UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Sustainability is kicking off its 2026-27 public programming season on Sept. 23 with “Using AI in Sustainability Careers.” The webinar is part of an ongoing series that empowers students to explore career pathways and network with alumni in sustainability fields.
This year’s programming theme, “Seeing the Human Scale,” invites students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to recognize and reconnect with the people behind some of the most pressing issues of the day — and their solutions.
“With so much focus on how machines are transforming our present and future, we wanted this year’s series of events to highlight the role of humanity in shaping a better world,” said Julius Camper, student and public programming coordinator for Penn State Sustainability.
Events are free and open to all and will be livestreamed online to allow for participation from across the Penn State community.
September events:
- 12:15-1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23 – Sustainability Career Webinar – “Using AI in Sustainability Careers” Experts working in sustainability fields will discuss how AI tools have enabled new approaches to solving sustainability challenges. Join in person in HUB 131 with a pizza watch party, or synchronously over Zoom. Both options are free and open to all; register at this career webinar registration link.
- 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30: Intersections Film Series – “Hungry to Learn” Film follows four students navigating food insecurity and other challenges while paying for a college degree. A panel discussion will follow the film. Preregistration is required at this film registration link.
October events:
- Oct. 12 & 13: Sustainability Showcase Series – Britt Wray, director of Stanford University’s CIRCLE (Community-Minded Interventions for Resilience, Climate Leadership, and Emotional Wellbeing); author of “Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety” and the newsletter “Unthinkable.”
- Week of Oct. 5: GreenGov Sustainability Week Programming (updated link forthcoming)
- 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21: Intersections Film Series – “Ghost in the Machine”
- 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27: Sustainability Career Webinar – Sustainability Careers in Labor (in partnership with the LABOR School and Center for Global Workers’ Rights)
November events:
- 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 4: Intersections Film Series – "Third Places Short Films”
- Nov. 9 &10: Sustainability Showcase Series – Kevin Patel, environmental justice and climate activist and founder of OneUpAction, which is relaunching this fall as the Earth Era Institute
- 12:15-1:15 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Nov. 17: Sustainability Career Webinar – “Careers in Sustainability and Arts and Architecture” (in partnership with the College of Arts and Architecture)
Participants at all events are provided with “next step” handbills, guiding them toward further actions they can take to learn more and get involved with sustainability issues at Penn State.
"Intersections" is starting its ninth year and has drawn over 8,000 attendees to more than 65 screenings since 2019. The Sustainability Showcase Series, now entering its 10th year, has invited more than 100 experts to Penn State to inspire students on their sustainability paths. The Sustainability Career Webinar program launched in fall 2025 to connect students with Penn State alumni and to help them learn about different career possibilities. The GreenGov webinar program is a partnership with the state’s GreenGov Council entering its seventh year.
For more information about events, contact Julius Camper, student and public programming coordinator, at jac8761@psu.edu.