Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Energy (and Other) Events Monthly - June 2023

 These kinds of events below are happening all over the world every day and most of them, now, are webcast and archived, sometimes even with accurate transcripts. Would be good to have a place that helped people access them. 

This is a more global version of the local listings I did for about a decade (what I did and why I did it at http://hubeventsnotes.blogspot.com/2013/11/what-i-do-and-why-i-do-it.html) until September 2020 and earlier for a few years in the 1990s (https://theworld.com/~gmoke/AList.index.html).  

A more comprehensive global listing service could be developed if there were enough people interested in doing it, if it hasn’t already been done.  

If anyone knows of such a global listing of open energy, climate, and other events is available, please put me in contact.

Thanks for reading,

Solar IS Civil Defense,
George Mokray
gmoke@world.std.com

http://hubeventsnotes.blogspot.com - notes on lectures and books
http://solarray.blogspot.com - renewable energy and efficiency - zero net energy links list
http://cityag.blogspot.com - city agriculture links list
http://geometrylinks.blogspot.com - geometry links list
http://hubevents.blogspot.com - Energy (and Other) Events
http://www.dailykos.com/user/gmoke/history - articles, ideas, and screeds

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Index
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More information on each event available at http://hubevents.blogspot.com

Benchmarking Methane and other GHG Emissions
Thursday, June 1
12:00 PM 
Online
RSVP at https://ceres-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RyO0AFMhTzW7yCMIb5x85Q#/registration

Can We Feed 10 Billion People a Diet that is Both Healthy and Sustainable?” 
Thursday, June 1
7 pm.
Online
RSVP at https://ncfarm.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ncfarm/event.jsp?event=11517&

The Unfinished Promise of Democracy and the Role of Racial Justice Centers
An exchange of ideas on issues & discussion toward supporting research, projects & innovative pedagogy on racial justice & economic equity.
Friday, June 1 - Saturday,  June 2 
Northeastern University School of Law, 416 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfinished-promise-of-democracy-and-the-role-of-racial-justice-centers-tickets-624410026197

Emerging Governance Structures for Climate ResilienceS.png
Friday, June 2
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Louis D. Brandeis Conference Center, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA 02210
and Online
RSVP at https://climateadaptationforum.org/event/emerging-governance-structures-for-climate-resilience/
Cost:  $15 - $45

Desert Arts Preview: An Invitation to Get Inspired 
Sunday June 4
10am - 12pm EST [1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT]
Online
RSVP at https://here.burningman.org/event/desert-arts-preview-2023
Suggested Ticket Price: $10
Viewing Parties Suggested Price: $100

Insights for the Global Stocktake: System Transformation & Intl Cooperation
Hear from leading experts on sectoral insights for the Global Stocktake.
Monday, June 5 
5:45am - 7 am EST [11:45am - 1pm CEST]
Room Kaminzimmer, World Conference Center Bonn Platz der Vereinten Nationen 2 53113 Bonn Germany
and Online
The event will be livestreamed here: http://www.youtube.com/@UNClimateChangeEvents

MA State House Stand-Out for No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Starting June 5: 
What: Climate activists are planning a long-term Stand-Out in front of the Massachusetts State House to put pressure on Governor Healey, Senate President Spilka, and House Speaker Mariano to commit to no new fossil fuel infrastructure.

On Thursday June 1, at 8 pm, we'll have an online informational session for interested activists. Sign up at the Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkd--vpzouEtfu3NJF87p10wnqTmBJ9S0T
Second Info Session, Thursday, June 8, 7pm on Zoom: For those who can’t make the first session, this session will be updated with real lived experience from the first four days of the Stand-Out. 
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqf--tqTouHNMfDucxEq0LcIPyqV7M17bq
Shift Sign-Up Spreadsheet:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TIv45Ni7pbm6sH1mdUfvSErUxafnsoQHvBm89FUu4FM/edit?usp=sharing

Critical Minerals in Latin America: a Bridge or a Bottleneck for the Energy Transition
Monday, June 5
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Columbia University, Faculty House, Presidential Ballroom
and Online
RSVP at https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/events/critical-minerals-in-latin-america-a-bridge-or-a-bottleneck-for-the-energy-transition/

Electric Vehicles and Equity 
Tuesday, June 6
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Online
RSVP at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/309475570709285207

The Path To Resilient and Carbon Free Buildings
Tuesday, June 6 
2:00pm-3:00pm
Online
RSVP at https://now.greenbuildexpo.com/ThePathToResilientandCarbonFreeBuildings

Food of the future: the potential of regenerative farming with Thomasina Miers
Tuesday, June 6 
1pm - 3pm EST [18:00 – 20:00 London time]
Online and in person (London)
RSVP at https://www.eventsforce.net/nesta/frontend/reg/tRegisterEmailNew.csp?pageID=48650&eventID=181&tempPersonID=61549

End the Era of Fossil Fuels 
June 8 - 11th 
Distributed Actions
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/end-the-era-of-fossil-fuels-june-2023-distributed-actions

More or Less in Common: Environment and Justice in the Human Landscape
Thursday, June 8
1 – 2 p.m.
Online
RSVP at https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/event/2023-garrett-dash-nelson-lecture-virtual

Cory Booker: Taking on Big Ag and Going Big on Climate
Friday, June 9 
9am EST [12:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Taube Family Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-09/cory-booker-taking-big-ag-and-going-big-climate
Cost:  $5 - $20

New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable 
Friday, June 9
9:00 am-12:30 pm
Foley Hoag LLP 155 Seaport Blvd 17th Floor Boston, MA 
and Online
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6923-roundtable-ma-eea-keynote-panels-on-large-scale-renewables-tickets-607833796247
Cost:  $0 - $100

Keynote by MA EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper & panels on
Large Onshore Renewables:  Development Opportunities and Challenges
Offshore Wind:  Key Resource to Decarbonize New England
Convener/Moderator:  Janet Gail Besser for Raab Associates, Ltd.

