UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Sustainability and the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) are partnering again to gather students and others together in visioning and planning for a more sustainable Penn State at the second annual Sustainability Summit from 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 1, in Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center. Those interested can click here to register.

Margaret Klein Salamon will provide the summit’s opening keynote. Salamon is a clinical psychologist and executive director of the Climate Emergency Fund, which provides financial support for climate activism. 

Pioneered by recent Penn State graduate Isabella Briseño, the first Sustainability Summit occurred in 2023. That event featured United Nations Youth Ambassador and musician AY Young, alongside panels to discuss sustainability efforts happening at Penn State. Continuing Briseño’s vision of student sustainability leadership, this year's summit is spearheaded by Caden Vitti, Penn State senior and UPUA executive director of environmental sustainability, and Jacob Seiler, doctoral student and co-chair of the Student Sustainability Advisory Council. 

The 2024 summit will include interactive opportunities for attendees to learn about sustainability topics relevant to Penn State and our neighboring communities, to develop partnerships and networking connections, and to drive forward sustainability at Penn State. Following the keynote will be three sessions, each with workshop options for attendees to select. The complete schedule is:

3-3:30 p.m. — Welcome and introduction 

3:30-4:10 p.m. — Keynote by Margaret Klein Salamon 

4:15-5:15 p.m. — Session 1 (All attendees)

• Attendees will form small groups and participate in sustainability “speed-dating” to meet key campus sustainability stakeholders and participate in short activities.  

5:15-5:55 p.m. — Snack break (catering by Taproot Kitchen) 

6-6:30 p.m. — Session 2 (Attendees choose one workshop) 

• Workshop Option 1: Sustainability Education (An RA Collaboration Demonstration: Composting Caboodle)

  • Engage in steps to become more personally sustainable by learning about composting for house/room plants. Practice individual sustainability efforts and learn about Penn State composting practices.

• Workshop Option 2: Environmental Justice (Exploring Your [Unknown] Surroundings) 

  • Take a conversational walkthrough of Penn State and State College to learn about potential injustices that communities are facing here. How are roads and sidewalks designed? Where are various communities housed on- and off-campus? What does our access to green spaces look like? Learn about place-based justice and take steps to advocate for those around you. 

6:30-7 p.m. — Session 3 (Attendees choose one workshop) 

• Workshop Option 1: Food Systems (The Food Systems Pyramid) 

  • Learn about aspects of food justice in our communities and develop a toolkit for addressing wellbeing, injustice, and overarching food systems. Discuss paths for progress that can be made here at Penn State on organizational and individual levels. 

• Workshop Option 2: Climate Advocacy (Incorporating the Triple Bottom Line) 

  • Discover how to engage in climate advocacy and what to consider when pursuing climate-related goals or initiatives as a student. Work to creatively brainstorm solutions to current issues at Penn State and come ready to collaborate. 

7-7:20 p.m. — Closing and Thank You 

7:20-8 p.m. — A Final Conversation with Margaret Klein Salamon 

• Those who wish to stick around can meet with Margaret Klein Salamon for an extra session on mindfulness and climate action. 

A clothing swap will be ongoing throughout the duration of the summit — attendees are encouraged to bring an article of clothing if they wish to participate. 

The summit serves as a celebration of sustainability. It is open to all and attendees are welcome to leave and return throughout the event, attending as much or as little as they like. Those interested should register today and choose their workshops. 

For questions, contact Jacob Seiler (jcs6020@psu.edu), Caden Vitti (cpv5135@psu.edu) or Grant Rowe (ger5277@psu.edu).