MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine’s Civic & Community Engagement Club is partnering with TEDx Countdown — a global initiative to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis— to present TEDxPSUBrandywine on Wednesday, Nov. 17 in the Student Union on campus.
At the event, Brandywine faculty, staff and students will speak about climate change solutions through their lens of expertise.
Brisa Luzzi Castro, a second-year Brandywine student studying global and international studies and co-president of the club, is planning TEDxPSUBrandywine with support from Brandywine’s Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement, the Chancellor’s Commission on Sustainability and the Sustainovation Team.
“With the increasing importance of the climate emergency, it’s essential that we unite and learn about these important issues together,” Luzzi Castro said. “It is really exciting to see how passionate and committed our community is to making a difference in the world and working together to help the earth in any ways they can.”
Among the featured speakers will be:
- Mark Boudreau, associate teaching professor of biology
- Laura Guertin, professor of Earth sciences
- Lynn Hartle, professor of education
- Brisa Luzzi Castro, second-year student, global and international studies
- David Macauley, associate professor of philosophy and environmental studies
- Joshua Marquit, associate teaching professor of psychology
- Mary Frances McLaughlin, reference librarian, Vairo Library
- Margaret Signorella, distinguished professor of psychology and women's, gender, & sexuality studies
- Julie Stanton, professor of business
- Vippy Yee, Rosenberg director, Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement
The event will also feature an exhibition of community partners engaged in addressing climate change, including America’s First Fair Trade Town Committee (Media Fair Trade Committee), Chester Eastside, CRC Watersheds and Transition Town Media.
“At Penn State Brandywine’s Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement, our mission is to help students become socially responsible leaders who are equipped to make positive changes in the world,” said Vippy Yee, Rosenberg Director of the Center for Ethics & Civic Engagement. “This student-led initiative is an inspiring example of Brandywine students making a difference by organizing such a meaningful event and fostering collaboration between our campus and surrounding community. TEDxPSUBrandywine exemplifies Penn State Brandywine’s multi-disciplinary and campus-wide commitment to addressing sustainability.”
Students, faculty and staff members are encouraged to attend. The event is also open to the public. Seating is limited and advanced registration is required. There is no charge to attend.
The first 20 non-Penn State registrants will receive a complimentary copy of the book “All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis,” thanks to funding received by Brandywine’s Sustainovation Team from the Pepsi Challenge Mini-Grants in support of the Sustainable Communities Collaborative at Penn State.
The program’s agenda will be as follows:
- 5-6 p.m., Student Union Lion’s Den: Exhibition featuring community partners engaged in solving climate change
- 6-6:30 p.m., Student Union Lion’s Den: Check-in and welcome reception
- 6:30-8:30 p.m., Student Union 114-117: Featured speakers’ presentations
Presentations will also be livestreamed in the campus dining hall during the event.
Masks are required indoors on the Penn State Brandywine campus for all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.
Penn State Brandywine is located at 25 Yearsley Mill Road in Media.
Questions about TEDxPSUBrandywine should be directed to bw-engage@psu.edu. To learn more about TEDx Countdown, visit countdown.ted.com.