Sensing & AI Ethics: Applications in Health
Friday, June 9 
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Online
RSVP at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6913708654865023575?source=event-page

Peter Gleick and the Three Ages of Water
Monday, June 12 
3pm EST [6:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Taube Family Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-12/peter-gleick-and-three-ages-water
Cost:  $5 - $20

Webinar:  Building Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability
Tuesday, June 13
11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Online
RSVP at https://mit.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y34gCpvJSdCix3iF-HfBPw#/registration

Embrace Boston invites you to join our beloved community at the Embrace Ideas Festival
June 14-16
RSVP at https://www.embraceideasfestival.org/tickets

The Embrace Ideas Festival is a time of embracing arts, culture, joy and community. Please click here to check out the festival from last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUyPW8dvBE

Beyond Federally-Funded Buyouts – Local Policies, Tools and Funding
Wednesday, June 14
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Online 
RSVP at https://beyond-buyouts.eventbrite.com

Neurodiversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Work
Friday, June 16
12:00 PM
Online
RSVP at https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYufumsrz0pGNdSGbF-ug-EMEOK3mLkOEQ5#/registration

At What Point Managed Retreat?: Habitability and Mobility in an Era of Climate Change
June 20, 2023 - June 23, 2023
Columbia University, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY
and Online
RSVP at https://adaptation.ei.columbia.edu/managed-retreat-2023
Cost:  $75 - $350

NECEC Climate Finance Summit
Wednesday, June 21
9:00am-4:30pm
Networking until  6:30pm
Federal Reserve Bank Building, Dewey Square, Boston 600 Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/necec-climate-finance-summit-tickets-619896395807
Cost:  $0 - $495

Predicting Mosquito-Borne Disease Transmission in a Rapidly Changing World
Wednesday, June 21
3 PM ET
Online
RSVP at https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2eJA4nnPQKuIvoDaEpSeBw#/registration

Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet [CUSP] World Inaugural Panel:   What the IRA Means to Me
Thursday, June 22
Noon EDT
Online
RSVP at https://www.cusp.world/

Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet
Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, MIT Alumni for Climate Action, Stanford Alumni in Sustainability, and Yale Blue-Green have founded CUSP, Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet, to activate our alumni communities in climate and sustainability.

Our inaugural event on June 22 will be a panel discussion centering on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

A Conference on Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration
June 22 -23 
MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA
RSVP at https://spacechi.media.mit.edu/

Everyday Utopia:  What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life 
Friday, June 23
7:00 PM ET
Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 
RSVP at https://www.harvard.com/event/kristen_r._ghodsee/

Harvard Book Store welcomes KRISTEN R. GHODSEE—bestselling author of Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence—for a discussion of her new book Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life. She will be joined in conversation by REBECCA TRAISTER, award-winning author of Big Girls Don't Cry.

How You Can Change the Future of Food
Monday, June 26 
12pm EST [3:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-26/how-you-can-change-future-food
Cost:  $5 - $20

MIT CSAIL + Imagination in Action Present AI Frontiers and Implications
Tuesday, June 27
7:30 am - 9 pm
MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge
RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4n85zMdTgHvpQCy8YqciDQj9-XdyI0ZIMhtqS49dvTG4AHQ/viewform

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Events
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Benchmarking Methane and other GHG Emissions
Thursday, June 1
12:00 PM 
Online
RSVP at https://ceres-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RyO0AFMhTzW7yCMIb5x85Q#/registration

Concern over climate change has brought increased focus on methane and greenhouse gas emissions associated with oil and gas production. These emissions, especially methane emissions, can diminish the greenhouse gas benefits of using gas in place of coal and represent a significant source of climate pollution. The 2023 Oil & Gas Benchmarking Report is a collaborative effort using publicly available data to develop comparable metrics that highlight the GHG performance of onshore oil and gas producers in the U.S. We’ll present the key findings of the report during this webinar. 

Speakers:  Andrew Logan, Ceres
Luke Hellgren, ERM
Lesley Feldman, Clean Air Task Force 

During this webinar, participants will: - Identify that emissions intensity varies even between similarly sized operators in the same geographic area, largely due to different equipment choices and operational practices. - Recognize where methane emissions come from, how oil and gas companies can reduce emissions, and what investors can do to push them. - Explain the need for oil and gas companies to take responsibility for full emissions disclosure, by improving direct methane measurement. - Discover the use of the online data tool. 

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Can We Feed 10 Billion People a Diet that is Both Healthy and Sustainable?” 
Thursday, June 1
7 pm.
Online

with World-Renowned Physician and Epidemiologist Dr. Walter Willett
We all know that what we eat affects our health, but have you thought about how your food choices affect the climate? Dr. Walter Willett, co-chair of the EAT-Lancet Commission on Food, Planet, and Health, will present the findings of leading scientists on how what we eat and how we grow food impacts our planet, both now and in the future. Dr. Willett will describe how transforming our eating habits can have major benefits for human health and allow us to stay within sustainable, planetary boundaries and strategies to achieve these goals. 

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The Unfinished Promise of Democracy and the Role of Racial Justice Centers
An exchange of ideas on issues & discussion toward supporting research, projects & innovative pedagogy on racial justice & economic equity.
Friday, June 1 - Saturday,  June 2 
Northeastern University School of Law, 416 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-unfinished-promise-of-democracy-and-the-role-of-racial-justice-centers-tickets-624410026197

The Conference will:
1. Convene racial justice centers and social justice non-profits using law and legal strategies to challenge and/or defend basic constitutional and human rights;
2. Discuss some of the current challenges to the basic constitutional and human rights of Black and other BIPOC communities; and
3. Explore creative strategies for law professors and advocates to promote, defend and ensure those basic rights through research, innovative pedagogy, litigation and other initiatives.CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Dockser Commons:
6:00 – 7:00 pm - Fireside Chat: Framing the Issues 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Buffet Dinner & NetworkingFriday, June 2, 2023
Dockser 240
8:00 – 8:45 - Registration & Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 9:15 am - Welcome Remarks 9:15-10:00 am - Introduction of SpeakerKeynote Address
10:00 – 10:15 am - Q & A
10:15 – 10:30 am BREAK - Refreshments
10:30 – 11:30 am Roundtable Discussion - Presentations by Center Directors – opportunities for synergiesModerator:
Panelists:
11:30 – 12:00 pm - Q & A
12:00 – 1:00 pm -  LUNCH
1:00 – 2:30 pm - Breakout Groups (max. 10 participants per group)
2:30 – 2:45 BREAK - Refreshments
2:45 – 4:00 pm - Report Back from Breakout Groups - Next steps and strategies
4:00 – 4:30 pm - Closing Remarks and Next Steps
4:30 – 6:00 pm - Reception

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Emerging Governance Structures for Climate ResilienceS.png
Friday, June 2
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, Louis D. Brandeis Conference Center, 155 Seaport Boulevard, Boston, MA 02210
and Online
RSVP at https://climateadaptationforum.org/event/emerging-governance-structures-for-climate-resilience/
Cost:  $15 - $45

State and local governments across the country are grappling with turning climate adaptation plans into action. These plans often involve expensive and large scale capital projects on both public and private property. This undertaking requires innovative thinking on governance from creating new county and statewide resilience authorities to empowering existing local boards and commissions. 

