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From Seed To Harvest: Celebrating a Year of Climate Education
Summer is almost here, with schools hosting their final hydroponic harvests and students beginning to enjoy the sunshine. As we wrap up yet another year of climate education, it’s time to look back on some of our successes, and prepare for some of the amazing things still yet to come! From our annual Youth Conference to ribbon cuttings, harvests, science expos and more, there’s so much to be excited about when it comes to sustainability science in NYC.
This year, we hosted our first-ever Teacher Community Carnival, where educators from our partner schools came together for an evening of chit-chat and connection at Project Farmhouse in Union Square. A high note of the celebration was awarding our first NY Sun Works Educator certificates, which signify that a teacher has completed two years of technical training, hosted a harvest, and participated in NY Sun Works professional development sessions. We also introduced our newly revamped Farming Foundations curriculum, which this year received substantial improvements with new Climate Connections, which help students understand how their actions can influence the environment.
More recently, we made a wish for climate education in the new year, and thus far our wish has been granted as we plant the seeds of new partnerships around the city and welcomed nearly 100 new schools to our program! In February, we cut the ribbon at LaGuardia Community College with Representative Nydia Velázquez and University President Kenneth Adams, inaugurating one of the first post-secondary education partnerships of its kind. We also cut the ribbon on a host of other partner schools, where we look forward to growing alongside generations of young New Yorkers with sustainability in their hearts. We also launched our newly revamped website, which includes a map of all our school partners and beautiful new photos of our amazing NY Sun Works team!
In April, we welcomed the Harvard Business School Club of NY to the High School for Climate Justice, alongside members of our Board of Directors and students at the Manhattan high school. Members of the HBSCNY got a closer look at some of the cutting edge hydroponic technology used to grow food from seed to harvest, as students showed them around and even kicked off a harvest of their own! And shortly thereafter, we began preparations for our annual Youth Conference, where almost 1,000 students and educators from the five boroughs and beyond gathered at the Javits Center to present the independent climate science research they’ve been working on in their classrooms.
All in all, it’s been a year full of teaching, learning, and growing, both for us and our students. From little victories to huge successes, it’s been a whirlwind of climate education, and we couldn’t be happier to send off the school year with a bang. Whether you want to learn more about some of these events, or missed out on the magic that made them happen, check out our Instagram for snapshots into all the sustainability science that powered us through the 2023-24 school year!
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ASPDP – Energy, Water, Waste: Integrating Climate Education into Your Classroom
This course on simple sustainability and climate education offers teachers the unique opportunity to delve deeper into global environmental issues on a local level.
This six day course consists of 5 in person sessions and 1 remote session, both followed by 2.5 hours of independent asynchronous readings and projects that will be due two weeks after the final session. This course has been approved by the DOE After School Professional Development Program (ASPDP) and may be counted for three P or A+ CREDITS/45hours CTLE.
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Farmer Scientists Lead the Way Toward a Greener Future at the 13th Youth Conference
As our coverage of this year’s Youth Conference comes to a close, we wanted to shine the spotlight on those who give meaning to our mission – the students! With almost 1,000 students and educators from around the NY metro area in attendance, we were thrilled to connect with new partners, visit with long time friends, and celebrate the hard work of another generation of Farmer Scientists. Student presenters ranged from 2nd to 12th grade, with research subjects covering topics from using compost tea as a nutrient solution to the effect of water temperature on germination. We’re incredibly proud of all those who both took the stage to share, as well as those who made the journey to Javits to listen and learn!
Introducing the first session was once again Javits Center President and CEO Alan Steel, who shared his excitement about the return of the Youth Conference to the rooftop pavilion at North Javits. Steel has helped the iconic NYC convention center establish itself as a leader in the world of sustainable urban infrastructure, spearheading Javits’ successes in creating an environmentally friendly venue. Following opening remarks, presentations began with a session focused on students as Farmer Scientists, running investigations in their Hydroponic Classrooms. Using creative thinking and the scientific method, students investigated topics including the power of mushrooms, the best way to grow strawberries hydroponically, and anticancer potential of synergizing lycopene and garlic. Before the closing of this session, students also heard from Damali Wynter, the Assistant Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets about how agriculture relates to all our everyday activities, and how young people can use any skill set they’re passionate about to make a difference in the world of sustainability.
