Every Earth Day needs a scientific perspective.

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences has hundreds of scientists and educators ready to share scientific insights into today’s most important environmental issues.

See below to some of the areas we are working in today. There are also several UF/IFAS Earth Day events happening throughout the state.

Earth Day Events

Alachua County

• Skype in the Classroom,” The Science of Mosquitoes. Contact: Jamie Loizzo, jloizzo@ufl.edu, (352) 273-1663

Citrus County

• Citrus County Earth Day Festival, April 27 – Garden tours, kid-friendly games, rain barrel painting, animal displays and speakers,
  information on water conservation and more. 3650 W. Sovereign Path, Lecanto, FL 34461. Contact: B.J. Jarvis, bjjarvis@ufl.edu, (352) 527-5714

Escambia County

• Tracking Your Health: A Scenic Spring Walking Challenge, April 26 – See new native plantings of trees around the 0.75 mile UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County Walking Track. UF/IFAS Extension Escambia County 4-H Center, 3730 Stefani Road Cantonment FL 32533. Contact: Carrie Stevenson, ctsteven@ufl.edu
  or Libbie Johnson, libbiej@ufl.edu, 475-5230 ext. 119.

Levy County, UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station

• Last Day of Horseshoe Crab Tagging, April 22 – How to share horseshoe crab tags. Contact: Savanna Barry, savanna.barry@ufl.edu, 352-325-6080

Miami-Dade County

• Earth Day Fair, April 22 – UF/IFAS Extension Miami-Dade County will have a tent at the annual Earth Day Fair held at the University of Miami campus. The tent will feature information on water conservation, Landscape irrigation and rebate program, rain barrels, Florida-Friendly Landscaping and Planting for Pollinators. Contact: Barbara McAdam, bmcadam@ufl.edu, 305-248-3311 ext. 245

Pasco County

• Earth Day Celebration, April 22 – Pet adoptions, free trees and native flowers, mosquito control, gardening, recycling information and much more! The purpose of the event is to increase environmental stewardship education and share information with county citizens about mostly free county and state services. Get Tickets

Sarasota County

• Earth Day Celebration @ Selby Five Points Park, April 22 – Learn about local food, energy efficiency, composting, green building, native plants, electric vehicles, plastics pollution, and more. See Flyer.

Seminole County

• City of Altamonte Earth Day, April 20 – UF/IFAS faculty will be speaking about landscaping best management practices. Event information.
• Casselberry Earth Fest, Apirl 27 – UF/IFAS faculty will be speaking about landscaping best management practices. Event information.
• Oviedo Arbor Day, May 4 – UF/IFAS Extension Seminole County will have a table with information about landscaping best management practices in conjunction event’s tree giveaway. Event information.

St. Johns County

• Film Screening and DIY Beeswax Food Wrapper Program, April 22 – Discuss strategies for reducing your plastic waste and get inspired to make your
  own personal plastic free commitment. Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, FL. Register online.

Earth Day Reserach & Extension

Ecosystem Restoration Projects

• Oyster reefs and estuaries

Estuaries are the nurseries of the sea, and oyster reefs help keep them healthy. But over the last 30 years, reefs have seen a sharp decline. UF/IFAS researchers are working to fix that.

• The Everglades

UF/IFAS scientists are monitoring how changes in the Everglades affect the species who live and migrate there, including wading birds, crocodiles and invasive species.

• Coastlines

Coastal areas are vulnerable to erosion and other issues. UF/IFAS scientists are finding ways to protect these areas by creating living shorelines that keep ecosystems in place.

• Artificial reefs

Fish and other sea life depend on coral reefs for habitat. UF/IFAS scientists are creating artificial reefs that mimic the function of natural reefs and give marine animals places to live.

Protecting Vulnerable Species

• Invasive species, such as Brazilian pepper tree, the Burmese python, lion fish and bufo toads.
• Threatened species, such as pollinators, sea turtles, fox squirrels and the torreya tree.
• Citizen science surveying of horseshoe crabs, urban wildlife, seagrass and more.

Natural Resource Conservation

• Plastic pollution

Most of the plastic that’s ever been created is likely still around today. The UF/IFAS Microplastic Awareness Project is working to educate people about how they can reduce the amount of plastic that gets into the environment.

• Water quality and use

From tackling red tide to helping homeowners use less water, UF/IFAS helps Florida better manage its water resources.

• Prescribed burning

Prescribed fires keep forests healthy and help prevent wildfire. UF/IFAS scientists are learning more about how prescribed burning impacts Florida forests.

See a topic above you’d like to know more about? We can connect you with the relevant expert. Contact Samantha Grenrock at 352-294-3307 (office), 949-735-1076 (cell) or grenrosa@ufl.edu.

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