In April , the University of Minnesota celebrates campus beautification and sustainability, starting with Beautiful U Day (Thursday, April 17) through Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22) and later. Both the academic community and the general public are invited to join in a variety of University-wide efforts toward improving our environment.

April 17

• Beautiful U Day
  The 10th anniversary of Beautiful U Day focuses on campus sustainability. Stay tuned to the Beautiful U Day Web site for the most up-to-date event details, as well as eco-conscious activities and grant-funded projects on all campuses. Highlights this year include:
  • 8:30-9:30am Beautiful U Day Kick-Off Event; U-Reuse Center
  • 10:30-11:00am Greening the West Bank; Humphrey Institute
  • 11:30-1:00pm Beautiful U Day Lunch; Northrup Plaza and the St. Paul Student Center
  • 4:30-5:30pm Beautiful Building Awards; Tate Lab Auditorium
  • 4:30-6:30pm Como Area Open House; Como and 29th Avenue

April 18

• Managing Stormwater Runoff; UMD Library Rotunda
  Learn about green roofs, rain gardens and other innovative efforts to protect Lake Superior by managing stormwater run-off. A preview tour of the rain gardens and grounds at the new Labovitz School of Business and Economics will follow. Contact Candice Richards at 218-726-8261 for more info.

April 19

• Respect Your Mother Earth Fest; UMD
  For the third year in a row, the Earth Club at the University of Minnesota, Duluth will host a day-long festival that includes music, vendors, artists and activities to celebrate and promote environmentalism in the local community (partially funded by the Institute on the Environment). more>>

April 20

• Earth Day Twin Cities, 6:30-10 p.m.; outside Burrito Loco; 13th Ave., Dinkytown
  Join YEA! Minnesota, Sierra Club North Star Chapter, the Will Steger Foundation, Mayor R.T. Rybak and leaders from the youth climate movement for an evening of live music by local bands, inspiring speakers and a “clean car” show. more>>

• Reflections on our Earth: Poetry Reading, 7 p.m.; Bell Museum of Natural History
  Celebrate National Poetry Month with readings by poets from the Laurel Poetry Collective. more>>

April 21

• Great University Power-Down
  University Services will challenge the campus to save as much electricity as possible during a 12-hour period. More details TBA.

April 22

• Gopher Spot-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 8:00am; Gopher Spot, St. Paul Campus Student Center. Help us repurpose our coffee/soda travel mugs which have our old logo. Come in, get a FREE mug or cup and your first cup of coffee/soda is Free! (only while supplies last)

• Eco-Expo, 9:00am - 3:00pm; Rapson Hall Courtyard
  Hosted by the College of Design, this free event includes vendors from the Twin Cities metro area who sell sustainable products and services. Attend workshops on reducing your carbon footprint, alternative housing, and energy efficiency and solar. Organic snacks and coffee will be served. more>>

• Electronics Recycling Day
  The Humphrey Institute’s Public Affairs Student Association is planning an electronics recycling day (and possibly a river cleanup). More details TBA.

• Free Ice Cream Cones beginning at 11:00am; Gopher Spot, St. Paul Campus Student Center (while supplies last)

April 24-27

• Climate Change Film Festival; Bell Museum of Natural History
  The Science on Screen Film and Video Festival will focus a lens on climate change and global warming. Featuring a new documentary and fiction films, short videos, discussions and workshops exploring the science and culture of our changing climate. Highlights include an opening night reception, a local Green Shorts short film showcase, and a panel discussion on food and global warming at the Red Stag, the first LEED-certified restaurant in Minneapolis. Co-sponsored by the Bell Museum and the Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Initiative. more>>