News and Events

Albion College Joins Climate Leadership Network, Commits to Action

Ferguson Building, Albion College

Ferguson Building, Albion College
The nationwide Climate Leadership Network is a collection of colleges and universities taking action on climate change and education to solve the climate challenges that await. “As a liberal arts institution focused on purpose, belonging and action, this commitment aligns well with our values,” said Dr. Mathew Johnson, president of Albion College.

Ryan Powell, '19, Puts Nature to Music Through Harper Earth Day Gift

Ryan Powell, '19

Ryan Powell, '19
Through the Dr. R. Bruce, '67, and Jane Harper Earth Day 50th Anniversary Gift, music graduate Ryan Powell, '19, was commissioned to compose an original piece to celebrate nature and recognize the current moment. Powell's recently completed composition of nearly six minutes comes with a bonus: he created a video as well.

Earth Day 50 Events

With Albion College's transition to online classes and with the rapidly changing circumstances involving COVID-19, the Center for Sustainability's Earth Day events scheduled through April 22 have been rescheduled until this fall with dates to be determined.

Let all live flourish forever - Earth Day 50th Anniversary. For generations, a commitment to the health and vitality of our planet has taken root at Albion College. Well before the first Earth Day in 1970—when Albion was featured in a prime-time CBS News special hosted by Walter Cronkite—students and faculty have cultivated and nurtured a lifelong dedication to, and advocacy for, our natural environment.

With a new decade under way, as fierce climate headwinds blow, the College's Center for Sustainability and the Environment continues to plant the seeds for thoughtful action through engaged student learning and experiences. This includes several campus events in March and April that will celebrate the 50th Earth Day on April 22, 2020. See below for details.

Programs are supported by the Bruce & Jane Harper Earth Day 50 Gift. Read more about the gift, CSE and Albion's historical connection to Earth Day in the Fall-Winter 2019-20 edition of Io Triumphe! magazine.


Sean Harris, Ranger Power (Solar Power Systems) Senior Development Manager

Tuesday, March 10, 2020; 7 p.m. in Norris 101 & Wednesday, March 11, 2020; 9:00 a.m. in Norris 102

Sean Harris will be talking about River Fork Solar Farms. Local area's around Albion, MI that are being developed.

All are welcome to come to learn about the solar company and question and answer after Sean's talk.


Keynote Speaker: Hank Green

Wednesday, March 11, 2020; 7:30 p.m. in Goodrich Chapel

Due to the state of Michigan's emergency declaration late Tuesday night pertaining to coronavirus COVID-19, and out of an abundance of caution, Albion College has canceled the Earth Day 50 keynote event featuring Hank Green that was scheduled for March 11, at 7:30 in Goodrich Chapel.

Please consult the covid-19 webpage for the latest communication from the College.

"Lessons from 15 years of freaking out about climate change on the internet"

Hank Green is a pioneering internet creator who champions curiosity, reason, inclusion, and empathy. His production company, Complexly, creates educational content, including Crash Course and SciShow, whose videos have been viewed more than two billion times on YouTube. The Washington Post named him "one of America's most popular science teachers." His online initiatives reflect a broad range of interests including the environment, e-commerce, music, storytelling, Harry Potter, and Jane Austen. He is also the author of The New York Times best-selling novel An Absolutely Remarkable Thing.


Chip Fletcher (Horton Lecture)

Thursday, March 19, 2020; 7 p.m. in Norris 101

"The next few years are the most important in human history"

Dr. Charles "Chip" Fletcher, '79, is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences, at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. His research focuses on Pacific paleo-sea level history, beach processes, and modeling the impacts of past, present, and future sea level rise on island environments and communities. The results of his work are used by government agencies for administering coastal policy, establishing construction guidelines, and planning resilient infrastructure projects.


Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (movie)

Wednesday, March 25, 2020; 7 p.m. at Bohm Theatre

Filmmakers Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier and Edward Burtynsky travel the globe to document the impact humans have made on the planet.


Flint: The Poisoning of an American City (movie)

Wednesday, April 1, 2020; 7 p.m. at Bohm Theatre

An exploration of the current struggle of Flint residents and how the continued abuse and neglect of environmental regulations have led to the poisoning of this city.


Bee School

Wednesday, April 8, 2020; 12 – 5 p.m. at the Whitehouse Nature Center

Contact Jason Raddatz () if interested in this event. Held at Ludington Center and Sterling books.


The Pollinators (movie)

Wednesday, April 8, 2020; 7 p.m. at Bohm Theatre

A journey around the United States following migratory beekeepers and their truckloads of honey bees as they pollinate the flowers that become the fruits, nuts and vegetables that get eaten.


Saturday, April 18, 2020

  • Whitehouse Nature Center Trail walk
  • Trail Dedication
  • River Clean up (TBA)
  • Earth Day Story Time at Sterlings 3 – 4 p.m.
  • Pizza at WNC using Brick Oven (TBA)

Wednesday, April 22, 2020 — EARTH DAY

  • Day of Woden
  • Dub Box special that day for students/staff that help beautify the campus. See Dr. D. White or Jackie
  • Community Clean Up, Michigan Ave., Cass, Erie to Superior
  • Plant Sale in Science Complex Atrium. 10 a.m. until sell out!
  • Rally during Day of Woden
  • Tree planting in the Quad (Kentucky Yellowwood Tree)

Programs are supported by the Bruce & Jane Harper Earth Day 50 Gift.

Bottle Waterfall Opens CSE Celebration of Upcoming 50th Earth Day

Biology professor and CSE Director Doug White

doug white 1

A waterfall constructed of plastic bottles—created by Center for Sustainability and the Environment Director Doug White and his students to recognize a gift from Bruce, '67, and Jane Harper—will kick off a semester of activities to acknowledge a worldwide environmental event as Earth Day celebrates its 50th anniversary in April.

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