Annual Events

The aim of the Center for Sustainability's Changemaker Speaker Series is to expose our students and campus community to people who are shaping the 21st century in innovative and inspiring ways. Changemakers are models of unselfishness, innovation, and clarity, and they are on the front lines of effecting meaningful change. One of the learning outcomes of the sustainability program is that our students "demonstrate the leadership skills necessary to be an agent for change” - so we love listening to folks who are walking that walk!

Every year the Sustainability Club brings the national Earth Day celebrations to campus, often as part of a broader Spring Festival with engaging contributions from other clubs, student houses, and academic departments. This vibrant event is filled with live music, craft booths, face painting and tattoos, games and competitions, fashion shows - and, of course, food! Campus "greening" efforts are also on display, including beekeeping, green roof gardening, maple syrup production, biodiversity conservation, renewable energy, and much more!

Each February, the Center for Sustainability and the Sustainability Club partner with our awesome Athletics Department to host a month-long "Love the Planet" event to boost awareness of the importance of recycling and composting, water and energy conservation, reducing our reliance on single-use paper and plastic, and becoming more mindful consumers. Events include center court recycling relays; concession stands featuring local, organic, and Fair Trade treats; Selfie Scavenger Hunts; and craft tables where you can send a Valentine's Day message of friendship on handmade paper infused with native wildflower seeds. "Go Green!"

The International Perspectives Conference (IPC) "provides a platform for individuals from around the world to come together and share passions and desires for social change, to be inspired by motivational speakers, and to learn practical skills and knowledge to work towards social impact." Topics have included climate change and sustainability, globalization and culture, breaking stereotypes, and issues of equity and empowerment. This student-led conference seeks to inspire us to rise above personal and worldly limits and to act with courage towards social impact.

The annual Public Affairs Conference (PAC) is the oldest student-led conference in the country, the first PAC was held in 1939. Principia College students take responsibility for all aspects of planning and running the conference, which often focuses on a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future. From pre-conference activities to TED-style talks, PAC offers unique networking opportunities. Recent conferences have highlighted peacebuilding, youth empowerment, social entrepreneurship, and media as a tool for social change.

Held every October, Campus Sustainability Month is an international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Throughout the month, colleges and universities, including Principia, organize events on campus and elsewhere to engage and inspire students and other campus stakeholders to become agents of positive change. Students organize informational booths, film festivals, service projects, and competitions to encourage dialogue on contemporary issues at local and global scales.