Join the Climate Adaptation Forum to hear how communities across the country are approaching this challenge and emerging models for governance and implementation.S.pngForum 
Speaker Louanne Cooley, Legal Research Fellowm Connecticut Institute for Resilience and Climate Adaptation (CIRCA)
Senator Sarah K. Elfreth, Maryland, District 30, Anne Arundel County 
Suzanne Smith, Executive Director, Regional Climate Protection Agency

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Desert Arts Preview: An Invitation to Get Inspired 
Sunday June 4
10am - 12pm EST [1:00pm - 3:00pm PDT]
Online
RSVP at https://here.burningman.org/event/desert-arts-preview-2023
Suggested Ticket Price: $10
Viewing Parties Suggested Price: $100

Desert Arts Preview: An Invitation to Get Inspired 
Jumpstart your excitement for Black Rock City and the art that defines the landscape because Desert Arts Preview is back! As you anticipate the return to playa, get inspired by a fantastic new collection of spectacular, wild, and whimsical art installations. Burning Man Arts is thrilled to invite you to our beloved and exciting event Desert Arts Preview on Sunday, June 4 at 1pm Pacific. Step behind the scenes and join our featured artists for virtual tours of their studios and creative process, and gain insights into their inspirations and hopes for their works in progress. 

Come learn how you can get involved and support these and other artists at the Burning Man event to create interactive, collaborative, and community-generating artworks. Tune in from anywhere for this virtual celebration, and meet our presenting artists who will be joining us from around the globe. You can also host a watch party to enjoy the program with friends and family.

After the main program, you are invited to join an afterparty in BRCvr where you can immerse yourself in even more art and mingle with the artists and other participants. BRCvr can be enjoyed on any browser or by staying on Zoom for a guided experience. Visit brcvr.org for more info!

See you there!

Hosted by Katie Hazard, Associate Director of Art Management

Featured Artists:
Nic DeBruyne & Maria Gotay - “1000 Hands” 
Walker Babington - “Burden of the Beast” 
Michael Garlington & Natalia Bertotti - “Chapel of Babel"
Charlie Gadeken - “Elder Mother”
Stefan Pildes & KJ Bowen - “Exquisite Animalus” 
Irmandy Wicaksono - “Living Knitwork Pavilion”
Hind Baghdadi - “Moroccan ParTea”
Kirsten Berg - “Oneirotica” 
Ela Madej & Reed Finlay - “Temple of the Heart”
James Gwertzman & Casey Marvin - “The Prairie of Possibilities”
Rebekah Stetson, Adrian Landon, & Turo Sandagdorj - “The Spirit of the Healing Siren” 
Jacquelyn Omotalade, Tayler Ava Friar, & Dipo Doherty - “The Star Kingdom of Oba” 
Santiago Caro, Camilo Quimbayo, & Sami Mattar - “Yuluka” 

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Insights for the Global Stocktake: System Transformation & Intl Cooperation
Hear from leading experts on sectoral insights for the Global Stocktake.
Monday, June 5 
5:45am - 7 am EST [11:45am - 1pm CEST]
Room Kaminzimmer, World Conference Center Bonn Platz der Vereinten Nationen 2 53113 Bonn Germany
and Online
The event will be livestreamed here: http://www.youtube.com/@UNClimateChangeEvents

The world’s first Global Stocktake at COP28 invites governments, civil society organizations and the private sector to evaluate our collective response to the climate crisis — and, in doing so, this process provides a unique moment for a major course correction. If successful, the Global Stocktake can serve as a powerful global accelerator, spurring leaders across sectors and around the world to work together to drive the transformational changes now needed to secure a net-zero, climate-resilient future for all. 

Join Systems Change Lab partners, Climate Analytics, NewClimate Institute, and World Resources Institute, as well as NDC ASPECTS project partners, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Wuppertal Institute, on June 5th at 11:45 am CEST for a discussion with leading experts on sectoral insights for the Global Stocktake. Focusing specifically on efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C, speakers will examine the catalytic role of international cooperation, highlight examples of recent progress made in accelerating systemwide transformations, and explore immediate actions that can help deliver deep emission cuts at the pace and scale needed this decade. 

Speakers:
Sophie Boehm, World Resources Institute
Claire Fyson, Climate Analytics
Judit Hecke, NewClimate Institute
Dr. Lukas Hermwille, Wuppertal Institute
Prof. Sebastian Oberthür, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Party representatives to be confirmed.
Moderator: Dr. Louise Jeffery, NewClimate Institute 

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MA State House Stand-Out for No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure
Starting June 5: 
What: Climate activists are planning a long-term Stand-Out in front of the Massachusetts State House to put pressure on Governor Healey, Senate President Spilka, and House Speaker Mariano to commit to no new fossil fuel infrastructure.

How: The strategy is to apply nonviolent, constant, highly visible pressure in the form of 2+ people standing out (and sometimes in) the State House holding signs demanding No New Fossil Fuel Infrastructure. The Stand-Out will be amplified by a robust and engaging media and outreach strategy to make it clear to the press, the state and city governments, and the general public that by allowing future gas and oil infrastructure to be built, our state is complicit in the destruction of our shared future.

When: Starting Monday, June 5, 2023 and lasting until the governor publicly commits to no new fossil fuel infrastructure, or the legislature passes a law that would ban new fossil fuel infrastructure. Each business day, there will be 2+ climate activists peacefully and determinedly stationed outside the State House with art, such as signs, flags, or banners. Activists will sign up for shifts of 2, 4, or 8 hours, with the goal of complete coverage 9 - 5 for all business days Monday - Friday.

