earth Week. The events will culminate to the main event – the annual Earth Day Symposium featuring internationally renowned author and environmental science historian Dr. Naomi Oreskes on April 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Campus Theatre.
Oreskes is a Harvard science historian, geologist, and the author of Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Climate Change. Earth Week events and the Earth Day Symposium provide several opportunities to engage in community discussion, learn about sustainability, and connect with resources.
“Sustainability isn’t just about the things you can do to stop climate change, corporate excess, or reduce utility usage. It’s also just as much about learning to rely on those closest to you, like shopping locally, sharing resources to better re-use instead of buying new, and spreading green practices to your friends and family,” said Interim Director of Sustainability Tyler Deacy.
Deacy said the decision to expand Earth Day to Earth Week was to bring members of the campus together to do more in community with one another. For example, from April 18 – 20, a community resource fair will take place on the quad each day. The fair will feature a variety of community partner booths including OCTA, Irvine Ranch Conservancy, Southern California Edison Mobile Education Unit, Eco Now, OC Conservation Corps, and many others. There will also be alternative fuel vehicles parked outside of the library on April 19 and 20 since the theme of this year’s Earth Week is all about alternative transportation, Deacy said.
The community resource fair will take place on April 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on the quad and on April 20 from 12 – 3 p.m. on the quad.
Additionally on April 18 at 7:30 p.m., the campus community can pull up a lawn chair and blanket on the quad for a screening of the documentary Merchants of Doubt based on the book by Oreskes and Erik Conway. The film traces the use of public relations tactics that were originally developed by the tobacco industry to protect their business from research indicating health risks from smoking. Associated Students will provide refreshments during the screening.
Oreskes will then headline the Earth Day Symposium on April 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Campus Theatre. As a leading voice on the issue of anthropogenic climate change, Oreskes is internationally renowned and has written scholarly books and articles on the history of the Earth and environmental science.
The Earth Day Symposium and all Earth Week events are free and open to the public. To guarantee a seat at the Earth Day Symposium on April 20 RSVP on Eventbrite.
