Earth Week 2013
April 8-11
15th Annual Earth Celebration: Caring for the Earth's Energy

All events are in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center unless noted otherwise. Thiel's Earth Week celebration events are free and open to the public. The events are sponsored by the Global Institute of Thiel College in partnership with the Student Life Office. Questions can be directed to Dr. Curt Thompson at 724-589-2106.

Monday, April 8

“Re-energizing America: The Promise of Renewable Energy” with Dan Chiras, author and green building consultant
7 p.m.
With more than 240 articles and 21 books about a variety of environmental and green building topics, Chiras will offer an overview of the current energy situation, nothing the impact of the end of cheap energy, the costs of climate change and the need for switching renewable energy resources. He will provide evidence that the world is on a path to a renewable energy economy. A book signing will follow.

Tuesday, April 9

“Children’s Workshop,” Rissell-Schreyer Dome
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Area grade school students (grades 4-6) are invited to participate in this workshop where presenters from the Carnegie Science Center of Pittsburgh will join with Thiel faculty and students in demonstrations and other activities. This workshop is also open to home-schooled children; to reserve a spot, call Dr. Nick Despo at 724-589-2067.

“Switch: To a Smarter Energy Future” Screening with Discussion
4 p.m.
Through a partnership with the Switch Energy Project for Energy Awareness and Efficiency, Thiel presents a documentary examining the future of energy resources — fossil, nuclear and renewable —across the world in a way that promotes balanced understanding. It also looks at the way we use energy, to realize the many economic and environmental benefits of efficiency.

“Geothermal Resource Assessment for New York and Pennsylvania” with Andrea Aguirre, Cornell University
7 p.m.
A graduate student in environmental and water resources systems engineering, Aguirre will present the results of the Cornell Energy Institute’s multi-year project on renewable geothermal resources in the northwestern United States and discuss possible uses of geothermal energy.

Wednesday, April 10

“The Basics of Fracking” with Todd Garcia-Bish, director of environmental education at Lutherlyn Bible Camp, and “Shale Gas: Follow the Science,” with Patrick Findle, business development director, Gas Technology Institute
4 p.m.
These presentations will be followed by a Q&A with the speakers.

“Gas Rush: A Reporter’s Perspective” with author and journalist Tom Wilber
7 p.m.
Wilber provides an overview of high volume hydraulic fracturing and related events and social influences that continue to play out—market dynamics; the anti-fracking movement; Home Rule and other legal challenges; and local, state and national politics influencing regulations. Wilber has been in the newspaper business for more than 20 years. He has reported on shale gas development in New York and Pennsylvania since 2008 and began writing about shale gas development full time in 2010.

Thursday, April 11
Quiet Riot: "The History and Future of Energy"
7 p.m.
Two brothers, David and Bill Mettler, better known as Quiet Riot, with degrees in aerospace engineering, environmental education and natural resource management, blend storytelling, comedy, mime, music and sound effects to reveal our interdependence with one another and the natural world, leading to the necessity of choosing clean renewable energy to power our lives.

About the Global Institute

The mission of the Global Institute is to foster consideration of issues related to sustainability, global economic development, and the environment. It's premier event of the year is the annual Earth Week celebration, which provides regional and national resources for reflecting on the identified theme of the year:

• Being Creative for the Earth in Economically Challenging Times (2011-2012)
• "Justice, Just Us and the Earth" (2010-2011)
• "Taking Care of the Earth" (2009-2010)
• "Regenerating the Earth" (2008-2009)
• "Honoring Earth's Hospitality" (2007-2008)
• “Exploring Earth’s Possibilities” (2006-2007)
• "Women and Children of the Earth” (2005-2006)
• “The Earth’s Cry for Justice” (2004-2005)
• "Befriending the Earth” (2003-2004)