Why: This is an ambitious goal that requires many people to show up and sacrifice their time. For that reason, it is a powerful tool to show the state government that we will not stop demanding real climate action. We hope this stand-out will become an inspiring coalition of action organizations across Massachusetts, united in the fight for no new fossil fuel infrastructure. Through this simple shared goal, we can demonstrate the scale of the climate movement to those in power.

Who: This action is coordinated by members of XR Boston, a climate activist group that uses nonviolent direct action to push governments at all levels to take climate action. It is open to all climate and social justice groups and individuals who agree that MA should stop building new infrastructure for oil and gas. If not us, who?

How to get involved in the Stand-Out:
On Thursday June 1, at 8 pm, we'll have an online informational session for interested activists. Sign up at the Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUkd--vpzouEtfu3NJF87p10wnqTmBJ9S0T
Second Info Session, Thursday, June 8, 7pm on Zoom: For those who can’t make the first session, this session will be updated with real lived experience from the first four days of the Stand-Out. 
Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEqf--tqTouHNMfDucxEq0LcIPyqV7M17bq
Shift Sign-Up Spreadsheet:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1TIv45Ni7pbm6sH1mdUfvSErUxafnsoQHvBm89FUu4FM/edit?usp=sharing

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Critical Minerals in Latin America: a Bridge or a Bottleneck for the Energy Transition
Monday, June 5
12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Columbia University, Faculty House, Presidential Ballroom
and Online
RSVP at https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/events/critical-minerals-in-latin-america-a-bridge-or-a-bottleneck-for-the-energy-transition/

As the world transitions from consuming fossil fuels-based energy into low-carbon energy sources, demand for copper, lithium, nickel, and other minerals will increase for things like electric mobility, solar panels, wind turbines, and energy storage. However, the world is not on track to get these minerals at current rates. The world’s demand for lithium is projected to increase by 40 times and that for copper to potentially double by 2040 relative to 2020 levels. 

Latin America has the world’s largest deposits of both copper and lithium. Chile and Peru are the world’s leading copper producers with about 40% of global production, while Chile and Argentina account for 32% of global lithium supply. However, Latin America faces a number of social, political, environmental, and financial challenges to increase its critical minerals extraction and processing capacity. 

The Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs will host a panel of experts to discuss what needs to be done to accelerate sustainable copper and lithium extraction in Latin American countries. This event will focus on the challenges and opportunities that governments and industry face to turn these mineral reserves into a bridge for the energy transition globally. Light refreshments will be provided.

Panelists:
María José Baptista, Interagency and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer, United Nations Environment Programme
Juan Carlos Jobet, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy  at Columbia University SIPA; Dean, School of Business, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez; Former Minister of Energy and Mining, Chile
Tom Moerenhout, Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA; Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University SIPA; Adjunct Assistant Professor, New York University Stern School of Business; Senior Advisor, World Bank
Moderator:
Diego Rivera Rivota, Research Associate, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA

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Electric Vehicles and Equity 
Tuesday, June 6
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT
Online
RSVP at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/309475570709285207

Can electric vehicles play a role in advancing equity in underserved and historically marginalized communities? A new blog series by Clean Energy Group explores this question in four parts. The series begins with an overview of electric vehicle costs, performance characteristics, and environmental and health impacts, then considers possible pathways for electric vehicles to deliver tangible benefits to communities, including electric school buses and harnessing energy stored in electric vehicle batteries to power critical services in an emergency. It concludes with a discussion of some of the challenges limiting equitable adoption of electric vehicles and potential solutions to help overcome them. (Read it here: https://www.cleanegroup.org/the-ev-revolution-cost-performance-safety-and-environmental-impacts/) This Clean Energy Group webinar will feature presentations by blog author Michael Brower of Cantus Firmus Consulting and Nathan King from Itselectric, a curbside electric vehicle charging company with a mission to unlock access to clean vehicles for millions of drivers who park their cars on the street. Panelists will discuss potential pathways for electric vehicle deployment to lower harmful emissions, reduce transportation expenses, and increase energy resilience in historically marginalized communities.

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The Path To Resilient and Carbon Free Buildings
Tuesday, June 6 
2:00pm-3:00pm
Online
RSVP at https://now.greenbuildexpo.com/ThePathToResilientandCarbonFreeBuildings

Greenbuild is proud to present our upcoming webinar, sponsored by Honeywell, taking place on  ET titled The Path To Resilient and Carbon Free Buildings.

Building owners and operators face a dilemma: how to make their buildings more sustainable while providing a more people-centric environment in a cost-effective way. At the same time, extreme weather events triggered by climate change are predicted to have an increasing impact on our cities and communities – potentially leading to energy shortages and grid instability. Being better prepared for the unexpected is becoming an urgent need. Resilience helps improve business continuity.Join this webinar with energy and sustainability experts to learn how to create operational savings and accelerate the journey towards sustainability goals for your building.  

This session will cover: 
The current challenges and approaches to energy efficiency and carbon reduction in buildings.
The regulatory environment, standards, and funding opportunities for renewable energy storage projects​.
The potential savings and other outcomes that microgrids and DERs can bring to buildings.
How buildings can become energy resilient, optimize electricity costs, and reduce carbon emissions.

Speakers
Pari Kasotia, Senior Director and Head of Policy, DSD Renewables 
Nikki Mehta, Director, Energy & Sustainability, Honeywell Building Technologies 
Ganesh Ayer, Director, Solutions Architecture, Honeywell Sustainable Building TechnologiesLearn more about the path

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Food of the future: the potential of regenerative farming with Thomasina Miers
Tuesday, June 6 
1pm - 3pm EST [18:00 – 20:00 London time]
Online and in person (London)
RSVP at https://www.eventsforce.net/nesta/frontend/reg/tRegisterEmailNew.csp?pageID=48650&eventID=181&tempPersonID=61549

The way in which we produce food is having profound impacts on the earth’s climate, biodiversity and ecosystems. And unhealthy diets aren’t just harming the environment, they are affecting our own physical wellbeing too. How can policymakers square the competing demands of sustainability, price and nutrition?

Thomasina Miers urges us to kickstart the shift to regenerative farming by increasing the proportion of publicly procured ingredients for schools and hospitals grown through regenerative means. In conversation with Alan Rusbridger, Editor of Prospect Magazine, Thomasina joins us live on Tuesday 6 June 18:00-20:00 to dive deeper into the role of regenerative farming and its potential to improve the nation’s health while providing an effective response to climate change.

