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