Earth Day Festival 2023

Saturday, April 22, 2023
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Schellberg Gym & Courtyard

Celebrating environmental research at Minnesota State University, Mankato

Everyone is welcome

Celebrate and learn about the environmental research being conducted by our MNSU, Mankato campus community. Visit MNSU faculty and students at a series of interactive “stations” where researchers from across campus will provide hands-on demonstrations. Bring the family to celebrate Earth Day with kid-friendly activities and arts and crafts.

• Geography—Learn how researchers are using drones, GIS, and remote sensing technologies to perform resource mapping and analysis. Put on some 3-D glasses to explore historic aerial photos and see how land use has changed around campus over the years.
• Prairie and big woods—Biologists will explain how to identify plants and all about biodiversity (with oak tree and acorn giveaways). 
• Soil biology—Discover the hidden world of soil biodiversity under your feet and learn how soil scientists study soils.
• Geology—Explore a groundwater model to see the connection between soil contamination and groundwater pollution.
• Water quality—Learn about water monitoring techniques and the health of area rivers and lakes.
• Archeology and Anthropology—The EARTH Systems Lab will show how researchers are using advanced geospatial techniques (Lidar, electrical resistance, magnetometry, and ground-penetrating radar) to understand the history of human habitation in our region and to benefit Native communities today.
• Urban and Regional Studies —Learn about sustainable environmental planning and environmental justice.
• Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services —Make a wildflower seed ball from recycled materials that you can take home!
• Arts & Crafts- Everyone is welcome to help create a butterfly migration and a meandering river art installation and more.

The festival will be located outside in the courtyard between Trafton Science Center, Armstrong, and Morris Hall and in the Shellberg Gym, Minnesota State University Mankato. Departments from across the university are collaborating on this event that is coordinated by the Water Resources Center.