Thomasina and Alan will discuss this bold proposal alongside our expert panel who will explore opportunities and challenges, and confront hard questions.
This live event will take place online and in person (London).

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End the Era of Fossil Fuels 
June 8 - 11th 
Distributed Actions
https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/end-the-era-of-fossil-fuels-june-2023-distributed-actions

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More or Less in Common: Environment and Justice in the Human Landscape
Thursday, June 8
1 – 2 p.m.
Online
RSVP at https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/event/2023-garrett-dash-nelson-lecture-virtual

SPEAKER(S) Garrett Dash Nelson, President, head curator, and director of Geographic Scholarship, Norman B. Leventhal Map and Education Center, Boston Public Library

The climate crisis is a matter of environmental injustice; it is also a matter of historical injustice. How can historical visualizations illuminate past inequities, present realities, and future possibilities for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change?

Human geographer Garrett Dash Nelson will explore the uneven distributions of harm, responsibility, vulnerability, and power, in both historical and local perspectives. The city of Boston and its environs will serve as a microcosm for the exploration of ways in which climate change will amplify a century’s worth of environmental injustice. Can historical visualizations help us to overcome the structuring effects of this legacy? 

Contact: events@radcliffe.harvard.edu

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Cory Booker: Taking on Big Ag and Going Big on Climate
Friday, June 9 
9am EST [12:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Taube Family Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-09/cory-booker-taking-big-ag-and-going-big-climate
Cost:  $5 - $20

The upcoming farm bill presents an opportunity to infuse more climate-smart practices in American agriculture, which accounts for about 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. But doing so involves confronting industrial practices that focus on short-term gains and commodity subsidies that have deep support in both parties. U.S. Senator Cory Booker has introduced legislation that he says would challenge beef and pork packagers and tilt the balance of power in our industrial agriculture system, giving workers and family farms and ranches a better deal. 

This moment is a precarious time for America’s efforts to decarbonize its economy. The Inflation Reduction Act is inspiring companies to invest in battery factories in the United States and consumers to buy electric vehicles and heat pumps. But green energy faces opposition in red states, even though they see an influx of clean tech investment and jobs. 

Join us for a conversation with a passionate advocate of reforming America’s food system and progressive voice for bold climate action. 

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New England Electricity Restructuring Roundtable 
Friday, June 9
9:00 am-12:30 pm
Foley Hoag LLP 155 Seaport Blvd 17th Floor Boston, MA 
and Online
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6923-roundtable-ma-eea-keynote-panels-on-large-scale-renewables-tickets-607833796247
Cost:  $0 - $100

Keynote by MA EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper &
Large Onshore Renewables:  Development Opportunities and Challenges
Offshore Wind:  Key Resource to Decarbonize New England
Convener/Moderator:  Janet Gail Besser for Raab Associates, Ltd.

Keynote:  Rebecca Tepper, Secretary Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs
The Healey – Driscoll Administration has identified as top priorities for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: ensuring an equitable transition to clean energy and decarbonizing the electricity system and economy. Newly appointed Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Rebecca Tepper will be leading many of the initiatives to deliver on these key objectives. In announcing her leadership team, Secretary Tepper charged them “to view their work through an environmental justice lens so that no community is left behind as the clean energy economy grows and the climate heats up.” Secretary Tepper will lay out the opportunities and challenges ahead and her agency’s plans to address them.  

Large Onshore Renewables:  Development Opportunities and Challenges
Paul Gaynor, CEO Longroad Energy 
Don Jessome, CEO TDI New England 
Eliza Donoghue, Director of Advocacy & Staff Attorney, Maine Audubon

The region’s achievement of its decarbonization goals depends on the deployment of large-scale renewable energy resources, both onshore and offshore. States are actively pursuing and supporting large-scale renewables development through procurements rather than leaving these efforts solely to the market. While much of the focus has been on state-driven offshore procurements, large-scale onshore solar, wind, and hydro will also be crucial to New England states meeting their clean energy and climate mandates.

Successful onshore renewable energy development requires procurement processes that result in long-term commitments for the power. However, community engagement is also essential to secure local support for infrastructure development. Thoughtful siting with respect to current land uses, and the ability of the transmission and distribution system to interconnect and deliver carbon-free power to customers, is also needed. Project planning must be coordinated with broader electricity system and state plans for a decarbonized energy future.   

This panel will highlight key elements in successful large-scale renewable energy project development. It will include Longroad Energy CEO Paul Gaynor, the developer of the largest solar project in New England and the awardee of a wind contract through Maine’s recent RFP. (Massachusetts has agreed to take 40% of the offtake.) Don Jessome, CEO of TDI New England, which is already building transmission under Lake Champlain to connect Hydro-Québec to NYC and is proposing to build a sister project potentially bringing both Canadian wind and hydro into New England, will speak to their experience. The developers will discuss how they have worked – and continue to work – with their respective communities to plan, site and lay the foundation to build their projects. They will address key partnerships with environmental advocates. Eliza Donoghue of Maine Audubon will offer a prospective from the environmental community, providing guidance for future large-scale renewable energy development in New England.  

Offshore Wind:  Key Resource to Decarbonize New England
Katie Dykes, Commissioner, CT DEEP
Pedro Azagra Blázquez CEO, Avangrid
Amanda Lefton, Senior Policy Director, Foley Hoag, Former BOEM Director S.png
Sam Salustro, VP Strategic Communications The Business Network for Offshore Wind

Offshore wind has the potential to be a game-changer for electricity supply and for broader decarbonization efforts in New England. Not only can it provide a substantial amount of carbon-free electricity to meet federal, state, local and customer decarbonization goals, but, with over 5 GW for New England currently in development, it can also put the region at the beginning of the energy supply chain, attracting investment, jobs, and wide-ranging economic development in multiple New England states.  

Like onshore renewables, the success of offshore wind will depend on procurement, contracting, and siting processes. It will also require state-federal and interstate coordination, as well as a strong supply chain to support project development. In addition, offshore development presents certain unique challenges and opportunities related to environmental and community impacts, including those associated with New England’s important fishing industry. Transmission to connect projects to the onshore grid, and potentially to each other offshore, is another important consideration. 

