President Obama Returns to Iowa for Earth Day

President Barack Obama will be taking a tour of Trinity Structural Towers in Newton on Wednesday morning and the city has been abuzz with preparations for the president’s visit.

The president will land on Air Force One in Des Moines Wednesday morning and then travel to Newton for the tour of Trinity Structural Towers, according to a release from the White House.

Obama’s visit is closed to the public.
 
Other Iowa Earth Day Events: 

Rescue Iowa's Prairies and Celebrate Earth Day

Iowa volunteers are invited to rescue prairies throughout the state to celebrate Earth Day 39. This is the 10th annual Prairie Rescue Event.

Volunteers of all ages will help restore prairie at approximately 15 sites throughout Iowa. Tasks vary by site and range from cutting invasive species to hand-planting native seed.

For a listing Spring 2009 Prairie Rescue sights, visit the Prairie Rescue website 

Des Moines Events:

Wednesday, 10-5 Free admission
Des Moines Botanical Center
909 Robert D. Ray Drive
Des Moines, IA 50316
(515) 323-6290

Downtown corporations and organizations will team up for the 2nd Annual Earth Day Trash Bash a spring cleanup event organized by Operation Downtown, Des Moines Parks and Recreation, and Downtown Community Alliance. Volunteer teams will work to clear away litter that has accumulated on our streetscapes and trails over the winter months. After a thorough sweep of their assigned territories, teams will gather at Hansen Triangle garden for refreshments, music and awards.

Click here for more info and Des Moines events 

University of Iowa: 

Earth Day will feature Bike to School Day, a screening of the film An Inconvenient Truth, and an ice cream social on the UI Pentacrest. The ice cream social will run from 1 to 5 p.m. between Macbride Hall and Jessup Hall, while the film screening will begin at 8 p.m. in room 101 of Biology Building East.

Other UI events include:

 – Screening of Who Killed the Electric Car?, 8 p.m., in room 101 of Biology Building East.
 – Dedication of student garden by UI president Sally Mason, 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23, at the UI        Environmental Coalition Student Garden
 – Screening of The Future of Food, 8 p.m., Thursday, April 23, in room 101 of Biology Building East.
 – Arbor Day tree planting, 9 a.m., Friday, April 24, on the UI Pentacrest.

Click here for more info and UI events

The University of Northern Iowa

UNI will host “Get Your Green On!”, a series of events celebrating Earth Day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, April 22, at the Maucker Union Courtyard.

Available events include tours of UNI's Botanical Center, a 5K run/walk, an environmental job booth hosted by UNI Career Services, live music and many more exhibits and activities. Twenty-five organizations are scheduled to participate.  Click here for more info and UNI events

Iowa State University: 

Forum: Iowa State on the Energy and Climate Crisis (4:30pm) Discussing ISU energy policy, research, and educational programs on energy and climate change. Panel participants: • Warren Madden • Kate Schwennsen • Gene Takle • Pete Englin

The 11th Hour (6pm) Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, this captivating documentary explores the perilous state of our planet, and the means by which we can change our course.

Kerry Emanuel: “Is Global Warming Affecting Hurricanes?” (8pm) Kerry Emanuel is a professor of atmospheric science at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The lecture will review the evidence that hurricane activity is closely linked to sea surface temperature and then examine the various environmental processes that cause sea surface temperature to change, focusing on the role of human-induced climate change.  Click here for more info and ISU events

Clear Lake: 

Friday, April 24
Surf Ballroom
Green Expo:  4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Click here for more info and Clear Lake events

Mason City:

Earth Day Activities for Sat. April 25 include: