All this week, from today until Friday, April 25, Cambridge’s MIT is celebrating Earth Week in grand style. The festivities are getting off to a turbo-boosted start with the arrival of Governor Deval Patrick at 4:15 pm today. He’ll discuss Clean Energy for the Commonwealth, a presentation that includes his own concept of what Massachusetts will look like under the influence of clean energy.

Wednesday brings EcoExpo, a “sustainability showcase” of MIT affiliates’ work, now in its second year. The 5–7pm gathering gives researchers and other interested individuals the opportunity to learn more about the sustainability projects underway at the university.

Thursday marks not only the Earth Day Fair, which features a variety of free activities and food, but also a screening of the documentary King Corn, followed by a discussion with co-producer and co-star Ian Cheney. The film uses the example of corn to explore how the United States’ farming methods affect the food industry and, eventually, the health of residents.

Finally, on Friday at noon, the United States Postal Service will give a talk on Greening the Mail: A Vision for Sustainable Mailing Practices. The topic is a fitting close to a weeklong series of events honoring the Earth at a university with an international community.

Learn more about what’s in store at the MIT Earth Day 2008 website.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

This photo post extends the love, giving readers an opportunity to experience the beauty of Franklin Park Zoo and its diverse inhabitants from the comfort of their computers.

All photographs are courtesy of Ryan E. Poplin, while the witty (or so I’d like to believe) captions are solely my fault.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Franklin Park Zoo first opened in 1913, making it one of the oldest zoos in the United States. Operated by Zoo New England, it’s also located in Franklin Park, the largest park in Boston, which also has a second notable characteristic.

Franklin Park is the last of twelve parks that form a famous local chain of parks called the Emerald Necklace, as well. Each of the natural landscapes is connected by parkways and waterways, creating a loop that measures about seven miles in length.

The other eleven parks in the chain stretching through Boston and Brookline are The Arborway, Arnold Arboretum, Back Bay Fens, Boston Common, Boston Public Garden, Commonwealth Avenue Mall, The Fenway, Jamaica Pond, The Jamaicaway, Olmsted Park, and The Riverway.

On April 20, Franklin Park Zoo plans to help patrons celebrate Earth Day with a number of relevant, engaging activities and events. The one that sounds most exciting to me is the scheduled keynote visit by Animal Planet and Discovery Channel host and executive producer Jeff Corwin. I always love catching his appearances with all the intriguing animals on television; seeing him in person is probably ten times better.

Many exhibitors are slated to make an appearance, too, including the nonprofit organization Animal Rescue League of Boston, cheesemakers (Yum!) Cabot Creamery Cooperative, the community environmentalism group Mass Audubon Boston Nature Center, and youth educators from the Student Conservation Association.

Combined with enjoying the animals that already inhabit the zoo, Franklin Park’s Earth Day roster will be a fun and informative way for the entire family to relax while learning more about the importance of our planet and how to keep it vibrant for many centuries to come. [More Information]

Post from: The Boston Traveler