This panel will discuss how policymakers and developers are pursuing offshore wind opportunities and addressing its challenges. Connecticut DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykeswill speak to how the states are working on new processes to coordinate and facilitate offshore wind development. Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra Blázquez will discuss the progress of Vineyard Wind I, which will be the first large-scale offshore wind project in the U.S., as well as the challenges facing its other offshore wind projects in the context of changing economic and energy market conditions. Amanda Lefton, Senior Policy Director at Foley Hoag and recent former director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)twill discuss the agency’s ambitious federal goals for offshore wind and New England’s role in meeting those goals. Sam Salustro, VP of Strategic Communications at the The Business Network for Offshore Wind will describe the variety of policy and supply chain challeng

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Sensing & AI Ethics: Applications in Health
Friday, June 9 
2:00-3:00 p.m.
Online
RSVP at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6913708654865023575?source=event-page

Sensing technology promises enormous benefits in healthcare applications. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), these tools can improve treatment efficacy, facilitate disease detection, and monitor and analyze patient health in real time. However, practitioners face ethical risks when collecting sensitive data and using AI to develop products and discover insights. A comprehensive approach to Responsible AI is necessary for organizations to innovate and advance the state of the art.

In this webinar, business leaders and practitioners will learn about key developments in AI and sensing technology from EAI Director of AI + Health Dr. Eugene Tunik, and their responsible development and use from EAI Ethics Lead Dr. Cansu Canca. Combining interdisciplinary research, experiential learning, and a comprehensive and organization-wide implementation framework in Responsible AI, the Institute for Experiential AI at Northeastern University is uniquely positioned to provide ethical guidance and expertise for healthcare innovators. 

Speakers:
Gene Tunik, director of AI + health at the Institute for Experiential AI (EAI)
Cansu Canca, ethics lead at EAI
Karen Quigley, affiliate faculty at EAI and professor of psychology at Northeastern University
Rai Winslow, director of life sciences and medical research at the Roux Institute
Maria Giovanna Trovato, global strategy and business development manager in healthcare and life sciences at EAI

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Peter Gleick and the Three Ages of Water
Monday, June 12 
3pm EST [6:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Taube Family Auditorium, San Francisco, CA
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-12/peter-gleick-and-three-ages-water
Cost:  $5 - $20

This year’s precipitation across California is well above average, and snowpack is on track to be one of the largest since 1950. In an arid state that can seem like good news, but floods can be destructive and life-threatening, and they also increase vegetation that may later go up in flames. From too little to too much—will we ever get out of this weather whiplash?

As we enter an era defined by climate disruption, the control, access and quality of water determines our ability to survive and thrive. How can we ensure a future where clean water exists for all who need it—including the ecosystems we depend on—and navigate the challenges of too little or too much? In his latest book, The Three Ages of Water, Dr. Peter Gleick explores this changing dynamic from life’s beginnings to today’s pressing climate and water challenges. 
Join Climate One Co-host Ariana Brocious for a live conversation with Peter Gleick about our evolving relationship with this fundamental force.

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Webinar:  Building Energy Efficiency and Housing Affordability
Tuesday, June 13
11:00 AM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Online
RSVP at https://mit.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y34gCpvJSdCix3iF-HfBPw#/registration

Are you looking to learn more about how we can achieve net zero carbon emissions statewide or nationwide, while maintaining affordable housing? Join MIT/CRE on June 13 @ 11 AM EDT for an informative webinar hosted with Wentworth Institute of Technology featuring a panel of esteemed researchers and professionals. About Massachusetts' climate policy puts it in the top 10 states with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita, yet its median home price is 3rd highest in the nation... How do we achieve net zero carbon emissions statewide or nationwide, while maintaining affordable housing? 

 Join us on our webinar featuring researchers and experts in the CRE field who will discuss the findings from their research on sustainable building and affordable housing. Discussion topics include: 
Comparing the costs of building homes under Massachusetts’ new municipal opt-in specialized stretch energy code to the costs of building similar homes compliant with the current stretch code;
From this, we'll learn how the opt-in specialized stretch energy code will likely affect housing affordability in Massachusetts. 

This research is kindly sponsored by HBRAMA 

Webinar Structure The duration of the webinar will be one hour. After a short introduction by the moderator, each of the panelists will have ten minutes to discuss their view on the topic. The moderator will follow up with questions from the audience. 

Speakers Justin Steil (Moderator) 
Julie Klump - VP, Design and Building Performance, POAH
Payam Bakhshi - Associate Professor, Wentworth Institute of Tech. 
Rob Brennan - President, CapeBuilt

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Embrace Boston invites you to join our beloved community at the Embrace Ideas Festival
June 14-16
RSVP at https://www.embraceideasfestival.org/tickets

The Embrace Ideas Festival is a time of embracing arts, culture, joy and community. Please click here to check out the festival from last year:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeUyPW8dvBE

The festival is our three-day gathering to join our work of dismantling racism and together advance our vision for a transformed Boston by 2030.
Rooted in racial equity, healing, and joy, this year's confirmed guests include Pulitzer Prize winning author Annette Gordon-Reed, founder of the
1619 Project Nicole Hannah-Jones, and Elle Simone of America’s TestKitchen: Next Generation.

Shining a light on how we are “Here and Present” and can interrupt our zero-sum game thinking when it comes to racial justice – realizing a democracy worthy of us all. Each day we will be activating spaces throughout Boston. Friday will be topped off with a Juneteenth Block party at Roxbury Community College which includes live music, vendors, children’s corner, DJs and other surprises.

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Beyond Federally-Funded Buyouts – Local Policies, Tools and Funding
Wednesday, June 14
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Online 
RSVP at https://beyond-buyouts.eventbrite.com

While federal resources are critical for providing relocation support to thousands of people living in the U.S., national policies and programs are falling short in addressing the urgency, scale, and complexity of climate-driven displacement. When it comes to buyouts and property acquisitions, accessing federal funds poses significant challenges. Restrictive requirements and lengthy bureaucratic processes can hinder local governments from developing compassionate and locally-responsive programs that prioritize community needs. To overcome these hurdles, local governments can leverage local funding sources to reduce their reliance on federal disaster dollars. By diversifying funding sources, local governments can not only expand relocation assistance beyond individual home buyouts, but also align their programs with local values and broader resilience goals.

