NIU Today

Strangely enough, Michael Jackson was an influential force in leading Amy Gahala to her career path in hydrology. Gahala, a graduate of the Department of Geology and Environmental Studies, is currently a hydrologist at the U.S. Geological Survey. “I grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, and it all started with Michael Jackson’s ‘Earth Song.’...

How green are you? Discover what conservation is and what simple things you can do to help the environment during the annual Altgeld Holiday Family Celebration, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7. This fun, interactive event inside NIU’s castle will allow members of the community to celebrate the holiday season and gain...

One year ago, NIU student Jeffrey Lamble found himself exploring the lives of open landfill scavengers in Central America. An estimated 4,000 “waste pickers” in Guatemala City turn small profits by rifling through the 40 acres of trash for reusable items that they can pocket and sometimes sell. This includes food. Unfortunately, their labors expose...

For years, NIU’s cutting-edge fleet of environmentally friendly vehicles has been noticed and praised by its peers. Now it has caught the eyes of state officials. This month, university transportation officials learned the Chicago Area Clean Cities coalition and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency have designated NIU’s cache of cars and trucks as an “Illinois...

Beginning in February, members of the NIU community will be encouraged to step up their efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle – not just for the good of the planet but to earn bragging rights for the university. RecycleMania, a friendly competition among college and university recycling programs in North America and Canada, and Campus...

NIU is challenging Huskie football fans to step up their “Green Game” before the Tuesday, Nov. 15, contest against Ball State. In celebration of America Recycles Day, NIU hopes to score big for recycling by deploying teams of volunteers to fan out across the Huskies Stadium tailgating venues to help fans recycle. Recycling Dumpsters will...

“Green Fire,” the first full-length, high-definition documentary film ever made about legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold and his environmental legacy, will screen at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, inside the Terwilliger Auditorium of Montgomery Hall. The documentary shares highlights from Leopold’s extraordinary career, explaining how he shaped conservation and the modern environmental movement. It also illustrates...

NIU’s Green Paws Environmental Alliance will host an environmental fair from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the Capitol Room of the Holmes Student Center. Several speakers and presentations are scheduled. 5:15 to 5:30 p.m. and interspersed during the evening: NIU group presentations – Green PEAs, Committee for the Preservation of Wildlife, STAND,...

NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability, and Energy will host an Environmental Studies Open House from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, on the third floor of the Health Services Building. All are invited to the new office location to help celebrate the launch of the environmental studies major. Come to...

Applications are still being accepted to NIU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming 2011 Academic Summer Camps. 2011 Academic Residential Camps Creative Writing Camp, June 19 to 24, for students entering grades 9, 10, 11 or 12. STEM Career Investigations Camp, June 19 to 24, for students entering grades 9, 10, 11 or 12. Film...

NIU’s Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy will host its first environmental film festival Tuesday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 20, at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. 2nd St. “Is Change a ‘Dirty’ Word?” is the theme of this year’s festival, which will feature four environmental documentaries, an environmental art exhibit and a...