With Earth Day just around the corner on Sunday, some ISU students are bringing environmental awareness to campus.

In an effort to let students know how environmental problems affect their lives, the ISU Student Environmental Council is sponsoring Earth Week. The weeklong celebration kicked off Monday with a lecture by Danielle Worth, an ecofeminist, speaking about the environment.

“An ecofeminist doesn’t necessarily have to be a woman – they can be men too,” said Katie Theisen, co-president of the ISU Student Environmental Council. “These are people who are socially aware, care about women and the environment.”

Theisen, senior in environmental science, said the environment is a global issue.

“We forget that this is more than just an American problem, but a global problem,” she said. “It will affect our children, our grandchildren.”

As part of the week, the Soil and Water Conservation Club is co-sponsoring the College Creek Clean-Up today at 2 p.m. They will meet in front of the Fountain of Four Seasons at the Memorial Union. Will Myers, president of the Soil and Water Conservation Club, said he hopes ISU students will take part in the week’s events.

“I hope they have a better awareness of some problems that [the environment] faces on campus,” said Myers, junior in environmental science.

The council will have booths in the Memorial Union today and Wednesday with information about this week’s events, Theisen said, and a table by the free-speech zone will be set up Thursday. The biggest event, she said, will be “Earth Car-Free Day” on Thursday, a day to use public transportation, walk or bike instead of driving a car.

Also on Thursday will be “Save the Ales Concert” at People’s Bar & Grill, 2428 Lincoln Way. The event will show how climate change will affect the quality of hops, an ingredient in making beer.

Theisen said college students might not have the time or the know-how to be environmentally friendly, but there are some simple things that can be done in a dorm room or an apartment that don’t take up a lot of time. Remembering to recycle or turn off the lights when leaving a room are simple things to do and can help the environment.

“Just because we can waste it doesn’t mean we should,” she said.

Theisen said if students celebrate Earth Day every day, a difference can be made, even if it seems like it is only a small one.

“Actions make a big difference,” she said. “Small steps can make a big difference on a global scale.”