Earth Week Events Reflect VWU’s Environmental Leadership

On the heels of a recent report that Norfolk has the highest rate of sea level rise on the East Coast, Earth Week at VWU demonstrated the University’s leadership role in Coastal Virginia’s environmental issues.

During the week-long slate of events, presented in partnership with the City of Virginia Beach and the Gunn Group, students, experts and business leaders discussed multiple aspects of the climate crisis, including its evolution, impacts and potential solutions.

Incorporated into Earth Week was the spring 2023 Marlin Business Conference “A Greener Tomorrow,” which focused on environmentally friendly career opportunities and sustainable business practices. The student-led conference featured guest lectures from professionals at the Port of Virginia, Elizabeth River Project and other organizations.

Earth Week events also included “Protein Wars” presented by Dr. Sid Dobrin ’89 and “Greasy Rider: Two Dudes, One Fry-Oil-Powered Car, and a CrossCountry Search for a Greener Future” presented by author Greg Melville through VWU’s Robert Nusbaum Center.

“I'm a huge fan of Virginia Wesleyan's commitment to sustainability,” Melville said, “and I'm excited that I could contribute to the conversation on campus.”

Earth Week’s hallmark event, “Generations Uniting to Address Climate Change,” featured a panel of experts from science, policy and communication backgrounds: Capt. David Dees, chief of staff, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Jamie Margolin, student activist and author of “Youth To Power: Your Voice and How To Use It”; Bob Ryan, former “Today Show” meteorologist; Marcus Smaltz, VWU senior who conducted research on extreme heat in Virginia Beach; and Skip Stiles, executive director of Wetlands Watch. Lee Gunn, VADM (RET) USN, moderated the discussion.

VWU closed out the week by celebrating the 2022 Tree Campus Higher Education recognition bestowed by the Arbor Day Foundation. Only 411 campuses across the United States have been honored with this recognition.