Performers, speakers, educational opportunities, games, interactive activities and more will mark Earth Day festivities from noon to 4 p.m. on Friday, April 22.

The Earth Day Celebration, taking place that time between Marano Campus Center and Cooper Dining Center, is hosted by the Student Association, the Office of Sustainability and numerous campus clubs and orgs. An additional keynote talk will take place in Lanigan Hall.

Organizers said more than 30 clubs, organizations and departments will host educational and fun activities that include printmaking, e-bikes, henna artists, chalk art, hammocking, games and more. WNYO staff will emcee activities.

Singer/songwriter alumnus Taylor Ricks will headline performances with sets from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Other performers will include student groups and individuals Del Sarte Dance Company, Gospel Choir and K the Vocalist. 

Speakers will include Nicole Rose, the Student Association director of sustainability; emerita and community member/activist Betsy McTiernan; and technology education faculty member and alumna Karin Dykeman.

Keynote speaker

In addition, a keynote talk from Chris Renschler, professor of geography and Fulbright Scholar from the University at Buffalo, titled “Caring for the Earth and its People: Build a Career Out of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals)” will take place in 102 Lanigan Hall at 12:40 p.m.

Renschler will address how, since the adoption of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by all United Nations Member States in 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been used to form collaborations between various stakeholders, rightsholders and industries with multiple levels of government. Ranging from international, national, state and local to even neighborhood and family-scale, the main challenges lie in forming multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural partnerships with individuals giving their best to collaborate across disciplinary, cultural and administrative borders.

A crucial step in creating these collaborations is the education and integration of the next generation of students that have to carefully navigate the stormy waters of past historical realities, current limitations and future looming crises, organizers said. The speaker will share strategies for students to analyze and prepare themselves for careers in a field that bridges industry, administration and government to successfully link, integrate and develop future collaborations linking peoples’ interests and expertise that requires one to step out of conventional procedures.

The speaker led the development of the Outsteps org network in creating a regional network of expertise and knowledge to work on sustainability and community resilience and will describe how students can create their future careers in this field of work.