Students join faculty, business leaders at Environmental Conference

Representatives from the campus, government and business communities will join forces at TU’s Environmental Conference on Friday, April 15 to discuss innovative sustainability programs and brainstorm solutions to regional and national environmental problems. The conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the West Village Commons.

This year’s conference will feature a mix of presentations, Q&As and networking opportunities. The day will start with a keynote address by Robert M. Summers, Ph.D., the senior research scientist at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences and a former Maryland Secretary of the Environment.

Following Summers’ remarks, there will be more than a dozen breakout sessions on a range of topics focused on solving environmental problems through science, policy and business. The sessions' topics range from how fish can help predict the effects of climate disruption to an EPA program that’s helping to reduce exposure to chemical contaminants.

In the afternoon, alumni from TU’s Environmental Science and Studies program will host a Q&A to discuss the challenges and benefits of working in their fields and provide insight on breaking into the environmental workforce. The conference will conclude with a special networking hour and environmental poster session where undergraduate and graduate students from local colleges and universities will share the results of environmental research projects. Representatives from local and regional companies will be on-hand to talk to students about career options and discuss job prospects.

“The conference will be a forum for environmental professionals to interact and present their important work,” said Dr. Chris Salice, director of the Environmental Science and Studies program. “This will be an outstanding opportunity for students to learn about local environmental issues and start developing a professional network.”

The conference is open to students, faculty, staff and the community. Attendees are welcome to come to one or all of the conference events; registration is available up to, and including, the day of the conference.

Demonstrating good practices in sustainability, the conference will produce zero waste. All conference materials and food packaging will be compostable or recyclable. TU eco-reps and other student volunteers will be on-hand during the event to help attendees who are unfamiliar with the university’s composting and recycling process.

The Environmental Conference is hosted by the Office of Civic Engagement & Leadership, the Environmental Science and Studies program and the Office of Sustainability. The SGA is an event sponsor. For more information about the conference, go to towson.edu/envirofest or towson.edu/sustainability.