On April 15, the Office of Sustainability hosted Wake Forest’s sixth annual Earth Talks in the Benson University Center. Six students gave short TEDx-style presentations on sustainability-related topics ranging from the importance of potlucks to installing a research station on the ocean floor.
Undergraduate and graduate students from any discipline are eligible to submit a pitch to the Office of Sustainability and be considered for speaking at Earth Talks. This process fosters a diverse range of speakers, with many coming from backgrounds outside of the Environment and Sustainability Studies Program.
Senior Charly Mendygral, who is double-majoring in environmental & sustainability studies and politics & international affairs, spoke at this year’s event after having attended in years prior.
“It’s so fun to watch other students getting up and sharing something they’re passionate about,” Mendygral said. “It’s very professional, and since [the presentations] are short, they’re typically really engaging. It’s always been something that I’ve walked away with a statistic that I never heard before or a new behavior that I wanted to consider about sustainability.”
Her talk focused on the financial benefits of sustainability for businesses and how the audience, as consumers, can encourage sustainable practices.
“Every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you want,” Mendygral said in her presentation.
Graduate student Julia Reich, studying business analytics, also presented on how the audience can use their dollars for good, highlighting investment opportunities in nature-based climate solutions.
Senior Jordan Rill, majoring in business & enterprise management, spoke about how potlucks act as sustainable food systems and foster community engagement.
While these talks centered on sustainable practices that are actionable for the audience, other speakers focused on broader climate solutions and ideas.
Christopher Dickerson, a graduate student pursuing his master’s in accounting analytics, presented on the accounting of implementing public transit in major cities across the country, which would significantly reduce both carbon emissions and the amount of land used for road infrastructure.
Junior Sienna Greenleaf, a biology major, discussed the conception of “Proteus,” “the space station of the ocean” which could revolutionize how scientists study sealife.
Sophomore Allison Sweeney, also majoring in biology, spoke about fungi’s ability to purify soil and break down fossil fuels and plastics.
The presentations contained statistics and visuals to help convey nuanced information to the audience.
Sophomore Elizabeth Cohen, who attended the event, said the talks were both engaging and enlightening.
“It was very informative, but in a casual way where it can make sense to people who might not have as much intel on the specific topics that they were talking about,” Cohen said. “Being able to learn about topics ranging from the deep sea to how to use your money for more sustainable practice was really interesting.”
If you want to learn more about sustainability but don’t know where to start, this event is perfect for you. Attend next year’s Earth Talks for a series of diverse presentations and new perspectives on all things related to the environment.
“Sustainability is integrated in everything,” Mendygral said. “With ‘Pro Humanitate,’ if you’re doing something for humanity, you have to care about the planet as part of that.”