During the next session, in addition to student presenters, we were honored to hear words of support from a few of our other supporters, including US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, and US Rep. Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), who shared their excitement about our student showcase and support for quality climate education in NYC. This second session was all about students as innovators, creating their own hydroponic systems and designing solutions to current climate challenges. Research projects in this session included a hydroponic custom rescue lab intended to save plants from malfunctioning systems, as well as an automated tower system, self-sufficient irrigation systems, and a study on germination in different growing substrates.
Finally, in the third session of the morning, we heard from Daniella Piper, Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of New York Power Authority. Piper spoke to her experience growing up in an agricultural community abroad, and how that perspective shapes her approach to innovation and sustainability. Following that, students dove into the session revolving around climate action, with students acting as global citizens engaging in community events and expanding the learning beyond their Hydroponic Classrooms. A few topics that were shared included testing how decomposers like worms help soil become better for plant growth, the impacts of contaminants in tap water on urban agriculture, and the strength of healthy healing herbs. Closing this session, we also heard from US Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10), who sent our students off with a message of sincere support.
After the official close of this year’s conference presentations, we were equally excited to dive headfirst into our second-ever College and Career Fair! High school students in our Workforce Development Program had the unique opportunity to connect with a variety of organizations and universities in the realms of urban farming and sustainability, as they pursue certification in Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Additionally, they met with members of the NY Sun Works Associate Board for resume and cover letter reviews, and volunteers from EY also provided mentoring in professional networking! And of course, reporting live on all the climate education was our Youth Press Team, which allowed students of nearly all grade levels to interview fellow students and guest speakers after their presentations.
These students have truly done something worth celebrating, and we are incredibly honored to play our part in empowering so many young New Yorkers to grow a greener future. Additionally, we are thankful for the parents and families who helped prepare them for their big day, the teachers who stewarded them along the way, and all those whose passion and dedication helped the day flourish into such a success. If you’d like to watch the full conference recording or individual student presentations, check out our YouTube channel. For more information on the Youth Press Team, click here.
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Student Journalists Ask Hard Hitting Questions at the 13th Youth Conference
In the wake of our 13th Annual Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference, we’re turning our ears to the student journalists who reported live on the event as part of this year’s Youth Press Team! With so much climate education and sustainability science on stage, it was vital we captured the moment, and channeled the phenomenal energy of our partner schools through the lens of the students themselves.
This year, our Youth Press Team was nearly double the size of last year’s, with 13 young New Yorkers taking on the role of junior reporters and interviewing both their student peers and guest speakers about their research and work. Our student reporters ranged in age from 3rd grade to high school seniors, and created thoughtful journalistic articles summarizing their perspective on the conference. These experiences also included interviews with a few of our guest speakers, including Damali Wynter, Assistant Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Daniella Piper, the Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer of New York Power Authority.
Thank you to Mariama, Basma, Yaleez, Juselys, Syeda, Jayden, Pharamond, Valentina, Jane, Matilda, Nilema, Cameron, and Aether for lending their voices to reporting at the conference. Click on each student’s name to check out their final works. A special thank you to Ms. Bobb, Ms. Larosa, Ms. Casimir, Ms. Rogers, Ms. Pinckney, Ms. Chan, and Ms. Giannella for helping support their students throughout the process!
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HARLEM WORLD: 1,000 NYC Students And Teachers Attend 13th Annual Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference
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NY Hispano: Estudiantes y Maestros en la Conferencia de Sostenibilidad de NY Sun Works
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The 13th Annual Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference is Here!
At the heart of every Youth Conference are, of course, the students! Last year, we watched a host of exciting presentations from students as young as 2nd grade, and as advanced as high school seniors, on subjects related to hydroponics, climate science, urban green space, and more! Our conference was split into three categories: students as Farmer Scientists and researchers; as innovators and engineers; and as global citizens and community leaders.
This year, we have another amazing lineup of student speakers from across the city who are sure to awe us with their scientific expertise. We’ll be sharing a livestream of portions of the event tomorrow morning, so be sure to follow us on Instagram for notifications about when we go live. But for those too eager to wait, some upcoming topics you can expect to hear about include the power of mushrooms, taking climate action through waste reduction, and exploring the powerful uses of hydroponically grown healing herbs!
