Corn on the Quad Harvest Festival Sept. 10, Plus More Related Events

A harvest festival, brownbag discussions, and a documentary film on Sept. 10 and 12 will continue the themes of sustainability and education begun during the Live Green, Lafayette orientation for the Class of 2012.

In conjunction with the summer reading of The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan, first-year students participated in the Corn on the Quad environmental sustainability project, which includes three plots of corn planted by students, faculty, and staff at the center of campus.

The Corn on the Quad Harvest Fest will take place from 4:15-6:45 p.m. Sept. 10. There will be roasted corn, Native American dancers, Cherokee songs and drumming, storytelling, a no-face doll making demonstration and tables with posters and discussions about ethanol, corn genetics, corn and South American culture, campus composting, and solar panels. Rain location will be the Marlo Room in Farinon College Center.

The documentary film King Corn will be shown at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 10 in Limburg Theater in Farinon.

There will be two faculty-led brownbag discussions. “How We Got Where We Are (with Corn) Today” will be at noon Sept. 10 in the Gendebien Room of Skillman Library, and will focus on contemporary environmental issues related to corn agriculture and its byproducts. Faculty members will include: Andy Smith, assistant professor of English and chair of American Studies; Caroline Lee, assistant professor of anthropology & sociology; Christopher Ruebeck, assistant professor of economics and business; Rebekah Pite, assistant professor of history; and James Lennertz, associate professor of government and law. Register for lunch here by contacting takacsg@lafayette.edu.

“The Science of Food,” at noon Sept. 12 in Kunkle Hall auditorium, will explore the scientific perspectives of food’s growth and consumption. The session will be led by Wayne Leibel, Kreider Professor and head of biology; Steven Mylon, assistant professor of chemistry; Elaine Reynolds, associate professor of biology and chair of neuroscience; David Sunderlin, assistant professor of geology and environmental geosciences; and Peter Zani, visiting assistant professor of biology. Lunch will be provided.