American University
IN-25: Innovation B

American University Student Sustainability Educators organized the Student Summit portion of the Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference with the support of the University of Maryland. The Student Summit was designed to increase student's abilities and impact as a sustainability leader on campus, in the community, and in their career. Sessions were designed to address a wide variety of sustainability topics, from food and climate justice to energy and waste. A balance of professional and peer-to-peer speakers engaged participants in solutions-oriented discussions, skills based workshops, and impactful presentations on issues of sustainability beyond campus. The student organized conference offered networking opportunities unique to students engaged in campus sustainability and students had the opportunity to explore the experiences and expertise of fellow participants. The summit included a series of engaging sessions in a variety of formats from facilitated group discussion to skills based demonstration and lecture. The summit concluded with a panel discussion and report out of solutions and opportunities identified throughout the day. The summit established a network of students for continued sharing and partnerships after the conference concluded.