The Gaia Society students and faculty members

The Gaia Society, Kent State University at Geauga's science and environment student organization, provides students the opportunity to learn more about their academic interests through participation in campus and community service activities. Approximately 25 students and faculty are active in Gaia this academic year.

The Gaia Society performed a creek-side cleanup on a November Sunday, at a site located on Hadden Road in Twinsburg. This site was selected because it contained a significant number of abandoned tires and metal debris that lay in the upper reaches of a tributary to Tinkers Creek.

The event was proposed by Kent State Geauga Professor Sharon Tkacz. Tkacz is a member of American Rivers, a leading conservation organization standing up for healthy rivers so communities can thrive.

Gaia Society members collected 20 tires, approximately 455 pounds of scrap metal and six bags of garbage. Everything collected was taken to waste recycling facilities.

The name Gaia Society is based on the notion put forth by Dr. James Lovelock, an independent scientist, environmentalist and futurologist, that the Earth can be thought of as a living system which he named Gaia, for the Greek goddess of the Earth. This idea is representative of the Geauga group, because the organization gathers students with interests in all types of science who are concerned about environmental issues. Gaia Society members are also encouraged to participate in research opportunities at Kent State Geauga and the Regional Academic Center.

For more information about the Gaia Society, contact Carol Gardner at cgardne2@kent.edu.