About the
Conference

Innovative Practices for Sustainability Education
Building Drawdown Research Experiences: Informing Action, Developing Leaders
Flash Talk
Addressing climate change with a systems approach begins with helping people practice systems thinking. We describe how Drawdown Research Experiences give emerging climate leaders the chance to contribute to research that advances climate solutions implementation and practice systems thinking.
Presenters
Gabrielle Batzko, NCSE Drawdown USA Scholar, NCSE Drawdown USA Research Association
Christopher Contos, NCSE Drawdown USA Scholar, NCSE Drawdown USA Research Association
Dharma Santos, NCSE Drawdown USA Scholar, NCSE Drawdown USA Research Association
Kirsten Taylor, Coordinator for NCSE Drawdown USA Scholars, Drawdown USA Research Association and NCSE
James Sanders, NCSE Drawdown USA Scholar, NCSE Drawdown USA Research Association
Presenter 6
Can Recycling Education Programs Promote Recycling Rates in the U.S.?
Poster
It is known that recycling education has positive effects on recycling behaviors, thereby increasing recycling rates. Using the US EPA's Environmental Education Grants database, this study empirically tests the relationship between publicly funded recycling projects and the U.S. recycling rates.
Presenters
Younsung Kim, Ph.D., Associate Professor, George Mason University
Aashna Sawhney, Student, Duke University
Chan-ho Oh, Student, Langley High School
Tarun Sivanandan, Student, Oakton High School
Presenter 6
Exploring Agrophotovoltaics in Guatemala to Foster Positive Change
Poster
Agricultural schools in Guatemala are responding to challenges in the sector (e.g., migration, food insecurity, climate change, poverty, etc.). Agrophotovoltaics combine solar photovoltaics with agriculture and may be an approach to enhance the sector and respond to other emerging rural challenges.
Presenters
John Ignosh, M.S., Extension Specialist, Virginia Tech
Mario Buch, M.S., Section Chief of Research Department, Escuela Nacional Central de Agricultura (ENCA) Guatemala
Presenter 6
Getting Out of Hot Water: Moving STEM Education Ideas to Actions
Poster
STEM education can be a catalyst for improving student understanding of global environmental change. Enhancing environmental science coursework with information literacy, project-based learning, and campus-wide events such as recruitment and training workshops has increased students’ success and an overall interest in climate.
Presenters
Pamela Fletcher, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Broward College
Michael Timm, Environmental Education Regional Partner
Jon Groover, Senior Coordinator, Tigertail Lake Center
Michelle Almonte, Senior Specialist Curriculum Support, Broward College
William Mach, Environmental Science Student, Broward College
Elena Lazovaskaia-Hall, STEM Librarian, Broward College
Derek Beaudoin, Instructional Technologist, Broward College
Presenter 6
Brittany Valera, Lead Coordinator Career Center, Broward College
Emily Surmont, Alumnus of the Broward College Environmental Science Programs, Broward College
It Is Out of Sight, but Can No Longer Be Out of Mind
Poster
The shortage of operators in the water industry led Bristol Community College to apply for a National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Grant for the New England Water Treatment Training (NEWTT) Project. With the awarded funds the college created the hands-on Blue Center for Water Technologies and two training certificates.
Presenters
Robert S. Rak, M.S., Professor of Environmental Technology, Bristol Community College
Presenter 6
Key Competencies in Sustainability – Areas of Convergence and Next Steps
Panel Session
A key question for employers, students, educators, and administrators is what competencies sustainability programs develop in students. We present results from research addressing this question: convergence on key competencies in sustainability and its implication for curriculum design and careers.
Presenters
Christopher Boone, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University
Katja Brundiers, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University
Session Organized by Katja Brundiers, Ph.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University
Matthias Barth, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures Arizona State University, Professor, Institute for Integrated Research, Leuphana University
Session Moderated by Rod Parnell, Ph.D., Professor Earth Sci & Environ Sustainability, Northern Arizona University
Presenter 6
Learning From Living Labs: Regenerative Social-Ecological Research and Teaching
Panel Session
“Living Laboratories” offer unique ways to research, teach and support regenerative social-ecological systems through interdisciplinary, placed-based experiential learning and action. Our session will highlight the last two years of “living lab” work by our four institutions in partnership with nonprofits, businesses and tribal governments around the Lake Superior watershed.
Presenters
Charles Levkoe, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Sustainable Food Systems, Lakehead University
Nairne Cameron, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Geography, Algoma University
Randel Hanson, Ph.D, Co-Director of Eco-Entrepreneurship, Lake Superior Community College
Session Moderated and Organized by Kathryn Milun, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Legal Anthropology, University of Minnesota, Duluth
Presenter 6
Strengthening Sustainability Programs and Curricula in Higher Education
Panel Session
The National Academies issued a consensus study report with recommendations to strengthen sustainability programs and curricula in higher education. Participants will learn about the recommendations and how they can be applied at their own institutions to advance sustainability education.
Presenters
Anne Kapuscinski, Director of the Coastal Science and Policy Program, University of California Santa Cruz
Garrick Louis, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Systems and Information Engineering Systems Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Engineering and Society, University of Virginia
Session Moderated by Erin Bromaghim, Director, Olympic and Paralympic Development and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Fellow on the Sustainable Development Goals, City of Los Angeles
Christopher Boone, Ph.D., Dean and Professor, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University
Lida Beninson, Ph.D., Study Director, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Presenter 6
The Rationale for Economic Literacy in Sustainability Education
Flash Talk
Our economy has fostered the perception that accumulation is happiness. Our behavior is affected by our economy and in turn impacts our global environment. Economic literacy allows for intervention and substitution of more sustainable options that may better align with overall life quality.
Presenters
Madhavi Venkatesan, Ph.D., Assistant Teaching Professor, Economics, Northeastern University
Presenter 6