Mount Saint Mary College Biology students visit Bishop Dunn Memorial School on Monday, April 22 to read stories and talk about Earth Day with students.
In celebration of Earth Day, a group of dedicated Mount Saint Mary College students visited Bishop Dunn Memorial School on the Mount campus for a day of environmental education and community service.
The students hailed from the classes of Lynn Maelia, professor of Chemistry and Chair of the Division of Natural Sciences; and Suparna Bhalla, associate professor of Biology.
As part of their visit, the students engaged in a meaningful activity centered around the book Seeds of Change by Jen Cullerton Johnson. They also participated in a campus clean-up and planting seeds.
A few days earlier, freshman honors students in the Mount’s Biology and Chemistry majors shared information about this year’s Earth Week theme: Planet vs. Plastics. They taught their fellow Mount students about the impact of microplastics and normal plastics on the world’s oceans, the benefits of recycling, and more.
Seeds of Change is a picture book biography that chronicles the life and legacy of scientist Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and environmentalist to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This award-winning book not only highlights Maathai's remarkable achievements, but also emphasizes the power of individual action in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability.
Johnson, a distinguished writer, teacher, and environmental advocate from Chicago, was on-hand to discuss her book at the 30th Annual Conference on Literacy, “Literacy as a Tool for a Caring and Sustainable World: Empowering Interdisciplinary Readers, Writers, and Storytellers,” on Saturday, April 13. The event, hosted at the Mount campus, was spearheaded by the college’s Collaborative for Equity in Literacy Learning (CELL).
Bishop Dunn Memorial School, located on the Mount campus, has a longstanding relationship with Mount Saint Mary college, dating back to its establishment in 1883. Dedicated to the holistic development of its students, Bishop Dunn provides a nurturing environment for academic, spiritual, emotional, social, and physical growth. The collaboration between Mount students and seasoned Bishop Dunn faculty members facilitates valuable fieldwork experiences, enriching the learning journey for all involved.