UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The College of Arts and Architecture will host its second ever Sustainability Symposium on Thursday, April 9, titled “Cultivation,” which will offer programming to celebrate the college’s sustainability progress and envision future efforts.
Attendance is free but registration is required.
Events will begin with a breakfast at 8 a.m. in HUB 233 AB. The symposium will feature seven sessions throughout the day that showcase the college’s sustainability efforts across multiple disciplines. Led by sustainability leaders, the session titles are:
- Preservation and Innovation: Pathways to Sustainable Environments
- Music and Nature: Soundscapes of Sustainability
- Designing Sustainable Futures: Alumni Perspectives
- Fashion and Ecology: Expression of Sustainability
- Arts and Climate Action: Creative Voices for Change
- Sustainable Theatre: Storytelling on Stage
A full schedule of events is available here, including the presenters within each session.
Keynote speaker Kate Brennan, associate director of AI Now, an independent research institute equipping the field with expert analysis to challenge and reimagine the current trajectory of AI, will share insights on the sustainability implications of AI and how emerging technologies can contribute to cultivating a sustainable future.
According to Mihyun Kang, College of Arts and Architecture director of sustainability, the symposium sessions will demonstrate the college’s commitment to expanding sustainability-focused courses and research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and deepening community engagement while modeling sustainable operational practices.
“Our goal is to cultivate a culture where sustainability is an integral part of academic and campus life, inspiring a collective movement toward a sustainable future,” Kang said. “Over the next five years, we aim to further embed sustainability across all aspects of the College of Arts and Architecture.”
Kang noted the symposium marks a significant milestone, taking place five years after the inaugural sustainability symposium.
“Reflecting our continuing commitment to fostering thoughtful growth and responsible innovation, the event will showcase the expanding impact of sustainability initiatives across the college, serving as a platform to inspire further advancements in our shared pursuit to a more sustainable world,” Kang said.
During her tenure as director, Kang has spearheaded sustainability efforts across the college, which include the establishment of the Sustainability Council.
Comprising faculty, staff and students from each unit within the college, the council has been instrumental in advancing sustainability initiatives through working groups dedicated to teaching and learning, research, community engagement and operations, each with its own goals and initiatives.
In 2020, the Sustainability Fellows Program was established as a way for faculty members, graduate students and staff members to integrate sustainability efforts into their pedagogy, research and creative activities, and daily duties within the college. In recognition of individual accomplishments, the Sustainability Awards annually serve as a celebration of sustainability efforts that reinforce the importance of sustainability across the college.
For more on sustainability efforts in the College of Arts and Architecture, visit the A&A sustainability webpage.