On Friday March 13, 2026 HSFI held its first Climate Change Education Symposium inviting professionals in this field to educate us on the topic of climate change, ultimately creating an engaging, interdisciplinary platform for learning, dialogue, and action. Each speaker's segment connected to one another showing our students what climate change is, how it affects our communities, sustainable careers, and actions we are able to take such as starting the conversation.
Our first speaker of the day was Dr. Jason Smerdon, Professor of Climate and Vice Dean of Academic Planning within the Climate School at Columbia University, spoke on the facts, fears, and future of climate change in his segment named “ Climate Change 101: Facts, Fears, and our Future”. Through his time he was able to address three questions: Is the temperature of the atmosphere increasing, Is CO2 in the atmosphere increasing, and Is increasing CO2 causing the warming. With simple visuals he was able to explain how the earth is warming and we are causing it. In his ending message he said “ educating ourselves is how we are able to take the agency to act” giving us a view of how we may be able to support future generations in this problem.
Christina Torres and Alyssa Spiezio our next two speakers spoke a bit on Sustainable Fashion and Green Careers. Christina, an adjunct assistant professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology teaching an Ecology and Environmental Problems course, spoke on how every career can be a green career. She was able to explain to students how in the fashion industry we have “A circular fashion economy” including a gap. We want to find a way to close this gap of all the clothes that go to waste. Furthering her point to all industries she urged the audience to question “ How does your future career connect to sustainability?”. Then Alyssa, an International Trade and Marketing senior student at FIT with minors in Sustainable Materials and Technology, Sustainability and Ethics as well as Economics, spoke on her experience within starting the conversation of sustainability in fashion. She expressed how she started a blog “Change with AJ” educating others on sustainability in fashion as well as beginning research on creating a fully biodegradable button. She is an example of starting the conversation as well as taking action in her own way. Her takeaway to the audience is “Follow your passions and stay curious”.
Rashawn Khamari Merchant, a current doctoral student in science education and an Adjunct faculty member at the Fashion Institute of Technology, spoke on Environmental Justice. Coming to speak at HSFI was a full circle moment for Rashawn as a family member close to him previously attended HSFI making our community close to his family and heart. Interacting with the student audience he explained how environmental justice was how we are able to figure out how to get justice for the harm done to the environment. He was able to highlight how low income communities especially face larger rates of pollution and how we need to start the conversation with everyone allowing them to be educated on what is happening to our planet. In highlighting women’s history month he highlighted the mother of environmental justice “Hazel M. Johnson” furthermore explaining the history of environmental justice comparing it to today.
Our last speakers of the day, Meredith McDermott and Kailyn Fox, both work within the NYC Public Schools office of Energy & Sustainability. They highlighted their work in youth involvement to make a change, and how HSFI students can get involved as well. It was emphasised that you should join your local Green Team to make this an everyone conversation one step at a time. One takeaway in their segment had been that “Taking that action and civic advocacy is a way you can get out there and change the world. They encourage you to join the next Youth Climate Summit on June 10th & 11th from 10pm-4pm on Governors Island empowering students to address climate change.
On the symposium stage featured beautiful pieces of “Junk Kouture” by Ms. Rojas’s students: Sarah Chahin, Haseenna Atariwa, Anna Flood, Evan How and Mia Peralta. Their garments are showcasing the essence of “from trash to treasure” and embodies a circular sustainability mindset that views waste as raw materials for avant-garde outfits or wearable arts worthy of runaway or red carpet events!
Thank you to Ms. Sioson, Ms. Frank, Green Team, Student Government, and our Science Team for helping put this Symposium together. We hope our HSFI community was able to learn from these professionals as well as visuals shown through presentations and on the stage. We encourage everyone to start the conversation on climate change to create a greener future!