Creating a sustainable environment
Valeria Henderson | THE RIDER
Earth Fest at UTRGV continues via Zoom through Friday with a series of events co-hosted by the School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences and the Office for Sustainability.
Morning sessions are taking place from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday and Friday. Admission is free. A virtual movie screening is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. To access the sessions, click here.
“We designed it a little different this year and decided to use the sustainable development goals that are specifically in contribution of protecting our planet, protecting our natural resources to create a whole week of presentations,” said Marianella Franklin, chief sustainability officer for the Office for Sustainability. “So, the sessions we have each day revolve around one of those goals.”
Each morning session is connected to a sustainable development goal. UTRGV students and faculty are working on many projects to preserve the soil and land, Franklin said.
“We don’t want to create more doom and gloom; there’s been enough of that,” she said. “Our intent is not to point the finger at the problem. That’s not what sustainability is. Sustainability is a problem-solving approach, so it’s all about the positive solution.”
Wednesday’s session, “Life Below Water,” will focus on Goal No. 14, which seeks to protect marine and coastal ecosystems. Presenters will be the Mathematics and Science Academy sustainability ambassadors, who will speak on the topic, “SDG #14 in the RGV”; the Natural Resources Defense Council, “Protect the High Seas,”; Sea Turtle Inc., “Sea Turtle Conservation … Live Hatchling Release”; Assistant Professor Christopher Gabler, “Sea Level Rise and Climate Impacts in the RGV Coastline”; and Shelby Bessette, program manager of the South Padre Island-Coastal Studies Lab, “Plastic Pollution and Nurdle Patrol.”
Thursday’s movie will be “A Life on Our Planet,” directed by David Attenborough.
Sustainability Development Goal No.7: Affordable and Clean Energy is the topic of Friday’s session. Speakers include Tracy Deadman regional operations manager for RWE Renewables, “Wind Energy in the RGV … Magic Valley Windfarm”; JJ Serrano, “Sustainability at H-E-B … Weslaco Distribution Center Rooftop Solar”; Associate Professor M. Jasim Uddin and Sustainability Fellow Haimanti Majumder, “Dye Sensitized Solar Cell.”
Gabler, who teaches in the School of Earth, Environmental and Marine Sciences and has a joint appointment in the Biology Department, is the program coordinator for the bachelor of science program in sustainable agriculture and food systems, said there are many ways UTRGV students can get involved in helping the environment.
“Specific ways to get involved, our doors are open if anyone does want to get right to the point and come and work at the [Brownsville Research and Community Gardens] or work at the nursery and volunteer to grow these [native] trees,” Gabler said. “Or, I could encourage them just to patronize these places where we’re planting. So, most of the places we’re planting them are national wildlife refuges around the [Rio Grande] Valley, places like Laguna Atascosa and Santa Ana and the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge.”
Julie Mustard, an associate professor in the Biology Department, was one of the presenters during Tuesday’s session about life on land. She spoke about the Pollinator Cantina and native plants for native pollinators.
“We encourage people to start a conversation about [the environment], either at school or at home,” Mustard said. “And think about, just think about one thing that you can change. Start recycling, start composting, reduce pesticide use, plant just a few pollinator flowers. If everybody planted just a few in their yard, it would make a huge difference. So, if you just think about doing one thing, that could have an impact.”
Planting native trees and plants can bring more bees to pollinate, which will improve the growth of fruits and vegetables, she said.
Monday’s session focused on Sustainability Development Goal No. 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
