Boston GreenScene

VERGE Boston, May 13th-14th

VERGE Boston

May 13-14

7:30 AM 14th-6:30 PM 14th

Renaissance Waterfront Boston

Boston, MA

Registration Required

VERGE Boston (May 13-14) will connect business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the business opportunities created by radical efficiencies in energy, building, and transportation technologies.  Connect with other thought leaders and practitioners working across the diverse VERGE program tracks, including executives in energy, building management, sustainability, fleets, logistics, government, corporate financing and more.  It’s a great opportunity to get out of your silo and see what happens when people, technologies, and ideas converge. Learn more and register here.

Early Bird Price (Before April 19th): $1195.00

General Registration: $1495.00

For a Full Program of the Event: http://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2013/05/boston/program

To Register: http://www.greenbiz.com/events/verge/2013/05/boston/registration

6th Annual Global Environmental Sustainability Symposium: Transportation, Human Mobility, and Sustainability at CCSU

April 4th, 2013

 9:45 AM-7:15 PM 

FREE, Registration Required

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, Connecticut

The CCSU Global Environmental Sustainability Action Coalition invites the public to learn and to teach one another about the actions that we, as human beings, must take to ensure that we live in such a way that we are able to satisfy our needs while ensuring that our children and grandchildren will be able to satisfy their own. The symposium will offer 3 classes, 2 performances, a panel discussion, a tour, and an optional attendance at the town meeting, as well as opening and closing notes from distinguished professionals in sustainability. This event is FREE: anyone can register online to show up. *Exhibitor tables are still open

Schedule

9:45-10:00 AM: Symposium opening and welcome with Dr. Charles Button and Dr. Jack Miller (tentative) at Alumni Hall

10:00-10:45: Transportation, Migration, and Sustainability in Four Worlds Alumni Hall

Dr. John Kelmelis expands upon a possibility raised by the United States National Intelligence Council when they published Global Trends 2030: Alternative World. This work explores four very possible future worlds. Dr. Kelmelis will explain what each of these worlds might mean for our future as well as what strategies we might use to make the most of each circumstance at the local, regional, national, and global levels. 

11:00-11:45: Panel Discussion: Electric Cars and Alternative Vehicles Alumni Hall

The president of the New England Electric Auto Association ( Dave Oliveria), an environmental writer and speaker (Jim Motavalli), the Senior Associates Autos Editor for Consumer Reports (Eric Evarts), and a natural gas car owner (Joe Booth) all come together in one place to talk about the real value that hybrid, extended hybrid, and electric vehicles hold. This is a special opportunity to discover what users and reviewers genuinely think about these alternative vehicles.

12:00-1:45 (*with second free registration): Water Wars Performance and Lunch Alumni Hall

While you enjoy your lunch, the Sonia Plumb Dance Company will be performing Water Wars. This is an emotionally charged piece of art that exposes the very important and very tenuous relationship that human beings have with one of our primary sources of life: water.

Arctic Anxiety: Tufts Energy Conference March 2 - 3 Explores a Double-Edged Sword

The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 13 percent of the world's undiscovered oil and 30 percent of the world's untapped natural gas resides in the Arctic.

As global climate change continues to affect the melting of polar ice caps, increased access to these resources has many nations and international firms vying for opportunities to advance on this unexplored territory. Disputes over extended economic zones and territories, governance of newly opened shipping lanes, and future economic policies in the High North are escalating tensions between nations. Drilling in the Arctic region has tremendous political and environmental risks, but there is also potential for great economic reward. What are the priorities of policymakers and firms as they address this new opportunity and its potential consequences? Do the economic gains outweigh the environmental and political risks?

TEC 2013's Arctic panel will explore the strategies of policymakers, firms, local populations, and investors in approaching natural resources in the Arctic. Featured speakers include:

• Malte Humpert, Executive Director, The Arctic Institute
• Caitlyn Antrim, Executive Director, Rule of Law Committee for the Oceans
• Doug Helton, Operations Coordinator, Office of Response and Restoration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Captain Jonathan S. Spaner, Director, Office of Emerging Policy, United States Coast Guard
• William Moomaw, Director of the Center for International Environment and Resource Policy, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Moderator)

For more information, visit our website. Remember you can save money by buying early bird tickets through Saturday (tomorrow)!

Mass Audubon Launches Online Resource for K - 12 Environmental Education

 

Mass Audubon, New England’s largest conservation organization and a leader in nature-based education for more than 60 years, this month debuts a new, easy-to-use online program catalog for teachers, science coordinators, administrators and others looking for educational enrichment programs and field trips.

The programs—easily searchable by grade, topic, and framework— align with Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education curriculum frameworks. The online catalog provides detailed information on lessons conducted by Mass Audubon’s educators. Programs are offered at Mass Audubon’s statewide network of wildlife sanctuaries as well as at offsite locations including, classrooms, libraries, and other settings.

The array of environmental education programs includes many that are already designed and others that can be customized. In addition, the user-friendly resource will offer a printed lesson plan summary suitable for sharing with colleagues or for use in funding requests.

Mass Audubon’s reputation for innovative environmental education has prompted praise from teachers, parents, and students. Sema Arakelian, a second-grade teacher at the Davis Elementary School in Bedford, said her students have benefited significantly from experiential programs conducted by Mass Audubon educators.

“The excitement they bring to our work have engaged both students and teachers, significantly enhancing our curriculum and learning experiences,” Arakelian said. “This programming has enabled the teaching staff to bring our science units to life with real, hands-on experiences that add meaningful depth to our students’ learning.”

Mass Audubon sanctuaries are still booking school and group programs for spring 2012. To access the online catalog and view current offerings, please visit www.massaudubon.org/education.