The University’s Department of Geography, Planning, and Sustainability (GPS) hosted a ‘Re-usable Brown Bag Chat-a-Thon’ via Zoom in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
The idea of hosting the ‘Chat-a-Thon’ came from Professor Robert Bristow, Ph.D., who hoped that a session would enlighten faculty, staff, and students about the significance of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
Throughout the session, various GPS professors covered a plethora of topics. Associate Professor and Department Chair Brain Conz, Ph.D., welcomed attendees with an overview and history of Earth Day; acknowledging how the celebration of Earth Day had come about, and the progress humans have made in making sure the Earth is habitable for years to come.
There were appearances and presentations given by Professor Carsten Braun, Ph.D. who covered the topic of sustainable energy; Assistant Professor Dristi Neog, Ph.D., who explained the significance of sustainability through transportation planning; Assistant Professor Samuel Ndegeah, Ph.D., who touched on the subject of contemporary global issues; and Professor Karl Leiker, Ph.D., who covered and acknowledged the growing need to understand the issue of climate change.
The virtual “Chat-a-Thon” brought in students, faculty, and staff from different departments on campus and enabled attendees to gain a sense of why Earth Day is such an important day in the history of protecting the planet.