A student talks with representatives from the Chattanooga Zoo at the Earth Day Environment and Sustainability Showcase in the University Center Chattanooga Room. Photo by Angela Foster.
April 22 was Earth Day, and the University of Tennessee celebrated what the day seeks to promote—sustainability and the importance of protecting our planet.
Sponsored by the environmental studies program, an interdisciplinary field that examines human interactions and the environment, the first UTC Earth Day Environment and Sustainability Showcase featured campus and community organizations emphasizing environmental protection.
Campus and community participants included the Chattanooga Zoo, Tennessee Aquarium, City of Chattanooga Office of Sustainability, Southeast Conservation Corp, Outdoor Chattanooga and UTC Student Sustainability Society.
Guests walked away with goodies such as plant seeds, sunflower plants, stickers and—for one lucky individual—a free semester-long bike rental raffled off by UTC Outdoors.
“Environmental studies is very interdisciplinary,” said Dr. Lucy Schultz, associate lecturer and co-director of the environmental studies program. “A big part of the emphasis of our curriculum is creating engagement and experiential learning through community partnerships. Having an event where we can bring together lots of organizations who are doing great work to promote sustainability and awareness is a way for us to do that work and get students involved.”
The environmental studies showcase allowed students to explore potential careers.
“It’s an opportunity for us to celebrate our graduating minors,” Schultz said. “We have four students graduating with their environmental studies minor this spring. We want to acknowledge them and give them a little something to acknowledge their effort in success.”
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Photo gallery by Angela Foster
