University of Iowa Office of Sustainability and the Environment

Looking back at last year's fun finds during the Ashton Prairie BioBlitz! We're just one month away from doing it again this year! Find details and the registration link at https://events.uiowa.edu/86452

Event partners include University of Iowa Department of Biology, Macbride Nature Recreation Area, University of Iowa Landscape Services, University of Iowa Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums, University of Iowa Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, State Hygienic Laboratory, Iowa Athletics, Hubbell Environmental Law Initiative, and our Bee Campus Committee.

Today, we are thrilled to launch the Promise to the Planet campaign with Prompt for the Planet and The LENA Project. The Promise is inspired by the powerful vision of Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman 🌍 In 2018, Amanda urged people to speak for the Earth through poetry, art, and creativity🌱💚 Now, it's time to take the next step: ACTION

Imagine if everyone made a promise to better our planet. Imagine 8 billion actions each day—2.92 trillion acts a year. Together, we can create significant, positive change.

What’s your promise? Whether it’s reducing plastic use, conserving energy, planting trees, or any other eco-friendly action, every promise counts! No promise is too BIG or too small.

Here's how you can get involved:
💻Visit our website [link in bio] to get promise ideas, bit.ly/ipromisetotheplanet
📋Submit your promise using the form on our website
📍Pick up your promise pin at a participating establishment to remind you of your promise
💚Share your promise on social media using and inspire others to join.

Mark your calendars!

✔️ Popcorn! ✔️A movie! ✔️ A good cause!

Join us at for a screening of the documentary Common Ground Film on Wednesday, May 22nd to support our Grow program. Common Ground is the sequel to the documentary Kiss the Ground, which focused on the importance of soil health. Common Ground turns the light toward the money, power, and politics behind our broken food system.

The film will be followed by a panel discussion with Grow and Iowa Valley Resource Conservation & Development Executive Director Jason Grimm, Kate Giannini from the University of Iowa IIHR - Hydroscience and Engineering , Natasha Wilson from West Fork Farmstead, and Tommy Hexter from Iowa Farmers Union.

The Filmscene Community Collaboration is a pay-what-you-can admission with a suggested price of $10 per person, the proceeds directly support Grow. The film begins at 6:30 pm and is followed by a panel of speakers from our local food system. For more information, visit our Events page, the link is in our bio and stories.

Look at what your friends and neighbors have found so far this weekend! Join the fun and share your own discoveries. All you have to do is download the free iNaturalist app and take pics of wildlife. The challenge runs until midnight on Monday! Details at https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/city-nature-challenge

City Nature Challenge begins at midnight tonight! Join us at Macbride Nature Recreation Area on Saturday, or participate from anywhere in Johnson County all weekend long!

‘Things are still yet to be discovered’ - Macbride Nature Challenge set to help understand local wildlife Conrads said with documentation help from the community during the Macbride Nature Challenge, those who work on the habitat can get a better idea of everything in the almost 500 acres of land.

Dr. Heidi Roop, author of "The Climate Action Handbook," is coming to campus on Earth Day, April 22!

Check out this eye-opening excerpt from her book about the energy footprint of bottled water. Let's make a difference by swapping disposable bottles for reusable ones and utilizing refill stations around campus.

Join us for Heidi's insightful talk on Earth Day https://fb.me/e/6MekWAtms

🌍🔎Scientists are like detectives, uncovering secrets about our planet. But sometimes, they speak in a secret code – all those fancy equations and lab jargon!🔬

So, how can scientists get better at talking about their work? 🤔

Enter Dr. Heidi Roop! She’s on a mission to decode climate science. She’s creating special tools and techniques to help scientists communicate their research in a way that makes sense to everyone.

🗣Don’t miss two special Earth Day events on April 22 where she will use her communication skills to translate climate science and inspire climate action🌍🔬🌟

"Climate Solutions Surround Us" Earth Day Talk at the IMU - https://fb.me/e/6MekWAtms

"Heidi Roop in Conversation with Stratis Giannakouros Earth Day Event" at Prairie Lights Bookstore - https://fb.me/e/210qnUcha

📸: http://www.heidiroop.com/research.html

🌍🌷🌳Happy Earth Month! How will you celebrate this month? Find lots of opportunities at https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/earth-month

🌍It's almost Earth Month! Check out our Earth Month Hub to see what's happening around town. You can also submit your events to be listed on the Hub!🌳 https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/earth-month

Did you miss last night's workshop? Don't worry, there are two more opportunities to attend! Join us this Sunday at 1pm or next Thursday at 7pm https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/news/give-voice-planet-through-art

Check out this month's Sustainability Newsletter! You'll find lots of upcoming events and a variety of jobs and internship opportunities!
https://apps.its.uiowa.edu/dispatch/messages/view/a07cd452-268c-4cce-8a92-6184b0189d28

There are infinite research opportunities in sustainability! Learn about University of Iowa Ph.D. student Jamil Gafur’s computer science work that incorporates sustainability into energy efficiency in neural networks. ⚡️🔋💻

A recent study conducted by UI researcher shows that fires have undercut successful federal efforts to improve air quality.

