SIU celebrates Earth Month in April
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is celebrating Earth Month in April with a variety of special activities, highlighted by the Green Fund Award Ceremony later this month.
The university, and its sustainability office, is partnering with the city of Carbondale to offer events all across town, all month long, including planting projects, story hours, scavenger hunts, workshops, a tree planting and much more. This year’s Earth Month theme is “Planets vs. Plastics.”
“According to EarthDay.org, 100 billion plastic beverage containers were sold last year in the United States, which averages more than 300 bottles per person,” said Aimee Lemrise, director of sustainability. She noted that while a small percentage are converted into park benches, none become new plastic bottles and “95% of all plastics in the U.S. won’t be recycled at all, leaving the demand for virgin plastic undiminished.”
The culmination of each year’s sustainability and “green” activities at SIU is the Green Fund Grant Award Ceremony, slated for 3 p.m. April 24 at the John C. Guyon Auditorium in Morris Library this year. At that time, the winners of the Green Fund grants will be announced.
Students, faculty and staff work hard to create proposals for diverse sustainability projects. Prior to the 2024 awards, more than $3.5 million in grants has been allocated for 325 unique projects since the adoption in 2009 of a student Green Fee of about $10 per semester. A student-led initiative launched the Green Fund Grant Program.
The ceremony will also feature the award of the inaugural Student Writing Competition scholarship. Students were invited to write essays relating how the Imagine 2030 sustainability pillar relates to their interests and how they are personally impacted by sustainability. The winner will claim a $750 scholarship and share their essay during the awards ceremony.
Other awards and presentations will take place as well, including the Environmental Ambassador Awards, which honor students who volunteer numerous hours toward sustainability efforts. A reception will follow the ceremony.
To learn more about SIU sustainability and find the complete schedule of events for Earth Month, visit the Office of Sustainability website, email sustainability@siu.edu or call 618-453-2846.
Lemrise said efforts are underway to create an ongoing sustainability mindset at SIU and persuade people to embrace sustainability as a lifestyle and practice. She encourages people to share their sustainable living practices, gardening tips, Farmers Market finds or similar things by tagging SIU sustainability on social media or emailing sustainability@siu.edu.