Announcing the 13th Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference!
February 29, 2024
It’s that time of year again! The NY Sun Works Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference is on the horizon, and we’re incredibly excited to share some of the first details about this year’s celebration of science. This year’s Conference will be held on May 23rd, 2024, once again at the beautiful Javits Center! Surrounded by the iconic Javits rooftop farm and pavilion, students from partner schools across the city will join us on Manhattan’s west side for a day of learning, sharing, and scientific exploration. Partner schools interested in attending, please check out our Youth Conference Info Sessions, available on our Upcoming Events Calendar.
The Youth Conference is an annual student showcase where Farmer Scientists in our program come together to take the stage, share their projects, and connect with peers who are also passionate about climate science. Last year, we welcomed over 900 students and teachers, with presenters as young as 2nd grade and as old as high school seniors sharing what they’ve learned in their Hydroponic Classrooms. Students in our High School Workforce Development Program participated in our first-ever Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Career Fair, where 16 organizations in education, sustainability, science, and urban farming came together to connect our students with internships, job opportunities and post-secondary pathways.
Simultaneously, our Associate Board met with these same students for resume reviews, helping prepare them for professional futures. We were also excited to share our first Student Art Show, presented by the students at West End Secondary who created a collection of pieces inspired by their research in food and science. Our Youth Press Team also covered the event live, with student journalists from elementary to high school interviewing presenters and sharing their thoughts (which you can read more about here!)
In addition to the hard work of all these amazing students, we were honored to welcome a host of inspiring guest speakers to last year’s conference, including Javits Center CEO Alan Steel, who has helped make great strides in incorporating sustainability into the Javits Center’s footprint, as well as Qiana Mickie, the first Executive Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Urban Agriculture, and NY City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Students also heard from professionals like Jerri Taylor, the Director of Diversity in Career Pathways at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, as well as Kaela Mainsah, Vice President of New York Power Authority’s Environmental Justice program, and Gotham Greens co-founder and sustainability entrepreneur Viraj Puri. Through connecting students with these contemporary leaders, we not only hope to inspire them with big dreams, but to empower them with connections to people who are making big change happen right now in New York City, just like the students are in our classrooms.
We’re incredibly excited to share more about this year’s upcoming conference. Partner schools interested in attending, please check out our Youth Conference Info Sessions, available on our Upcoming Events Calendar. Spots are limited, so please reach out sooner rather than later! For more information about the Youth Conference and other previous conferences including past presentations, speakers, and more please visit our website.
