Representatives from approximately 80听colleges and universities听met in Washington D.C.听on March 8th听and 9th for an exciting two-day forum co-hosted by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the 91探花 to discuss how to leverage the capabilities of colleges and universities to catalyze climate solutions in communities across the country. The attendees represented a cross-section of American higher education from almost all 50 states, including those from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions. 91探花was represented by Maya Tolstoy, Dean of the College of the Environment and Meade Krosby, University of Director of the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (pictured below). 听
The first day of the forum was held at the White House campus where higher education professionals were joined by government officials for three panels to discuss the various ways that higher education and the federal government can partner together to showcase听how campuses can听act as proving grounds for new climate solutions and pathways to net-zero emissions; provide essential climate extension services to states, municipalities, and indigenous communities; and ensure that students have the knowledge and skills to lead in the clean industries of the future.听听The meeting听also听included听remarks from听prominent speakers including the White House Deputy National Climate Advisor Mary Frances Repko;听OSTP Deputy Director for Energy Sally Benson;听National Science Foundation Assistant Director for Geosciences Alexandra Isern; OSTP Chief of Staff for Climate and Environment and Assistant Director for Climate Resilience Laura Petes;听and UW鈥檚 very own Maya Tolstoy,听who delivered final remarks听for the day.听听
The attendees then headed to the听University of the District of Columbia for Day 2 which included a full day of panels and breakout听sessions where attendees discussed strategies听and experiences around four themes: campus sustainability听and听resilience,听providing听climate services to communities, living laboratories for climate solutions, and climate action in the classroom. The forum听ended听with a call for action to continue this momentum and听maintain听a strong听channel of communication between higher education and the federal government to advance climate change solutions.听听听
To learn more, click听听for the White House Read Out of the event and听听to watch the full live stream of Day 1.听