Thiel College's Global Institute will sponsor the college's annual celebration of the Earth from Monday through April 11. "Befriending the Earth," the theme for the college's Earth Week 2003 program, will feature a series of lectures open to the public, as well as activities for Thiel students and local elementary students.

The events for the week include:

   » "When Smoke Ran Like Water," public lecture and book signing, 7 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center. Co-sponsored by Thiel College Center for Women's Leadership.

Dr. Devra Lee Davis, world-renowned epidemiologist and researcher on the environmental causes of breast cancer and chronic disease, will discuss her latest book, "When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle Against Pollution."

Her book examines how environmental toxins contribute to a broad spectrum of human diseases, including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and emphysema. A finalist for a 2002 National Book Award, the book also addresses the 1948 smog emergency in the western Pennsylvania town of Donora. Newspapers reported that 21 people died -- including much of Davis' family -- over two days as a direct result of the smog, and more than a third of the town's population became ill or were hospitalized.

Davis is visiting professor of public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School and senior advisor to the World Health Organization.

A reception will follow.

   » Thiel students and faculty host hands-on workshops for area elementary students in grades 4 through 6. More than 400 students from Greenville, St. Michael School, Reynolds, Jamestown, Commodore Perry, St. Joseph School and Notre Dame School will participate.

Workshops will be presented by the Carnegie Science Center "Science on the Road" team, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History Education Team, and members of the Thiel College biology honorary.

Highlights include: "Unisphere," to learn about the night sky in a portable planetarium; "Seasons of the Seneca," to find out how the Seneca tribe thrived using gifts of Mother Nature; "Environmental Island," for students to work together to find a solution after Earth's resources are used to create a dynamic new product only to have an environmental problem arise; "Earthballoon," a new world is discovered and students consider environmental concerns from inside a huge balloon; "African Mammals," a closer look at the predator-and- prey relationship; "Insect World," to learn about the interaction of humans with the insect world.

   » "International Development: What Is It? How Does It Work?," 7 p.m., Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center.

Thiel College alumna Barbara Friday of Trust of the Americas and World Bank will discuss international development, who the major players are, international issues and how donor policies are translated into foreign assistance programs and projects.

Friday, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish from Thiel in 1973, is an international development consultant with an expertise in anti-corruption and civil society programs.

A reception will follow.

   » Annual tree-planting ceremony, noon, Brother Martin's Walk.

   » Presentation of the Leadership and Environmental Education Award, 6:45 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center. Given to a local educator who has demonstrated a commitment to environmental education, conservation and/or biodiversity.

   » "Promises" film screening and question and answer session, 7 p.m., Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center.

The award-winning documentary's producer and director Justine Shapiro on hand. Her first feature-length earned an Emmy Award for Best Documentary and for Best Background Analysis, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary, among several, and explores the Middle East conflict through the eyes of seven Palestinian and Israeli children between the ages of 9 and 13.

An actress for 15 years in theater, film and television, Shapiro hosts and co-writes the PBS award-winning adventure travel series "Lonely Planet," which is broadcast to a global audience of 35 million.

A reception will follow.

The film also will be shown at 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the college's Bly Lecture Hall, Academic Center.

   » "Protecting the Oceans," public lecture, 7:30 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center.

Paul Watson, a founding member of the Greenpeace Foundation, is also founder and current president of The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. A master mariner, he will discuss the contemporary challenges to protecting our oceans.

A reception will follow.

   » "Rainforest Café," 7:30 p.m. Rotunda Bistro, Howard Miller Student Center.

The Coffeehouse will feature local musicians from among Thiel students, faculty, and members of the Greenville community.