Everyday Environment

Small changes have positive impacts on the environment.

There is never a shortage of new things to learn about your everyday environment. The Everyday Environment Webinar series features a different environmental topic each month to encourage sustainable practices. Do your part to protect the planet for generations to enjoy.

All sessions are free and take place on the second Thursday of the month at 1 p.m. CST. The webinars are also recorded and available to watch online. If you will need an accommodation in order to participate in a program, please email Erin Garrett at emedvecz@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.

Never miss a session! Make sure to catch each new session in the series by joining our Everyday Environment mailing list.

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Looking for previous programs? 

Sessions are recorded and available on YouTube within a month after the program to allow time for closed captioning. 

Invasive plants

Do's and Don'ts for Managing Invasive Plants in the Spring | April 11, 1 p.m.

Invasive species have big environmental and economic impacts. 

Non-native invasive plants can cause a lot of damage in backyards and wild spaces across Illinois and managing them is a year-long endeavor. Some management activities are best suited for spring, such as garlic mustard control or surveying for invasive bush honeysuckle. Other tasks are more effective later in the year, such as removing invasive woody plants. Explore invasive plant phenology, identification, the most effective timing for management, and best practices for springtime control.

Presenter: Christopher Evans, forestry Extension and research specialist

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fungi growing at the base of a large tree

Fungus Among Us: An Insight to Fungi in Illinois Ecosystems | May 9, 1 p.m.

There's more to mushrooms than meets the ey. 

Fungi are more than a pathogen eating your trees or the mushroom in your meals. Not a plant or an animal, fungi are dynamic organisms that help decompose and recycle the nutrients in organic materials and form beneficial relationships with plants. About 400 million years ago, fungi were the catalyst that prompted life to move from the sea to land. Today, fungi contribute to resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change. Discover the vital role the unassuming fungus has in connecting and balancing Illinois ecosystems. 

Presenter: Karla Griesbaum, natural resources, environment, and energy educator

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hands holding small pieces of plastic

Microplastic Pollution: The Big Problem with Tiny Plastic | June 13, 1 p.m.

Plastic is everywhere, and that's a problem. 

Plastic is the most common debris found in oceans and lakes. Microplastics are smaller than a grain of rice, and scientists don’t fully understand their impact on aquatic ecosystems, especially in the Great Lakes. Researchers are exploring the scope of the problem, as well as what potential impacts microplastics might have on human and environmental health. Explore where microplastics come from, what we know about the consequences of microplastic pollution, and steps anyone can take to help solve this complex plastic problem. 

Presenter: Sarah Zack, pollution prevention Extension specialist

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