Sustainability Week 2009, a collaboration of Sustainable Blacksburg, the Town of Blacksburg, and Virginia Tech will kick off on Oct. 11 with a keynote address and book signing by Daniel Golemen, author of Ecological Intelligence. The event will take place at 7:30 pm in Burruss Auditorium on the Virginia Tech campus. The weeklong series of environmental events will entertain, educate, and highlight sustainability programs and practices on campus and throughout the Blacksburg community.

This year Virginia Tech selected Ecological Intelligence as its “Common Book” for all entering freshmen to read. Shortly afterward, the Town of Blacksburg and Sustainable Blacksburg issued a friendly call to action for all Blacksburg residents to read the book as well. There will be a community book discussion on Monday, Oct. 12, from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Blacksburg Public Library on Miller Street.

Blacksburg Mayor Ron Rordam, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger, Sustainable Blacksburg Executive Director Pat Bixler, and Daniel Goleman will participate in the Sustainability Week Kickoff Ceremony, Monday, Oct. 12 at 1:15 pm at the Inn at Virginia Tech (Latham Ballroom B, Skelton Conference Center). The public is encouraged to attend.

This year’s events include Chef Roulette at the Blacksburg Farmers Market, a Blacksburg Town Council Candidate Forum, the movie No Impact Man playing at the Lyric Theater, Campus and Community Sustainability Fairs, Children’s Events, Mill Mountain Zoo Animal Encounters, Tours, Workshops and more. A complete list of events can be found online .