Climate symposium draws hundreds

"The theme of this evening’s symposium is climate solutions," said RE's Director of Environmental Sustainability Kelly Jackson. "Students are not focusing on the gloom and doom so much as what can we all do – how can we solve the climate crisis. What actions can we take to bring awareness to the issue, reduce our carbon footprint, and make small impacts that add up to big changes in our school, in our homes, in our community, in our city and beyond."

 

RE’s sixth graders produced interdisciplinary projects in the sciences and social sciences designed to ignite a social movement for climate action; they targeted three primary aspects of social change: political pressure, economic pressure and social pressure. Many seventh graders and upper schoolers also created posters or projects and, for the first time, students in Breakthrough Miami participated. Awards for best projects were presented at the end of the night.

 

Jackson opened the event, welcoming Cortada, who joined her at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, last November. Cortada provided hope and inspiration to the audience: “the boys and girls sitting in those seats are the ones who will lead us into the future with empathy, creativity and science.” Students and families had the opportunity to participate in Cortada’s “HELLO” project by putting their hopes, aspirations and more on the name badges on their chests.

"Today, you think beyond who you are as an awesome member of your family, and you start thinking of your role outside in the community," Cortada said. "That's called leadership ... A leader is what each and every single one of you is destined to be. And the reason I am telling you that isn't because you are cool. It is because we need you. We need your creativity, your passion, your talent ... thinking about how you connect with community, how you build community, how you shine. Through your light, you let others shine."

Cortada followed up The CLEO Institute Executive Director Yoca Arditi-Rocha, who told upper school students they have the power to reverse the climate crisis on April 5 during Earth Week.

Jackson also introduced Head of School Penny Townsend and the members of RE’s Students for Solar – Madison Munroe ’22, Wirth Munroe ’22, Julian Stancioff ’22 and Daniel Stancioff ’23 – who were instrumental in pushing Ransom Everglades to install 305 solar panels on the roof of the Anderson gymnasium this spring.

 

Simone Carrasco ’27, a member of the RE Green Team, urged guests to consider a plant-rich diet, composting and reducing food waste, describing them as easy and effective ways of helping to combat climate change. Cameron Ferguson, the Dean of the Sixth Grade, and science teacher Brooke Gintert also offered remarks before guests were encouraged to peruse the many projects on display in the Fernandez STEM Center.

 

Event-goers enjoyed a vegetarian dinner catered by Sidewalk Salads, and food was served with compostable plates, cups and napkins and birchwood utensils. Compost for Life bins were placed around the quad instead of trash bins, and all “waste” from dinner was composted (food scraps, plates, utensils, cups) went into compost bins. Other vendors included Goldin Solar, which installed the solar panels on the roof of the gymnasium, and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s Connect to Protect Network, a citizen science program that enlists South Florida residents to plant native plants. NaMa Native Landscapes informed guests about native plants and their butterfly garden starter kits.

 

Non-profits Miami Youth Climate Summit, Debris Free Oceans, and Miami Waterkeeper also attended.

Student poster awards were presented at the conclusion of the evening and during Earth Week science classes:

Period 2

Period 3

Period 4

 

Period 1

Period 5

Period 6

Period 7 

Citizen science heat sensor projects: Webber Druckerman ’28, Henry Greengrass ’28, Cici Cisneros ’28, Quinnard Mays ’28, Lucas Echavarria ’28

 

“Solar Energy” Maya Calle ’28 and Tova Katz ’28

 

“Poverty: The Price They Pay for Climate Change” by Noa Garcia ’27, Tess Pearson ’27, Dylan Turkel ’27, and Caitlyn White ’27

 

“Climate Change: How Communities are Affected by Natural Disasters” by Chloe Steinberg ’27 and Lila Mosse ’27

 

Overall Presentation Skills

"Air pollution:The Silent Slaughter" by Diego Lopez-Ona ’27, Lucas Gonzalez ‘27 and Winston Hosford ’27

 

Educational

"Vector Borne Disease: A Developing Nightmare" by Azza Tatum- Sullivan ’27, Henry Whited ’27, Lucas Lafosse-Marin ’27, and Zachary Corbin-Cheah ’27

 

Creative

"Changes in Our Climate; The Effects of Biomedical Waste" by Arhan Shah ’27, Clemen Gonzalez Bergoderi ’27, Sam Bussel Alonso ’27, and Myla Zuckerman ’27

 

"Bye Biomedical Waste. Hello Clean Future" by Alexandra Ansin ’27, Isabella Copetti ’27 and Olivia Gomez ’27