Join us for an engaging conversation as we explore innovative approaches and tools for local governments and communities to overcome equity and implementation challenges associated with federal disaster resources. In this webinar, moderated by Urban Ocean Lab (UOL), our panel of experts, including representatives from local governments and nonprofits, will share valuable insights from their experiences on leveraging local funding sources for more just and holistic approaches to climate-driven relocation.

This virtual panel is presented by Urban Ocean Lab, in partnership with Columbia University's Climate School as part of the 2023 conference At What Point Managed Retreat?: Habitability and Mobility in an Era of Climate Change
Moderator: Erica Asinas, Policy Advisor at Urban Ocean Lab

Panelist Bios:
Brendan Shane, Climate Director at Trust for Public Land
Louise Yeung, Chief Climate Officer at the New York City Comptroller Office
Johanna Lovecchio, Associate Director of the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes at Columbia University
Tim Trautman, Flood Mitigation Program Manager at Charlotte-Mecklenburg County

About Urban Ocean Lab
Urban Ocean Lab is a think tank that cultivates rigorous, creative, equitable, and practical climate and ocean policy for the future of coastal cities.

Contact Information:  Climate School Events  events@climate.columbia.edu

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Neurodiversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Work
Friday, June 16
12:00 PM
Online
RSVP at https://mit.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYufumsrz0pGNdSGbF-ug-EMEOK3mLkOEQ5#/registration

Celebrate Neurodiversity Pride Day with us! Join Dr. Ludmila Praslova and panel as they discuss their experiences being neurodivergent in the workplace in an open forum. E-vouchers for food will be provided to attendees. Captioning will be provided automatically and ASL interpretation will be provided upon request.

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At What Point Managed Retreat?: Habitability and Mobility in an Era of Climate Change
June 20, 2023 - June 23, 2023
Columbia University, Lerner Hall, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY
and Online
RSVP at https://adaptation.ei.columbia.edu/managed-retreat-2023
Cost:  $75 - $350

Building on the success of the 2019 and 2021 conferences on Managed Retreat, the Columbia Climate School is pleased to announce that the next conference, At What Point Managed Retreat?: Habitability and Mobility in an Era of Climate Change, will be held from June 20-23, 2023, at Columbia University.

Registration for the conference is now open. In-person and virtual attendance options are available. Please visit the conference websitefor details on the program, registration fees, travel information, and more:  https://adaptation.ei.columbia.edu/managed-retreat-2023

Contact Information  Adrienne Kenyon  akenyon@climate.columbia.edu

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NECEC Climate Finance Summit
Wednesday, June 21
9:00am-4:30pm
Networking until  6:30pm
Federal Reserve Bank Building, Dewey Square, Boston 600 Atlantic Avenue Boston, MA
RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/necec-climate-finance-summit-tickets-619896395807
Cost:  $0 - $495

The road to building decarbonization will involve complex projects with complex financing structures. The Northeast Clean Energy Council will gather state and municipal leaders, financial organizations, developers, installers, community based organizations, property and small business owners, utility industry leaders, regulators, and solution providers for a deep dive into how to secure the money needed to construct a new generation of green buildings.
We will also discuss how we can honor our environmental justice commitments while ensuring affordability, equity and resilience.

AGENDA
9:00am – Networking Breakfast
10:00am - Opening Remarks
10:45am - Panel: Aligning funding opportunities with emissions goals - How do we align the various federal opportunities with state emissions goals and the barriers/gaps that we have in reaching those goals?
Kenzie Bok, Adminstrator, Boston Housing Authority
Galen Nelson, Chief Program Officer, MassCEC
12:00pm - Break
12:30pm - Lunch with keynote
1:00pm - Tabletop exercise: Identifying capital obstacles and a constructive path forward, with group discussion
2:00pm - Break
2:30pm - Panel: Real world lessons on building a decarbonized future - What considerations would you suggest a proposed Climate Finance Entity focus on? What financing gaps have you seen related to electrification projects, and what products/services of a climate finance entity do you feel have the most potential to deploy scalable solutions like heat pumps, and ensure it is equitable and accessible?
Robert Cooper, CEO Embue
DeWitt Jones, President, BlueHub Capital
Glynn Lloyd, Executive Director, Mill Cities Community Investments + Foundation for Business Equity
Mary Wambui-Ekop, Asset Manager for Affordable Housing, Planning Office for Urban Affairs
3:30pm - Closing remarks and discussion
4:30pm - Reception and networking on roof deck
6:30pm - End

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Predicting Mosquito-Borne Disease Transmission in a Rapidly Changing World
Wednesday, June 21
3 PM ET
Online
RSVP at https://harvard.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2eJA4nnPQKuIvoDaEpSeBw#/registration

From climate change to land use, anthropogenic alterations to the environment are occurring at unprecedented rates and on an unthinkable scale. These developments alter the built landscape and our access to life-sustaining resources. 

But they also disrupt the ecological relationships that bind together humans, mosquitoes, and parasites. Upsetting these relationships results in changes to the distribution of host organisms, rates of contact, the spread of infectious diseases, and the seasonality of transmission risk. 

 Disease ecologist Courtney Murdock will focus on understanding the climate variables that influence mosquito-borne disease transmission. Deploying advanced models of climate-based disease spread, Murdock’s research seeks to predict transmission patterns in order to respond to the epidemiological effects of the climate crisis.

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Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet [CUSP] World Inaugural Panel:   What the IRA Means to Me
Thursday, June 22
Noon EDT
Online
RSVP at https://www.cusp.world/

Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet
Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, MIT Alumni for Climate Action, Stanford Alumni in Sustainability, and Yale Blue-Green have founded CUSP, Consortium of University Alumni for a Sustainable Planet, to activate our alumni communities in climate and sustainability.

Our inaugural event on June 22 will be a panel discussion centering on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA has been described as the most significant climate legislation in US history, offering funding, programs and incentives to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. The $369 billion in IRA energy security and climate change resilience investments will have significant impacts for the world and aim to change the trajectory of climate change. This cross-university dialogue will bring perspectives from policy, academic, business, technology and environmental justice, and will address incentives introduced by the IRA as well as their implications. Join us to dissect the IRA as we uncover new reasons for hope as well as areas where the IRA did not go far enough.