Whether it means building their own hydroponic systems, growing crops in innovative ways, or researching how to do so more sustainably, students always bring creative and ambitious ideas to the table, and inspire us to dream big when it comes to climate action. In the meantime, feel free to check out some of last year’s student presentations on our YouTube Channel. We look forward to seeing all our school partners later this week at the beautiful Javits Center!
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The 13th Annual Youth Conference – Discovering Sustainability Science at the Javits Center
The 13th Discovering Sustainability Science Youth Conference is just a few weeks away, and we’re more excited than ever to welcome hundreds of students from across NYC back to the iconic Javits Center for the second year in a row. While last year was a welcome return to in-person learning after holding virtual conferences throughout the pandemic, this year’s conference promises more fun and climate connections than ever. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share more sneak peeks about the conference including guest speaker highlights, previous student presentations, and more, so get ready for a May full of learning and sustainability.
At last year’s conference, we were joined by over 900 students and educators, with presenters ranging from 2nd to 12th graders taking the stage to share their work. With topics ranging from homemade hydroponics and automated farming to urban green space and vermicomposting, it was wonderful to hear insights from so many Farmer Scientists’ perspectives. Through exploring environmental science subjects, students made meaningful connections between urban farming experiments and their impacts on current climate challenges. Additionally, high school students in our Urban Agriculture Workforce Development Program attended our first ever college and career fair at the Youth Conference, making professional connections with organizations and universities while receiving resume reviews from our Associate Board. And supporting all this: the Youth Press Team, made up of students from our partner schools, lent their journalistic perspectives to the event through interview-based articles. This year, we’re inviting students from across the five boroughs to join us again, where the joy of learning meets the science of sustainability.
The Youth Conference is more than a simple gathering of students; it’s an important opportunity for Farmer Scientists from separate schools to come together and share in the experience of learning in a Hydroponic Classroom. While we proudly support over 300 partner schools across NYC and beyond, it can be challenging for educators to meaningfully connect with one another between their day-to-day activities. The Youth Conference presents a unique opportunity for students of all ages to see that they aren’t alone in the work they’re doing, and feel part of a growing, green community. It’s also a chance for young New Yorkers to hear from STEM and urban farming professionals, and take inspiration from their real-life journeys into the worlds of climate science and sustainable agriculture.
This year’s Youth Conference will once again be kicked off by Javits Center CEO Alan Steel, who has helped the renowned New York City convention center innovate on urban sustainability through projects like their 1-acre rooftop farm and 6.75 acres of other rooftop green space. We’ll soon be sharing more insights into what to expect from this year’s conference, so stay tuned for more opportunities to get involved, including a live stream of select presentations for those who can’t attend. We’ll also be sharing a recording of the full conference after the event. To learn more about the 2024 Youth Conference and past conferences, please visit our website. Read this week’s full newsletter here.
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New Partner School Chancellor’s Day PD
New Partner Schools – join us for our final NY Sun Works professional learning sessions of the school year! This training will focus on introducing you to fundamental hydroponics principles and practices and provide an overview of what to expect from the NY Sun Works team regarding systems training and curriculum support. Teachers and interested administrators will be given access to the online curriculum so that they can begin planning for the fall.
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Creating a Student Scrapbook at the 13th Annual Youth Conference!
The 13th Annual Youth Conference is just around the corner, and we’re more excited than ever to welcome students and teachers to the Javits Center for a day of joyful learning and sustainability science!
To celebrate this event, we’re launching our new Student Scrapbook. The Student Scrapbook invites Farmer Scientists (and teachers) in attendance to contribute to an online memory book commemorating the occasion. Submitting to the scrapbook also gives you a chance to win a mushroom growing kit for your Hydroponic Classroom. Anything from group photos and selfies to scenic shots of the beautiful rooftop farm and pavilion are welcome.
To participate, attendees can either email their photos to our Social Media and Communications Coordinator Jake, or post them on Instagram and tag @NYSunWorks and hashtag #NYSunWorks. Only photos taken at the Youth Conference are eligible for entry. Submissions begin on Thursday, May 23rd, 2024 and close end-of-day on Monday, May 27, 2024.
If you choose to participate, in addition to entering to win a mushroom growing kit, you can expect to see your submissions in the student-focused edition of our official newsletter shortly after the conference. We look forward to seeing all your smiling faces again this year! Please contact Jake with any questions or concerns.
(Participating students MUST have signed Media Release Forms if below the age of 18.)
