Discovering Sustainability Science: Youth Conference

May 21, 2018

On May 21st at Symphony Space NY Sun Works hosted 54 students from 14 NYC public schools who presented their research on Sustainability Science to a sold-out auditorium of 750 kids and teachers during the the 7th annual NY SUN WORKS Youth Conference.  The Conference will also be  streamed live, and video presentations will be available on our website this summer.

The conference featured 5th to12th grade students from NYC Greenhouse Project partner schools from Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, including PS84,PS147,  PS199, PS333, PS/IS377, Brooklyn Lab, Edward Murrow High School,  Thomas Edison High School, and the Urban Assembly for Green Careers.

In addition to the student presenters, Rahfeal Gordon and Rob Laing of Farm One will speak.  Rahfeal “RahGor” Gordon is recognized as one of the top international orators and leadership advisors for world leaders and global entrepreneurs who seek to effectively impact the global community through business, education, and politics.

Rob Laing is a plants, food and tech entrepreneur in NYC. In early 2016, he founded Farm.One, an indoor vertical farm in Manhattan’s financial district growing specialty herbs and greens year-round for chefs. He also launched Plant Gourmet, a podcast featuring chefs making the finest plant-based cuisine and is working on a book about our relationship with food, called The Trick.

Sponsored by ConEdison, New York Power Authority, HortAmericas and Broadway Stages, the NY SUN WORKS Youth Conference offers a platform to 5th to 12th grade students to share their classroom work and research, but most importantly it represents an opportunity to discover Sustainability Science as we reflect on the connections between human behavior, the use of technology, and the impact created on the environment. It is an event that empowers students to follow the path of innovation as we look for solutions to the environmental challenges of our time.