Cooper Union x Climate Week 2019
I started the Cooper Union x Climate Week project in the spring of 2019 with Alisa Petrosova and Professor Amanda Simson. After receiving funding, we worked as a small team to organize and produce a series of lectures and events at The Cooper Union took place in September 2019 to coincide with the UN General Assembly Meeting and NYC Climate Week. Cooper Union X Climate Week 2019 consisted of ten events that drew a combined audience upwards of 3,000 people. The events included public programming in Cooper Union’s Great Hall as well as smaller lectures, community events, and an interdisciplinary student exhibition. A selection of the public programs hosted as part of Cooper Union x Climate Week 2019 can be found below.
On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal with Naomi Klein and Varshini Prakash
Naomi Klein, an award-winning journalist, columnist and author, was joined by co-founder and Executive Director of the Sunrise Movement, Varshini Prakash for a conversation and the launch of her book, On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal.
The Inescapable Climate Revolution: Are We Finally There Bill McKibben, the founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide, grassroots climate change organization, and marine biologist, policy expert, and strategist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, joined us for a discussion titled The Inescapable Climate Revolution: Are We Finally There? The conversation addressed changes that have happened since the movement began, what the future might look like, and the most promising solutions for our current climate crisis.
Because it’s 68 Degrees in December with Fia Backström and Gabriela Salazar
Artists Fia Backström and Gabriela Salazar addressed why the climate crisis, a now unavoidable topic, presides in their practice during this lecture, Because it’s 68 Degrees in December. Through the prism of climate, Fia and Gabriela discussed the importance of collectivity, environment, and non-complacency in relation to their respective projects: Facing Her Land – Notes from elsewhere and Matters in Shelter (and Place, Puerto Rico). This event was moderated by Omar Berrada, adjunct instructor in the School of Art.
Youth Climate Activist Discussion
A roundtable discussion with the youth activists who organized the Global Climate Strike and how the climate crisis gave them no other option than to become youth leaders. This conversation was moderated by Abby Rabinowitz, a writer, and director of the first-year writing program at NYU Tandon School of Engineering. Panelists included: Calvin Yang, Climate Youth Canada; Sophie Anderson, National Coordinator, XR Youth US; Natalie Sweet, Zero Hour; Anna Grace Goldstein, Fridays for Future NYC; Azalea Danes, Fridays for Future NYC; Xiye Bastida, Fridays for Future NYC; Olivia Wohlgemuth, Fridays for Future NYC; and Jonathan Palash-Mizner, XR Youth.
All Cooper Union x Climate Week 2019 were organized with Alisa Petrosova and faculty advisor Amanda Simson.
Photo credits: The Cooper Union/Photos by Marget Long