UConn Law’s Annual Earth Day Conference 2025 asks the question, “What is the future of environmental policy in a changing legal environment?” Join an array of legal, scientific, and policy experts to discuss the future of climate science, federal and state policy, and, of course, the law. Where do we go from here on a planet worth fighting for?

Our conference convenes policymakers, regulators, scientists, scholars, and activists across disciplines, across states, and across nations to chart our course forward. The panels will analyze obstacles and emphasize opportunities for action and optimism in the coming years. The Conference will feature a multi-media exhibit where students, artists, and other members of the community can share pieces that inspire them to action. 

8:15 AM - Registration begins

8:45 AM - Welcome and Opening Remarks

Dean Eboni Nelson

Professor Joseph MacDougald

Brynn Furey

9:00 AM - Keynote by Robert Percival

Keynote speaker Robert Percival, leading scholar and professor in environmental law, will deliver his address entitled “Checks Without Balance: Can Environmental Law Survive the Trump Administration? Percival will offer his perspective on the current moment in environmental policy, highlighting where we have been and sharing a vision for the future.

9:50 AM - Panel #1: Climate Change and Gun Policy: Hard Problems & the Law After Loper Bright

Climate change and gun policy represent two of the hardest problems that agencies and experts face. Recent Supreme Court cases, from Loper Bright to Cargill, have created doubt about the utility of agencies in dealing with challenging issues. The experts on this panel will tackle those issues.

Speakers:

• Jennifer Dineen
• Michael Fitzpatrick
• Josh Galperin
• Douglas Letter
• Tanya Schardt

Moderator: Professor Joseph MacDougald

11:10 AM - BREAK

11:20 AM - Keynote by Delta Merner

Keynote speaker Delta Merner, a lead scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, will provide an update on current climate science and share how this science affects policy and the law. She will offer attendees a scientific and technical understanding of where we are and where we are headed.

11:45 AM - Panel #2: International Environmental Policy in a Time of Political Change

The third panel will analyze obstacles and opportunities for the United States to support international environmental policy. Speakers will look beyond the Paris Climate Agreement to explore ways we can stay involved in environmental policy across nations.

Speakers:

• David Azoulay
• Stacy VanDeveer
• Delta Merner

Moderator: Paschaline Poku

12:45 PM - LUNCH

1:30 PM - Keynote by CT DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes

Katie Dykes, the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will share her perspective on Connecticut policy and regulation in a changing legal environment.

2:00 PM - Panel #3: State Responses to a Changing Federal Landscape

The final panel will chart obstacles and opportunities at the state level, looking for a path forward. Speakers will discuss policymaker and activist work in Connecticut and beyond. 

Speakers:

• Denise Stranko
• Ethan Elkind

Moderator: Denise Stranko

3:00 PM - Closing remarks and ice cream social

If you require a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the Law School at 860-570-5079 or via email at law.studentservices@uconn.edu at least two weeks in advance.

Earth Day Spring Fling is an annual celebration of sustainability co-sponsored by UConn’s Office of Sustainability and the Department of Dining Services. Established in 2008, the festival features vendors of sustainable and hand-crafted goods, organic and local foods, environmental organizations, and student groups that join together to produce the greatest day of environmental awareness all year! Coinciding with with the event is UConn’s annual Arbor Day celebration and ceremonial “class tree” planting.

Event Highlights:

• Zero Waste BBQ: Dining Services is catering an outdoor, zero-waste BBQ featuring vegan, vegetarian and sustainable food options sourced locally. Note - the BBQ requires a flex pass, community meal plan swipe or $12 credit/debit card.
• Eco Theme Cupcakes
• Dairy Bar Truck
• 12-1p Goat Yoga: Outdoor yoga with the goats of Bradley Mountain Farm. Bring your own mat. Sign Ups will be announced on the OS instagram.
• Party Peddler Bike: Hop on the 10 person bike for a tour of sustainability along Fairfield Way.
• 2028 Class Tree Planting: As a certified Tree Campus, we celebrate each class with their own tree. This year’s tree, selected by the Freshman class, is the Green Gable Tupelo. The ceremony will be held at 1pm by the Budds Building on Fairfield Way.
• UConn Thrift Den: The Thrift Den will highlight some of their free clothes!
• Eco-Vendors: Meet with student and community organizations dedicated to sustainability, as well as eco-minded businesses along Fairfield Way. 

Join the University of Connecticut’s Biodiversity Research Collections in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History for Biodiversity Bonanza: Celebrating Natural History Collections at UConn Storrs!

Collection Tours: 2-3pm in Biology/Physics Building Lobby

Special Lecture: 3:30-4:30pm in Biology/Physics Rm 131

Reception with Exhibits, Posters & Displays: 4:30-6:30pm in Gant Science Complex Light Court

The highlight of the afternoon will be the special lecture “Natural History Collections for 21^st Century Research” by National Academy of Science members Drs. Pam & Doug Soltis, of Florida State University, followed by a reception.

