Common Reading Program author to visit campus
August 13, 2013
Colin Beavan, author of the book selected for Purdue's 2013-14 Common Reading Program, will give a talk and conduct a book signing at 3 p.m. Aug. 18 in Elliott Hall of Music
The free convocation is open to all faculty, staff, students and the general public. Beavan's book, "No Impact Man," tells the story of the author's yearlong effort, along with his wife and baby, to minimize his impact on the environment while living in New York City.
The convocation will include a presentation coordinated by the Office of University Sustainability and an introduction given by Tim Sands, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
Following the author’s talk, he will sign books for an hour, and representatives from student organizations related to sustainability and environmental concerns will be available in the first-floor lobby to talk with the event's attendees.
All of Purdue's first-year students have received copies of "No Impact Man" and were asked to complete a summer assignment about the book as part of the Common Reading Program. Sunday’s convocation will kick off a year of classroom discussions, activities and events surrounding the theme of the book.
Purdue launched the Common Reading Program four years ago to help establish academic expectations and engage students and instructors during the academic year. The Office of the Provost, Office of University Sustainability, Purdue Libraries and Student Success at Purdue sponsor the program. Recommendations for the common reading book for academic year 2014-15 are now being accepted on www.purdue.edu/commonreading via an online form.