Durham, NC - Because of the current economic climate, the Nicholas School of the Environment has announced it will not host Earth Jam in conjunction with Duke Majors Fair this fall.

Earth Jam is an interactive environmental festival designed to introduce undergraduates and others in the Duke community to academic programs at the Nicholas School and inform them about environmental opportunities and issues in the greater Durham community.

The free event, which features hands-on environmental activities, educational displays, music and giveaways, has been held the Bryan Student Center in conjunction with Majors Fair for the past two years.

"Earth Jam has been a great success helping us raise awareness of our programs and reach thousands of students, staff and faculty members with key environmental messages," said William L. Chameides, dean of the Nicholas School. "In future years, we will definitely revisit the possibility of sponsoring it once again. This year, however, the most responsible decision was to cancel it."

Undergraduates can stop by the Nicholas School booth at Major Fair to learn about academic programs at the school, including semester-long Study Abroad opportunities at the Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, N.C., and majors and minors offered in Durham through the school's divisions of Environmental Sciences and Policy, and Earth and Ocean Sciences.

Free t-shirts promoting the school's programs will be distributed to undergraduates, while supplies last.