A student dressed as a tree greeted passers-by walking through the HUB-Robeson Center on Thursday afternoon.
Green and blue balloons and about a dozen tables lined the first floor entrance of the HUB -- part of a sustainability exhibit to celebrate Earth Day.
Various student groups, like Eco-Action and Students Engaging Students, had tables with information and activities related to helping the environment. Penn State Union and Student Activities sponsored the event, which has grown significantly since last year.
Students who attended the event had the chance to trade in their plastic water bottles for reusable bottles as well as plant seeds and recycle an old T-shirt to make a tote bag.
Other exhibits included eco-health trivia, information on food security and a computer quiz calculating students' carbon footprints.
Zach Van Horn, of the American Nuclear Society, explained the process of using nuclear fission as a sustainable energy source. The group's table also included examples of household objects that contain radioactive materials.
"Eventually we're going to be the ones making decisions," Van Horn (senior- nuclear engineering) said, offering that as a reason why college students should learn more about helping the environment.
The table sponsored by Fresh START Day of Service used old newspapers to make beads, which students used to make eco-friendly necklaces and bracelets.
Lisa MacPhail (junior-life sciences) said college students have a huge role in protecting the environment.
"We're really the generation starting to run with the idea of green living," she said.
The event pulled together a wide variety of campus groups that have a passion for the topic to create a university-wide celebration of Earth Week, said Sarah Hermsmeier, program director for Union and Student Activities.
"Everyone can do something, and everyone should do something," she said.
Because college students underestimate the impact they have, the purpose of the exhibit is to break down big ideas into smaller tasks that seem much more "do-able" for the average student, Hermsmeier added.
Attendee Tina Lai said her favorite table was one that provided information on how to create solar panels using pizza boxes and aluminum foil.
"It makes people appreciate the environment more, especially people who aren't exposed to what the environment gives us every day," Lai (junior- biology) said.
Three Eco, in collaboration with other groups, made a greenhouse on the HUB lawn out of recycled plastic water bottles from the commons. The greenhouse will be donated to Corl Street Elementary School after making an appearance at the Earth Week Kid's Day event on Saturday, member Garrett Eisenhour (senior-secondary education) said.
The elementary school will use the greenhouse to integrate ecology into the curriculum and get kids more comfortable with lessons in the environment, he said.
