Youth Conference 2025

The Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference is an annual celebration of science where students from our partner schools take center stage and showcase the projects, research, and investigations they’ve conducted in their Hydroponic Classrooms. Joining our young Farmer Scientists are professionals, innovators, and experts in the sustainability and STEM fields, who share their insights into the real-world applications of what students learn in the classroom. For a taste of what the Youth Conference is all about, check out the teaser for our most recent conference below!

On May 2nd, 2025, we welcomed more than 900 students to join us once again at the Javits Center, where we celebrated climate education like never before. In addition to student presenters ranging from grades 2nd through 12th, we also heard from guest speakers and virtual guest speakers including: Joyce Leveston, Javits Center President and CEO, Alexis Harley, Senior Vice President and Chief Risk and Resiliency Officer at the New York Power Authority (NYPA), Dr. Elison Blancaflor, Program Scientist at the NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Division, and Te’lario Watkins II, the Founder of Tiger Mushroom Farms.

Launched in 2011, the Youth Conference has played a vital role in growing our community of Farmer Scientists, creating connections between like-minded students and teachers at our over 350 partner schools, who are working together toward a sustainable future.

To watch the full conference recording, click here. Or check out the trailer below!

SESSIONS

Session I – Grow: Students as Farmer Scientists Running Investigations In Their Hydroponic Classrooms

Session II – Innovate: Students as Innovators Creating Their own Hydroponic Systems and Designing Solutions to Current Climate Challenges

Session III – ACT: Students As Global Citizens Engaging In Community Events and Expanding The Learning Beyond Their Hydroponic Classrooms

Guest Speakers

DR. ELISON BLANCAFLOR is a Program Scientist at the NASA Biological and Physical Sciences Division. Since 2022, Dr. Blancaflor has worked for NASA as a Portfolio Scientist and Program Scientist. As a Program Scientist, Dr. Blancaflor oversees science planning, operations, and data analysis, and plays a key role in public outreach and education. He is also the senior scientist responsible for ensuring the science content of a flight program or project remains aligned with its strategic objectives.

Dr. Blancaflor completed his PhD in Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1996, before going on to conduct his postdoctoral research in Plant Cell Biology at Pennsylvania State University. During his two-decade professorship at the Noble Research Institute he won the Thora W. Halstead Young Investigator’s Award for his significant contributions to the field of gravitational and space research.

ALEXIS HARLEY is Senior Vice President and Chief Risk and Resiliency Officer at the New York Power Authority (NYPA) where she oversees risk management, resilience and sustainability functions. She is also proud to be serving as executive sponsor of its Abilities Beyond Limits and Expectations employee resource group. Alexis has spent her entire career in the energy industry. In addition to her extensive experience leading risk processes, she has held roles in business transformation, internal consulting, business planning and performance management, process excellence, strategic planning, and engineering project management. Alexis is a graduate of Columbia University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Committed to helping others develop, Alexis regularly provides mentorship, is an active member of Chief, and in the past served two terms on her local school district’s Board of Education. In her free time, Alexis enjoys traveling, reading and spending time with her daughter.

JOYCE LEVESTON is CEO of the Javits Center, having assumed the role in March, 2025 after 30 years of high-caliber industry experience. Most recently, she was the Senior Vice President of Convention Centers at Oak View Group, where she oversaw strategy and operations for more than 60 convention and conference centers in the OVG360 portfolio. She has worked in convention centers across the country, including holding senior positions at Boston’s Hynes Convention Center, Boston Convention & Exhibitions Center, Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C., Miami Beach Convention Center, George R Brown Convention Center in Houston and the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. Additionally, Leveston has worked on high-profile special events such as fan fests for the Super Bowl, NBA All-Star Weekend and MLB AllStar Weekend; presidential inaugural balls; the Nuclear Security Summit for President Obama; the International AIDS Convention; the White House State of Women Summit; Art Basel Miami; and the Radio Correspondence Gala.

TE’LARIO WATKINS II is the Founder of Tiger Mushroom Farms. He started the farm at just seven years old after a Cub Scout project sparked his passion for growing mushrooms. What began as a small home experiment quickly flourished into a thriving business, earning him recognition as a teenpreneur, speaker, food advocate, and author. Te’Lario is dedicated to fighting food insecurity, inspiring young entrepreneurs, and promoting sustainable agriculture. Through his journey, he has not only grown a business but also cultivated a movement—encouraging kids and communities to think big, eat healthy, and grow their own food.

To support our work and the conference as a corporate partner, please contact us.

Past Youth Conferences: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019
2012-2018 Youth Conference presentations available on YouTube