UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Climate Consortium has announced a call for breakout sessions for the 2026 Climate Solutions Symposium, which will be held May 18-20, 2026, at the Penn Stater Hotel and Conference Center. The call is open to all, though at least one session lead must be a Penn State faculty or staff member. The proposal submission deadline is Jan. 23, 2026.
The 2026 symposium is themed “Partners for a Resilient Pennsylvania and the World,” reflecting Penn State’s recent designation as the leader of Pennsylvania’s climate network, Prepare PA. Proposals on all climate-related topics are welcome, with priority given to work focused on Pennsylvania-based research, challenges or solutions.
Session proposals that highlight partnerships driving climate solutions are especially encouraged, particularly those demonstrating collaboration across research, community, industry and the arts. Examples may include community-engaged scholarship, arts and storytelling, artificial intelligence-driven resilience or innovations supporting the energy transition.
Designed to develop actionable solutions and enduring partnerships, the symposium will prioritize proposals that offer clear strategies for engaging attendees and fostering active participation. All proposals must align with at least one of the Climate Consortium’s 10 themes.
Session leads are encouraged to involve participants from higher education, industry, government, nonprofits and the public sector. Serving as a session lead provides an opportunity to shape meaningful climate discussions, spark cross-sector collaboration and advance effective solutions.
The 2025 symposium featured 24 breakout sessions with more than 120 speakers from a wide range of organizations, including universities, government agencies, industries and nonprofits, highlighting the broad collaboration that defines the event. The Climate Solutions Symposium showcases innovations across disciplines through breakout sessions, keynote talks, panel discussions, a poster session and networking opportunities for collaborators, funders and implementers working toward climate solutions.