Earth Week 2022

Happy Sunday & start of Earth Week!

The Sustainability Initiative  sent out Simple Sustainable Swaps for every day of Earth Week -> little changes the RSMAS community can make in their daily life to live more sustainably!

Our first recommendation is to buy less:

• Use what you already have
• Fix something “broken”
• Give a new purpose to an item (old t shirt = great rag)
• When you do buy something new, ask yourself:
  •  How often will I be using this item? 
  • What will happen to this item after I am finished with it? 
  • Where did this item come from? 
  • Do I really need this? 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

The Sustainability Initiative teamed up with Salt, offering plant based specials for every day of Earth Week.

Specials Offered During Earth Week

• Black Bean & Avocado Burrito - Flour tortilla, White Rice, Black Beans, Avocado, Pico de Gallo, with a Side of Chips & Salsa 
• Gardenburger with a side of Gazpacho Pasta
• Vegan Paella - Rice topped with Kale, Garbanzo, Artichoke Hearts, Heart of Palm, Sun-Dry Tomatoes, Peppers, etc... Served with Maduros
• Spicy Peanut Butter Pasta (Like Pad Thai) (**Has Peanut Butter**) topped with Veggies, Peanuts, & Cilantro
• Veggie Fried Rice with Veggie Spring Rolls 

Yum, thank you Salt and Aaron Freedman!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

The Sustainability Initiative collected glass jars from the RSMAS community for a month leading up to Earth Week. The RSMAS community brought jam jars, salsa jars, sauce jars, candle jars, and yogurt jars to be upcycled into planting pots. With plant donations and clippings from the Garden plus the upcycled glass jars, the Sustainability Initiative held a DIY planting day. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

Giving our own RSMAS beach some love, we held a cleanup with Wet Lab gift card prizes awarded to the largest item found (a giant pipe) and the weirdest item found (toy skateboard). Afterwards, we celebrated with some drinks at the Wet Lab!

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

The Sustainability Initiative collaborated with SEAS on environmental justice. Hosting Nadia Seeteram, a PhD candidate, she shared her studies on how flooding impacts communities differently in Miami. Afterwards, we had an open discussion on each of our experience with flooding in Miami. 

Later in the day, a grad student sustainability webinar was held over zoom - all green grad groups included from RSMAS to main campus shared what each group has done over the past year.  

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

The Sustainability Initiative hosted a “Race to Recycling” booth at Ocean Explorers, an immersive field trip hosted at RSMAS for high school students from under-resourced schools in Miami. There were fifteen engaging stations, designed to excite students about ocean exploration science and conservation, with the overarching goal of advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in ocean sciences. Our “Race to Recycling” featured a quick lecture on items recycling and composting ending with a short quiz asking how certain items should be disposed of properly. The student with the most correct answers won a Miami Waterkeeper water bottle. 

The Sustainability Initiative also gifted reusable to go utensils with the UM RSMAS logo in order to help the RSMAS students reduce their waste when it comes to eating on the go. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead

Earth Week ended with the ’Canes Day of Service at Virginia Key Outdoor Center. Participants cleaned shorelines and waterways as well as removed invasive species. After the activities, the Miami ’Canes Community hosted a lunch and learn series with RSMAS faculty covering topics from red tide and beach erosion to water quality. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

-Margaret Mead