UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Climate Consortium has announced a call for breakout sessions for the 2025 Climate Solutions Symposium, taking place May 19-20, 2025, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. The call for proposals is open to all, although at least one session lead must be a Penn State faculty member. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 24, 2025.
“The sessions aim to spark meaningful dialogue around climate solutions, encouraging participants to generate innovative ideas to address climate change,” said Erica Smithwick, director of the Penn State Climate Consortium. “Our goal is to create a dynamic platform where attendees not only receive valuable insights but also actively engage with the content and each other to drive collaborative action.”
The 2025 Climate Solutions Symposium, themed “We are Imagining, Innovating, and Implementing Together,” is designed to discuss and develop actionable solutions and enduring partnerships. With that goal in mind, the symposium will prioritize proposals that present well-defined strategies for audience engagement and active participation. Proposals from all disciplines and sectors are welcome, with preference given to proposals that align with at least one of the Climate Consortium’s 10 key themes.
“We are interested in receiving a diverse collection of breakout session topics and focus areas,” said Janet Swim, associate director of the Climate Consortium. “We all have a role to play in addressing climate change. The Climate Solutions Symposium offers everyone an opportunity to consider it from their area of expertise.”
Session leads are encouraged to engage participants from various sectors, including higher education, industry, government, nonprofits and the public sector.
“Being a session lead at the Climate Solutions Symposium puts you at the forefront of the climate conversation,” said Jacqueline O’Connor, associate director of the Climate Consortium. “It’s an opportunity to shape impactful discussions, forge partnerships across sectors and contribute meaningfully to global climate solutions.”
The 2024 symposium featured 18 breakout sessions with nearly 100 speakers from more than 30 organizations, including universities, government agencies, industries and nonprofit groups, highlighting the broad, interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration that defines the event.
The Climate Solutions Symposium is a two-day event that highlights innovations from numerous disciplines through dynamic breakout sessions, keynote talks from leaders in the climate solutions space, a poster session and more. The event also features opportunities for attendees to network with like-minded individuals who are seeking climate solutions as collaborators, funders or implementers in the themes of the Climate Consortium.