The study titled “Long-term mortality burden trends attributed to black carbon and PM2.5 from wildfire emissions across the continental US from 2000-2020: a deep learning modelling study,” was conducted by Professor Jun Wang and a team of researchers at the University of Iowa College of Engineering.

Read the full article here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanplh/article/PIIS2542-5196(23)00235-8/fulltext

Images from Facing the Inferno: The Wildlife Photography of Kari Greer. An exhibit currently on display at The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums.

Learn about student and faculty experiences with research at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory. We love the APLL!! 🌿🌾

Read about them here: https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/news/ashton-prairie-living-laboratory-provides-unique-learning-opportunities

Check out our January newsletter! Lots of job and internship opportunities listed this month https://apps.its.uiowa.edu/dispatch/messages/view/40fdc9db-36f4-4d81-9bf1-03a8d8d96200

Check out our latest sustainability newsletter https://apps.its.uiowa.edu/dispatch/messages/view/deb0a759-f6a7-4270-8b15-18fad90687f5

Great job opportunity!

Program Coordinator, IIHR in Iowa City, Iowa, United States ​​The Program Coordinator, IIHR​ will contribute to the research mission of IIHR–Hydroscience and Engineering by supporting the...

Check out this month's newsletter!

The University of Iowa: October Sustainability News Join us in the Old Capitol Museum on November 6 for a thought-provoking and insightful panel discussion on climate and energy transitions, featuring three distinguished experts, including two Iowa alumni, at the forefront of sustainability and energy transitions.

Can't wait to watch this pollinator garden grow!

Exciting last minute add! Get you favorite shoes back in working order this weekend!

A late addition to our repair menu for Saturday!!! We're so excited that Demetrius from Vice on Prentiss Street will be joining us to share his skills!

Thank you to everyone who celebrated Earth Everyday with us. Special thanks to our partners Public Space One and The University of Iowa Pentacrest Museums for all the hard work, energy, and passion you put into planning the event!

Thank you to our participants and sponsors:
University of Iowa Landscape Services
Corridor Community Action Network
The LENA Project
Iowa City Public Library
University of Iowa Gardeners
Iowa Raptor Project
Macbride Nature Recreation Area
Wildlife Camps and School of the Wild
ENGIE
Environmental Coalition at Iowa - EnCo
Office of Community Engagement

And, thank you to Iowa City Landscaping & Garden Center for donating bamboo to make bee hotels!

Our community is full of talented people willing to help others!

https://sustainability.uiowa.edu/news/recycled-runway-fashion-show

Recycled Runway Fashion Show | Office of Sustainability and the Environment | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences | The University of Iowa The Recycled Runway Fashion Show reuses donated plastic bags by transforming them into clothing, using the skills of community designers and showcased by models. This is put on through the Event Management Workshop, a class through the event management certification program, and within it, six stude...

Cuteness overload!!! Don't miss the 2:45 Earth Everyday Color Guard today! Swing by early to make your own flag and join in the fun!

YOU’RE INVITED. Saturday, April 22, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Pentacrest. http://ow.ly/TYm650NCzYa

The UIBIO student organization is celebrating Earth Day this week with their annual Plant Sale! The last two selling days are today (Thursday, April 20) and tomorrow (Friday, April 21) in the Biology Building East Lobby (see times listed below). Stop by to check out the great prices and support UIBIO! All proceeds will help support future UIBIO events and activities. Cash is preferred but Venmo will also be accepted.

There are more than 2,500 repair cafes worldwide. This model, which started in Europe, is increasingly popular in the US. Volunteers get together to offer their repair skills free of charge at community events. Not only do repair cafes keep items out of landfills, but they help people learn new repair skills while also connecting with friends and neighbors. Iowa City is hosting its first Repair Cafe on May 6! https://www.facebook.com/icrepaircafe