The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP for the reception is appreciated.

Visit https://s.uconn.edu/biodiversitybonanza for the full schedule of programs and to RSVP.

This is an Honors Event. See tags below for categories. #UHLevent11140

If you have questions or require any accommodations to participate, please contact the CSMNH at 860-486-4460 or CSMNHinfo@uconn.edu by Monday April 14.

UConn Gives, the annual 36-hour fundraising event at UConn, will be taking place on April 21 and 22. Every year, the UConn community rallies to support many different causes on campus, including our own Campus Sustainability Fund and the UConn@COP Fund! 

The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) finances programs and initiatives that support students and advance UConn’s position as a global leader in university sustainability. Contributions to the CSF provide critical funding of transformative learning experiences for students including hands-on professional development through internships and research projects that nurture our natural environments, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance environmental justice in the communities which we serve. The CSF also funds our experiential learning events such as the Haunted HEEP, the UConn-famous annual haunted trail walk at the Hillside Environmental Education Park. 

The UConn@COP Fund supports the UConn@COP Fellowship program, helping the OS send a cohort of students each year to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties. Through UConn@COP, students have participated in panels at international press conferences, networked with global environmental leaders, and heard from and interacted with international delegates and core members of international environmental justice movements. UConn@COP is an incredible, transformative experience for fellows, and it would not be possible without the support of generous donors!

Every donation, big or small, means so much! You can donate at https://s.uconn.edu/uconngives25 Select the UConn@COP Fund and/or the Campus Sustainability Fund to support our work. Thank you to everyone for supporting sustainability achievements and the environmental leaders of tomorrow!

MOVING WATER - ACTIVATING AUDIENCES THROUGH ECO-DRAMA (Symposium version)

Description:  A two-hour workshop presenting 75 minutes from the story, drawing on excerpted performed scenes from the devised multi-media production, MOVING WATER 2024, with discussion following the excerpted scene presentation. The discussion will address the ensemble’s research into water and climate change, the artist collaborators and the development of the scripted scenes and the magical realism movement interludes, the specific water issues addressed in the play, and the making of this unique piece of devised ensemble theatre.

MOVING WATER is a devised physical theatre piece researched and collaboratively developed by Serious Play over 5 years and through the pandemic, written by Eric Henry Sanders, composed by Jonny Rodgers, with technical direction and design by Robin Doty, and directed by Sheryl Stoodley. It speaks about climate-change, rising sea levels & how water fragility shapes our human interactions. The term “Eco-drama,” coined in 2007 by Theresa May, implies how environment and climate change are interrogated and promoted through performance. While connections to storytelling and nature go back to the earliest forms of recorded theatre, only recently scholars have begun to probe the ways theatre can be used to address climate change and connect audiences back to the natural world.

For more information, please visit Serious Play at https://www.seriousplay.org/current

UConn Gives, the annual 36-hour fundraising event at UConn, will be taking place on April 21 and 22. Every year, the UConn community rallies to support many different causes on campus, including our own Campus Sustainability Fund and the UConn@COP Fund! 

The Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) finances programs and initiatives that support students and advance UConn’s position as a global leader in university sustainability. Contributions to the CSF provide critical funding of transformative learning experiences for students including hands-on professional development through internships and research projects that nurture our natural environments, improve health and wellbeing, and enhance environmental justice in the communities which we serve. The CSF also funds our experiential learning events such as the Haunted HEEP, the UConn-famous annual haunted trail walk at the Hillside Environmental Education Park. 

The UConn@COP Fund supports the UConn@COP Fellowship program, helping the OS send a cohort of students each year to the annual United Nations Conference of the Parties. Through UConn@COP, students have participated in panels at international press conferences, networked with global environmental leaders, and heard from and interacted with international delegates and core members of international environmental justice movements. UConn@COP is an incredible, transformative experience for fellows, and it would not be possible without the support of generous donors!

Every donation, big or small, means so much! You can donate at https://s.uconn.edu/uconngives25 Select the UConn@COP Fund and/or the Campus Sustainability Fund to support our work. Thank you to everyone for supporting sustainability achievements and the environmental leaders of tomorrow!

The Town of Mansfield and UConn are pleased to team up against litter in our town. Join in to meet others in the Mansfield community and do good for our people and planet.

From noon to 4pm on Sunday, April 27, we will have check in stations with litter clean up supplies around campus and nearby roads (e.g. Hunting Lodge Rd). Volunteer to help clean up our community for as long as you want! Gloves, bags and safety vests will be provided.

Find the latest details HERE.