Earth Week 2022 at Stanford was a dynamic and enlightening celebration, emphasizing the theme “Invest in Our Future.” Stanford’s ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability was showcased through various engaging events and initiatives that aimed to inspire the community to take action for a greener planet.
We started with the “Ice Sheets and Sea Level Rise” webinar, presented by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, which delved into the uncertainties and advancements in sea level projections. This was followed by the Stanford Bright Award for Environmental Sustainability panel discussion, highlighting the importance of Indigenous conservation approaches and their critical role in protecting ecosystems, present and future.
Midway, we explored climate-smart dining with the virtual event “Climate-Smart Dining: What It Is, Why It Matters, & How to Help Save the Planet,” presented by the Stanford Food Institute. Attendees learned about innovative strategies for sustainable dining and enjoyed a live culinary demonstration of Earth Day menu favorites. Concurrently, Hohbach Hall displayed the winning photographs from the Stanford Earth Photo Contest, celebrating the beauty and diversity of our planet.
Hands-on activities included sustainable pizza making at the Stanford Educational Farm and the Stanford Earth Community Art Project at White Plaza, where participants expressed their vision for a sustainable future through art. The virtual panel “Big Data: Sustainability and Energy Efficiency” showcased how real-time data is utilized to optimize campus operations sustainably.
The festivities also featured the “Applying Environmental Justice Frameworks to Sustainability Science Research” panel, fostering discussions on how environmental justice principles can shape scientific research for social and environmental sustainability. This event concluded with a social gathering at Koret Park, allowing participants to connect and share ideas over appetizers and drinks.
A virtual event hosted by Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve titled “Wildlife Research at Jasper Ridge: The Wild Side of E. coli & Jasper Ridge’s Web of Life” shed light on the intricate relationships within ecosystems and the impact of human activity on wildlife.
Throughout the month, some events offered attendees a 20% off coupon for an eco-friendly item at the Stanford Bookstore and a zero-waste gift, reinforcing Stanford’s 2030 Zero Waste goal. Attendees also had the chance to win raffle prizes from Cotopaxi and earn points in the My Cardinal Green program.
Earth Week 2022 at Stanford was a vibrant mix of education, action, and community spirit, emphasizing the importance of investing in our future through sustainable practices and innovative solutions. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this week a memorable celebration of our planet!
Earth Week 2021 at Stanford was a vibrant and engaging virtual celebration, focusing on our commitment to advancing environmental sustainability locally and globally. Stanford’s extensive history of environmental leadership was highlighted through a series of inspiring and educational events aimed at fostering innovation and action.
We kicked off the week with a series of training sessions on water and energy conservation. These sessions provided practical tips and tricks for reducing consumption, applicable to both on- and off-campus living. Participants learned how to make small changes that collectively have a significant impact.
A virtual tour of the Codiga Resource Recovery Center showcased Stanford’s innovative facility dedicated to water and energy resource recovery. This tour highlighted the university’s commitment to cutting-edge research and sustainable practices.
Waste sorting was another key focus, with sessions tailored for both off-campus and on-campus participants. These workshops reinforced the importance of proper waste management and its role in achieving Stanford’s zero waste goals.
The virtual tour of Stanford’s Central Energy Facility offered a deep dive into Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI). Attendees learned about the transformation from a fossil-fuel-based energy supply to a more efficient electric heat recovery system, significantly reducing the university’s emissions.
An expert panel on carbon pricing and the future of climate policy brought together leading scholars to discuss the principles, trade-offs, and challenges of implementing a national carbon price. This insightful discussion emphasized the critical role of carbon pricing in the Biden administration’s climate strategy.
Food sustainability was highlighted in the “Top 5 Ways to Eat Sustainably” event. R&DE Stanford Dining’s One Plate, One Planet vision was showcased, along with a live culinary demonstration by chef David Iott. Participants learned practical tips for making climate- and budget-friendly food choices, with a focus on plant-forward eating and reducing food waste.
The week also included a self-paced virtual stormwater tour, allowing participants to explore Stanford’s stormwater treatment facilities at their convenience. This tour demonstrated the university’s efforts to manage and treat stormwater sustainably.
