Advisory: Marquette experts available for Earth Day topics

April 21, 2021

Marquette's first Earth Day celebrationMILWAUKEE — Earth Day is on Thursday, April 22, and Marquette University has a variety of experts to help with stories surrounding the environment and the occasion.

The Office of Mission and Ministry will host a communal prayer for Earth Day at 9 p.m. The prayer will be held in the garden outside of the St. Joan of Arc Chapel for 15 minutes in a peaceful ambiance. Space is limited and registration is required. Media interested in attending should contact Kevin Conway in the Office of Marketing and Communication at kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.

(Photo of the Mass held as part of Marquette's first Earth Day celebration in 1971)

Experts available

Marquette faculty are available on a wide range of environmental topics. Experts are able to speak on the environment from social angles, such as ecological debt, ecology and environmental politics, philosophy, responsibility, economics, ethics, and history. Some experts include:

  • Dr. Gerry Canavan, associate professor of English, has expertise in ecological humanities, ecological debt, visions of ecological apocalypse, ecology and environmental politics.
  • Dr. Heather Kohls, associate professor of practice in economics, can discuss environmental economics.
  • Dr. Jame Schaefer, professor of theology, is an expert in environmental ethics, ecological problems and theological foundations for environmental ethics. [Note: Dr. Schaefer is not available on Thursday, April 22]

Other experts can cover technical aspects, including engineering and hazardous waste clean-up, as well as environmental chemistry and microbiology:

  • Dr. Patrick McNamara, assistant professor of construction and environmental engineering, is an expert in environmental chemistry, environmental microbiology and wastewater treatment.
  • Dr. Daniel Zitomer, chair and professor in the department of civil, construction and environmental engineering, has expertise in toxic pollutants in wastewater and contaminated groundwater and soil.
  • Dr. David Strifling, professor of law, is director of the Water Law and Policy Initiative.

    About Kevin Conway

    Kevin Conway

    Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of University Relations. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.