SustainableED 2026 Annual Conference

SustainableED 2026 Agenda

SustainableED hosted its first annual conference on research at the intersection of education and climate change on May 1st, 2025 in Providence, Rhode Island. The program featured two keynote conversations, 12 research lightning round presentations, and breakout sessions to facilitate cross-industry conversations. For updates on the 2027 iteration of this event, subscribe to our mailing list.

8:30 - 9:00

Registration Check-In and Breakfast

9:00 - 9:15

Welcome & Event Kickoff 

Matthew Kraft, Brown University

9:15 - 9:40

Keynote Conversation

Laura Schifter, Aspen Institute & Brown University
Matthew Kraft, Brown University

9:40 - 10:50

Research Lightning Round 1

  • Tyler McDaniel, Stanford University, “Climate Threats, Education Systems, and Spatial
    Stratification”
  • Harry Patrinos, University of Arkansas, “A Review of Human Development and
    Environmental Outcomes”
  • Ashutosh Bhuradia, Harvard University, “Socio-Emotional Skills and Climate Education: A
    Randomized Evaluation of Air Quality Curriculum in Indian Schools”
  • Margaret Wang, SubjectToClimate, “Teaching Climate Change Without Overwhelm:
    Student Responses to Climate Education”
10:50 - 11:05

Break

11:05 - 11:45

Breakout Sessions

  • Skye Grammas, UndauntedK12, “Investing in Healthy, Resilient Schools for Student
    Learning and Success”
  • Kianna Medina & Julia Walsh, MDRC, “Connecting Career Technical Education (CTE)
    and the Green Economy: Insights from Delaware's Environmental Literacy Initiative in
    CTE Pathways”
  • Anne Partika, SRI Education, “Lessons Learned Studying the Impacts of Extreme
    Weather on Schools”
  • Sarah Stapleton, University of Oregon, “Developing Sustainable Education Programs and
    Outreach Within Higher Education: Conversation and Strategizing”
11:45 - 12:50

Lunch

12:50 - 2:00

Research Lightning Round 2

  • Josh Aarons, UC San Diego, “The Impact of Aircraft Noise Pollution on Standardized Test
    Performance”
  • Samantha Kane, Brown University, “Tech Boom or Bust? The Impact of Data Center
    Expansion on Air Quality and Student Outcomes”
  • Nazar Khalid, University of Pennsylvania, “In School but Falling Behind: Floods, Rainfall
    Extremes, and Stratified Grade Progression in India”
  • Jinho Lee, Boston University, “Detecting Hyperlocal Air Pollution Events in Schools:
    Evidence from a Citywide Air Quality Sensor Network”
2:00 - 2:25

Keynote Conversation

Hunter Gehlbach, Johns Hopkins University
Samantha Kane, Brown University

2:25 - 2:40

Break

2:40 - 3:50

Research Lightning Round 3

  • Darren Rabinowitz, Columbia University, “Constitutional Commitments, Civic
    Consequences: Environmental Provisions and Youth Eco-Citizenship Across 22
    Countries”
  • Maria Pilar Botana Martinez, Boston University, “Modeling the Impact of Air Conditioning,
    Building Thermal Gradients, and Light-Toned Roofs on Classroom Extreme Heat,
    Leveraging Data from Thousands of Classrooms in Boston Public Schools”
  • Kristin Blagg, The Urban Institute, “A Focus on Flooding: Describing Flood Risk andStudent Enrollment in Public K12 Schools”
  • Carine Verschueren, University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign, “Framing and Predictors
    of Environmental and Sustainability Education Policies in the USA’s Largest School
    Districts”
3:50 - 4:10

Wrap-Up and Thank You 

Matthew Kraft, Brown University