Who: Panelists are alumni of CUSP founding members: Harvard, MIT, Stanford and Yale
Ian Monroe, Ethos Co-Founder, President & Chief Sustainability Officer of Ethos Capital
David Pogue, Author, correspondent, podcaster and music conductor who was the New York Times weekly tech columnist from 2000 to 2013
Dr. Nicky Sheats, Kean University Director of the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) at the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University
Quinton Zondervan, Councillor, Cambridge City Council, and a tech entrepreneur, non-profit leader and community activist currently serving his third term on the Cambridge City Council.
Moderated by Dr. Rajesh Kasturirangan, MACA - MIT Alumni for Climate Action

For more information, see CUSP.World. If you have questions about us, contact info@cusp.world.

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A Conference on Human-Computer Interaction for Space Exploration
June 22 -23 
MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA
RSVP at https://spacechi.media.mit.edu/

Space travel and becoming an interplanetary species have always been part of humanity’s greatest imaginings. Research in space exploration helps us advance our knowledge in the fundamental sciences, and challenges us to design new technologies and to create new industries for space, all while prompting us to answer the most fundamental questions about our place in the Universe. However, keeping a human healthy, happy and productive in space is one of the most challenging aspects of current space programs. Our biological body, which evolved in the Earth’s specific environment, is not designed to survive by itself in extreme conditions such as high radiation or low gravity (among other threats). Therefore, researchers have been developing different types of human-computer interfacing systems (HCI), which support a human body’s physical and mental performance in space. 

These Space HCI projects range from exoskeletons for supporting humans in low-gravity, to virtual and augmented reality systems for interplanetary exploration, and even zero-gravity musical interfaces for entertainment during the space mission. With advancements in aerospace engineering and the democratized access to space through aerospace tech companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, space research is becoming more plausible and accessible. The dropping costs of space launches and cubesats enables new interdisciplinary research in art, design, science, and engineering in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and beyond. What was once an exclusive, expensive, and narrowly serious pursuit is now evolving to include a vast array of possibilities. Thus, there is now an exciting opportunity for researchers in HCI to contribute to the great endeavor of space exploration by designing new types of interactive systems and computer interfaces which can support human living in space and beyond.

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Everyday Utopia:  What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life 
Friday, June 23
7:00 PM ET
Harvard Book Store, 1256 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 
RSVO at https://www.harvard.com/event/kristen_r._ghodsee/

Harvard Book Store welcomes KRISTEN R. GHODSEE—bestselling author of Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: And Other Arguments for Economic Independence—for a discussion of her new book Everyday Utopia: What 2,000 Years of Wild Experiments Can Teach Us About the Good Life. She will be joined in conversation by REBECCA TRAISTER, award-winning author of Big Girls Don't Cry.

About Everyday Utopia
In the 6th century BCE, the Greek philosopher Pythagoras—a man remembered today more for his theorem about right-angled triangles than for his progressive politics—founded a commune in a seaside village in what’s now southern Italy. The men and women there shared their property, lived as equals, and dedicated themselves to the study of mathematics and the mysteries of the universe.

Ever since, humans have been dreaming up better ways to organize how we live together, share our property, raise our children, and determine who’s part of our families. Some of these experiments burned brightly for only a brief while—but others carry on today.

In Everyday Utopia, fascinatingly feminist thinker Kristen R. Ghodsee whisks you away on a tour through history and around the world to explore those places that have boldly dared to reimagine how we might live our daily lives: from the Danish cohousing communities that share chores and deepen neighborly bonds to matriarchal Colombian ecovillages where residents grow all their own food; and from Connecticut, where new laws make it easier for extra “alloparents” to help raise children not their own, to China, where planned microdistricts ensure everything a busy household might need is nearby.

One of those startlingly rare books that upends what you think is possible, Everyday Utopia offers a radically hopeful vision for how to build more contented and connected societies, alongside a practical guide to what we all can do in the meantime to live the good life each and every day.

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How You Can Change the Future of Food
Monday, June 26 
12pm EST [3:00 PM PDT]
The Commonwealth Club of California, 110 The Embarcadero, Toni Rembe Rock Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 
and Online
RSVP at https://www.commonwealthclub.org/events/2023-06-26/how-you-can-change-future-food
Cost:  $5 - $20

Food. It is one of the most fundamental aspect of our lives, connects deeply to our cultures, and impacts everything from the air we breathe to the water we drink to the climate we depend on. In the context of worsening climate shocks and an ongoing epidemic of needless hunger and diet-related illnesses, we dive deep into conversation with two Bay Area food system changemakers talking about a vision of food that includes us all: that provides good, healthy, accessible food for everyone one of us.

We will be in conversation with Navina Khanna, executive director of the HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture and Labor) Food Alliance, and national bestselling author Anna Lappé of Real Food Media and the Panta Rhea Foundation. Together, they will share their own food journeys as share stories of how our food system connects to the biggest issues of our time—from the climate crisis to racial justice—and what we can each do about it. Please join us for what will be a fascinating and inspiring conversation!

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MIT CSAIL + Imagination in Action Present AI Frontiers and Implications
Tuesday, June 27
7:30 am - 9 pm
MIT Stata Center, 32 Vassar Street, Cambridge
RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4n85zMdTgHvpQCy8YqciDQj9-XdyI0ZIMhtqS49dvTG4AHQ/viewform

The day is split into seven 2-hour blocks, five featuring 12 MIT CSAIL speakers and two being startup-centric. Beyond the 60 presentations in the main room, there will be spaces for casual discussions and networking. The day wraps with a Celebration at One Kendall Square, Cambridge. We are have a special performance by The Kendall Square Orchestra celebrating the 60th anniversary milestone and our aspirations for the event. 
Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Best,
Daniela Rus + John Werner
Questions: jwerner@mit.edu or events@csail.mit.edu 

About our Event: 
On June 27 @ MIT Stata Center, join a community of CSAIL pioneers and AI startups sharing ideas on AI's transformative potential. Hear their visions for AI as they delve into the most compelling opportunities and risks. Engage, connect, and be part of the dialogue!

Additionally, join Bob Metcalfe in celebrating Ethernet's 50th anniversary and his 2022 A.M. Turing Award. For half a century, the ethernet has bridged the world, creating a global web of communication.

Imagination in Action is built on the belief that a single spark can ignite innovation. By blending exponential technology with the human touch, we strive to drive action. Through events in Davos, the California Bay Area, and MIT, we aim to engage the world's leading minds in a dialogue about the future of innovation.

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