Throughout Earth Week, participants earned points in the My Cardinal Green program for attending events, further encouraging engagement and rewarding sustainable actions.
Earth Week 2021 was a fun and educational celebration, bringing the Stanford community together to invest in our planet’s future. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this week a success!
In 2020, Earth Week at Stanford University was a vibrant celebration marking the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and it was as inspiring as it was innovative. With the global pandemic shifting us all to virtual spaces, Stanford’s sustainability community embraced the challenge with a dynamic lineup of online events designed to inspire action and spark innovation.
The week kicked off with the Future 50 Virtual Celebration, hosted by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment. This event reflected on the strides made since the first Earth Day in 1970 and painted a vivid picture of the next 50 years of environmental progress. Featuring Stanford alumni and Earth Day co-founder Denis Hayes, the celebration delved into how far we’ve come and how we can continue to push for a sustainable future.
There was also a virtual summit on climate resiliency: recording
Participants then enjoyed a range of virtual activities. The Virtual Earth Day Short Film Screening brought together the community for a fun and educational experience, showcasing a selection of environmental short films. For those who love to learn through conversation, the Earth Day Podcast featured engaging interviews with local middle school students and aired on KZSU Stanford 90.1FM.
Two exciting virtual living ab tours offered glimpses into Stanford’s cutting-edge sustainability research. The tour of the Cloy & Codiga Resource Recovery Center highlighted Stanford’s advancements in wastewater research, while the Stanford stormwater facilities tour educated participants on water maintenance and stormwater pollution prevention.
The week also featured a thought-provoking discussion titled “Expanding the Conversation on Conservation.” This virtual event, hosted by Stanford Earth’s Diversity and Inclusion team, included a documentary by Faith Briggs and a panel discussion with notable conservationists and environmental justice experts.
Throughout Earth Week, the campus community engaged in “50 Days of Action,” fostering healthy, sustainable habits and earning rewards through the My Cardinal Green program. These efforts underscored Stanford’s commitment to blending local actions with global impact.
In sum, Earth Week 2020 at Stanford was a testament to the university’s leadership in environmental sustainability, demonstrating how creativity and community can flourish even in challenging times.
In 2019, Stanford University’s Earth Week took a fresh and vibrant approach to celebrating sustainability, with a focus on giving back to the community and engaging in hands-on environmental action. This year, Sustainable Stanford, in partnership with the Health Improvement Program (HIP), BeWell, and local non-profits, invited students, faculty, and staff to make a difference both on and off campus.
On-Campus opportunities offered a chance for volunteers to roll up their sleeves and contribute directly to campus sustainability efforts. Participants supported native habitats in the foothills and tended to drought-tolerant landscaping in the Arizona Cactus Garden, showing their dedication to conservation right on Stanford’s grounds.
Off-campus volunteering expanded the impact of Earth Week beyond the university. At Canopy, volunteers joined forces to plant trees and support resilient urban forests, combating climate change one sapling at a time. Meanwhile, Grassroots Ecology engaged volunteers in a variety of environmental restoration activities, from planting and weeding to creek monitoring and installing rain gardens. Environmental volunteers also made a mark by training volunteers to lead educational programs in schools and community organizations, fostering a deeper connection to nature.
Earth Week 2019 wasn’t just about hands-on action; it also featured a series of engaging events. The Celebrating Sustainability Champions gathering honored those making significant contributions to sustainability, while the Earth Day Dinner provided a communal space to enjoy food and conversation about environmental issues. Earth Tones at the Stanford Educational Farm celebrated with music and activities, and a Sustainability in Redwood City Design-Thinking Workshop encouraged innovative thinking about sustainable design.
Overall, Earth Week 2019 was a dynamic celebration of sustainability, marked by community engagement, educational opportunities, and a shared commitment to making a positive environmental impact.
