BY Vicky Brito
The Office of Sustainability at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley held their annual Earth Fest, Wednesday, April 19, which brought sustainable living experts and representatives to the campus to promote how we can make a difference in our environment each day.
Earth Fest is held in conjunction with Earth Day, which is set for Saturday, April 22. Earth Day is a global celebration to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
The celebration, which started on the Brownsville campus, began with a symposium that featured three speakers:
? Humberto Sanchez, a former NASA engineer
? Dr. Isaac Azuz Adeath, a physical oceanologist, Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior Universidad in Mexico
? Dr. Matthew Garcia, a governmental consultant, formerly with the U.S. Department of Energy
These speakers used their expertise and experience to present on space preservation, oceanology and the effects of climate change.
Students from Brownsville’s Incarnate Word Academy presented the works of their yearly Trashion Show where they created clothes from recycled materials. Two seventh graders from the private Catholic school displayed their costumes based off Star Wars androids R2-D2 and C3-PO.
The symposium also featured three mechanical engineering students who are a part of UTRGV’s South Texas Industrial Assessment Center. Since its creation in 2017, the STIAC has already conducted two energy and waste assessments. The students involved with STIAC get first-hand experience on conducting assessments and making energy and money saving recommendations.
“It is a great experience working on these assessments and meeting the personnel,” said mechanical engineering graduate student Ana Alfaro. “We would like to one day become energy experts, so this is helpful to attaining that goal.”
After the symposium, an outdoor exhibition was held on the Student Union lawn where tables lined the sidewalks with presentations on sustainable practices.
UTRGV Parking and Transportation also participated in the event to promote the shuttle system and bike share program at the university.
Jasmine De La Fuente, a sophomore social work major, said the department helps not only the environment, but the health of individuals.
“We need an Earth that is clean, and we all can do our part,” De La Fuente said. “Taking the shuttle is good for the environment and saves you gasoline, and riding bikes on campus, as opposed to driving, is better for your health.”
Sophomore international business major, Denisce Palacios, said she attended the expo to see what the university has to offer in regards to sustainable practices.
“I am very interested in promoting environmental awareness because I feel like it’s not as big as it should be in the Valley” she said. “I hope that events like Earth Fest bring awareness to the effects of environmental hazards.”
Earth Fest will also be held on Thursday, April 20, on the Edinburg Campus with the symposium beginning at 9 a.m. at the University Ballroom and the Expo starting at noon on the Chapel Lawn.
