Michigan Tech’s World Water Day Moves Online

Michigan Tech will celebrate World Water Day March 23 and 24 with speakers, an art exhibit and poster competition-virtually.

Just a week after moving instruction online for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester, Michigan Technological University will celebrate World Water Day in the same fashion.

Keynote Speaker

Watch Joellen Russell’s World Water Day keynote address via Zoom: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/981199790

World Water Day is a United Nations event celebrated annually to raise awareness of how important the stewardship of water is for humanity and other creatures. 2020 marks the 12th year Michigan Tech has joined in the celebration.

Keynote speaker Joellen Russell is using robot floats and supercomputers to measure the ocean and predict future climate. She will deliver the World Water Day keynote address via Zoom on March 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. Russell is the Thomas R. Brown Distinguished Chair of Integrative Science and a professor of geosciences, planetary science, hydrology and atmospheric sciences and applied math at the University of Arizona. Russell’s address will be recorded so those unable to make the live event can watch it later.

Youth speaker Sophia Kianni will give her address about climate advocacy and her experiences as a youth leader by Zoom March 24 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Kianni is a youth climate activist based in Washington, D.C., working nationally with Fridays for Future USA and This is Zero Hour and internationally with Extinction Rebellion. Kianni’s address will also be recorded for those unable to make the live event.

Youth Speaker

Watch Sophia Kianni’s World Water Day youth address via Zoom: https://michigantech.zoom.us/j/885172643

The virtual student poster competition is March 24 from 12 to 2 p.m. Participants will present their posters and judges will offer their feedback through Zoom. At this time 23 students are signed up to present posters. Students will be awarded cash prizes in the following categories: original research, coursework/informational, and a people’s choice award.

Finally, each World Water Day celebration features an art show. The World Water Day 2020 art show features “Environmental Graphiti” – a series of digital paintings by Alisa Singer. Singer’s works were created to enhance public awareness of the science of climate change. Each of the 23 works of art is derived from a chart, graph, map, word or number relating to a key fact about climate change. Use the interactive campus map to take a virtual tour of the exhibit.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.

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