In 2018, Stanford’s Earth Week was a vibrant celebration of sustainability, featuring an event on April 19 where Sustainable Stanford and over 35 campus partners showcased the university’s most inspiring sustainability initiatives. Attendees enjoyed a local, sustainable lunch buffet from Stanford Catering, local entertainment, and a range of tools and resources to help them reduce their personal footprint. The event also highlighted the presentation of the Sustainable Stanford Awards.
Additional Earth Month events included the Big Earth Data Hackathon, the Earth Day Dinner, the Earth in Color Celebration at the Stanford Educational Farm, and the Understanding Ice Symposium. Volunteers also participated in native plant restoration in the Stanford Foothills.
More than 35 campus partners and 1,000 attendees gathered to inspire, empower, and engage the campus community in conservation and sustainability efforts. The event featured a sustainable lunch, courtesy of Residential & Dining Enterprises, fun activities, displays of student artwork, and campus entertainment, including the a cappella group Talisman, and student band Camp Youth.
In 2016, Stanford’s Earth Day celebration, “Knowledge to Action,” highlighted the university’s deep commitment to sustainability as part of its 125th anniversary.
The day began with the Celebrating Sustainability Fair at Ford Plaza, which brought together students, staff, and faculty to learn and engage with Stanford’s extensive sustainability efforts. This was followed by Connecting the Dots at the Arrillaga Alumni Center, a deep dive into research driving future sustainability initiatives.
The celebration concluded with a reception and tours of the Central Energy Facility and the Educational Farm, featuring live music from Charged Particles. These tours showcased Stanford’s practical applications of sustainability in campus operations, embodying the university’s philosophy of integrating cutting-edge research into daily life.
Earth Day 2015 marked the fourth Celebrating Sustainability Festival. The annual celebration brings students, staff, and faculty from across campus together to educate, inspire, and empower the community to engage with sustainability at Stanford.
This year, the event took place outside the brand-new Central Energy Facility, the main component of the Stanford Energy System Innovations (SESI) project that is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 68% and cut potable water use 15% on campus. More than 30 campus partners presented interactive activities in topic areas ranging from water and energy to green living and transportation. The Stanford Band and sustainable food, provided by Residential & Dining Enterprises, created the perfect atmosphere to highlight the thriving culture of sustainability at Stanford.
On Tuesday, April 22, from 11am to 2pm, faculty, staff, and students came together to celebrate sustainability at Stanford. An interactive festival designed to educate members of the campus community about Stanford’s sustainability achievements through fun, engaging activities and displays, this year’s “Celebrating Sustainability” event highlighted green events practices and water conservation practices at Stanford.
More than 35 campus departments, groups, and entities; 60+ presenters; and 20+ volunteers hosted this 1,200+ person event at the Science and Engineering Quad on Earth Day. Guests were welcome to enjoy food, live music, games, giveaways, and plenty of fun!
Activities at the event were grouped around the following sustainability topic areas:
On Monday, April 22, 2013, faculty, staff, and students came together to celebrate sustainability at Stanford with another interactive festival designed to provide fun and education on topics including waste, transportation, food, and more with collaborations across campus departments, groups, presenters, and volunteers.
Stanford faculty, staff, students, and community members were invited to attend this special event on Monday, May 7, 2012, to celebrate sustainability milestones and accomplishments at Stanford University. Achievements of the past as well as an outlook for the future were shared during the event, the culmination of the recent collaborative planning effort on campus that was undertaken to identify a shared and actionable vision for sustainability in the coming years. The program included:
Guests gathered outside in Rehnquist Courtyard for a zero-waste reception, with music by The Redowa String Quartet.
This celebration would not have been possible without the generous support and collaboration of Stanford’s academic and operational departments, and most critically the help and enthusiasm of Stanford students. Organizers included:
From reducing embodied carbon in construction to piloting organic landscape management, the annual Student Sustainability Symposium highlighted how student-led innovation is driving sustainability at Stanford.
Laura Segura Gonzalez, a second-year design student, is leading jean upcycling workshops to combat fast fashion waste, empowering students to transform old jeans into something new.
Events like Big Swap, a swap event run by-and-for students, aim to use Stanford resources to codify cultural norms of sharing and increase the efficacy of reuse initiatives.
