Breakout Session Highlights

Are you interested in the intersection of politics and climate-conscious investments? In this session, we will meet with Tom Steyer. Tom Steyer is an American billionaire and environmentalist known for his significant contributions to climate activism and democratic reforms. As the founder of NextGen America, he has invested heavily in combating climate change and promoting renewable energy initiatives. Steyer's commitment to democracy is evident through his efforts to increase voter engagement and his high-profile campaign advocating for the impeachment of President Donald Trump. His political aspirations culminated in a run for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020, emphasizing the critical need to address climate change and enhance democratic processes. In this session, you will have the opportunity to ask Tom Steyer questions about what the future of business in climate will look like and where to invest.

How can queer theory and queer politics radically reshape our understanding of the environment, climate change, and the place of humans in the natural world? Queer people and queer communities, especially those lying at the intersection of other marginalized identities, are disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of a changing climate. At the same time, queer politics and queer theory offer unique perspectives on interdependence, belonging, survival, and coalitional possibilities. Through an interactive activity and discussion, we’ll uncover how queer and BIPOC identities are more than “struggles”, but reminders that diversity and queerness are woven into the very fabric of life on this planet. Queer ecology invites us to see the natural world in all its glittery, rainbow-colored glory. Don't miss it!

How do we balance justice when considering those in our prisons? What is life like behind bars? How do we create opportunities for people to improve and seek acceptance inside and outside of the correctional system? Join Diane Khan the executive director of Humans of San Quentin, a non-profit organization based in San Rafael working both inside and outside of prisons globally. Additionally, speakers Marcus Blevins, an editor and journalist with articles published in newspapers such as the San Francisco Chronicle and SF Bay View Newspaper, and Eddie Herena, a freelance photographer whose work has appeared in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and The Boston Globe and TEDx speaker, both share their experiences being formerly incarcerated and working to improve the US justice system.

Should we be allowed to genetically modify vegetables or mosquitos? What about humans? From genetically modified crops feeding the world to gene therapy curing previously life-threatening diseases, gene editing can be a powerful tool in agriculture, medicine and biology. However, it presents several risks and concerns about morality. Where do we draw the line of what is ethical? In this session we’ll discuss a multitude of topics throughout the field of bioethics that relate to genetic modification. If the ethics of gene editing spark your interest, join Yuqin L. '26 and Gordon S. '26 in a discussion exploring the ethics of gene manipulation!

Join Jon Bretan for a walk down technology lane through the history of the first 50 years of mobile phones, their evolution, and what they have become. This informative session will explore how individuals can directly participate in global conversations with mobile computing and multimedia communications technologies. Part presentation and part walk gallery, this session will exhibit electronic devices ranging from the development of the first cell phone all the way to the smartphone of today. This history links into global events that have been magnified, or made possible, by the smartphone. With mobile televisions and cameras easily accessible, the deliberation of justice changes drastically: Smartphones allow attention to be drawn to atrocities, yet can also lead to out-of-control flare-ups of hate and disinformation that may threaten democracy.