This spring University faculty have been actively involved in community efforts to raise environmental awareness. Over the next two months, over 400 environmental events in our area offer great opportunity for faculty, staff and students to get even more involved in community events, organized under the coordination of greenUP!, a local coalition dedicated to environmental awareness. University support for greenUP! and affiliated events comes from the Academy for the Environment, Cooperative Extension, Nevada Small Business Development Center, and Environmental Health & Safety. Last week Gov. Jim Gibbons created a climate change advisory committee (including John Sagebiel, the University's environmental affairs manager), and the City of Reno proclaimed an official "earth month" to extend the environmental awareness of Earth day. Upcoming highlights include:

• Get involved in charting future directions for sustainable community development at the City of Reno Green Summit, also on Thursday, April 19, 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
• Come enjoy great live music, organic beer, and join University faculty and students at the Academy of the Environment booth at Nevada Econets earth day celebration at Idlewild Park, Sunday April 22, 10 a.m. -5 p.m.
• Reno River Festival May 10-13:
• Break the habit of commuting by car, enjoy the fresh air and free coffee on Bike to Work Day, May 18.