STAC and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to Host Earth Day Fair

(Sparkill, NY— March 27, 2018) – St. Thomas Aquinas College and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University are co-hosting an Earth Day Fair to promote awareness of environmental issues and sustainability solutions on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Romano Student Alumni Center on St. Thomas Aquinas College’s campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The third annual Earth Day Fair is a community event that brings students, scientists, and educators together to promote environmental sustainability in our neighborhoods and beyond. The event will feature activities and scientific demonstrations from various groups at Lamont and the College. The event will also provide a unique opportunity for participants to learn about research and outreach being done at Lamont and St. Thomas Aquinas College related to earth and environmental sciences.

“This kind of outreach fair is a great way to engage students in the community through hands-on activities with scientists who are actively doing field work and research in the field of earth sciences,” says Cassie Xu, education and outreach coordinator, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Activities for students will include: Zoology and conservation with live animals; See how you can study the ice in Earth's polar regions; Study Earth's climate history using fossils; Uncover what organisms live in Sparkill Creek; Learn how we can protect our local wetlands; Discover the importance of runoff into our local watersheds; Learn how to use science to study the importance of phytoplankton; Learn how to compost with live demonstrations; and many more activities.

"I believe it is critical to educate not only our students, but also members of our local community regarding the impacts of global climate change, and the importance of Earth Day. This fair represents our opportunity to do just that while having a wonderful time in the process," says Dr. Ryan Wynne, associate professor of biology at St. Thomas Aquinas College.

For more information, contact Dr. Bianca Wentzell, assistant professor of biology at St. Thomas Aquinas College, at bwentzel@stac.edu.

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory explores the fundamental workings of our planet through cutting-edge research in earth science. An integral part of Lamont’s mission is providing educational programs to students to help them better understand humanity’s relationship to the environment. For more information, visit www.ldeo.columbia.edu

St. Thomas Aquinas College is an independent liberal arts college located on 60 acres in Rockland County, NY which provides education at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College’s 2,800 full and part time students can choose from more than 100 different majors, minors, specializations, and dual degree programs across three Schools: Arts & Sciences, Business, and Education. The College is recognized by U.S. News & World Report in the Top-Tier for Regional Universities, by Colleges of Distinction in both its New York and Catholic editions, by Affordable Colleges Online as a top College in New York for Return on Investment, and is included as a Military Friendly School®. St. Thomas Aquinas College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools; its School of Education is accredited by National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE); and its School of Business is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). For more information, visit www.stac.edu.