Game Changers: ISABC Youth Sustainability Conference: Full Schedule

10:20am PST

Science to action: effecting change as a scientist - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST

In this workshop I will share my personal experience as both a scientist and citizen pushing for on-the-ground actions to address the climate crisis. We'll explore pathways to get involved, discuss societal and structural barriers to action, and share strategies to build personal resilience in an often depressing field of work.

Speakers

Auston Chhor

Salmon Habitat Biologist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Auston Chhor, MSc Salmon Habitat Biologist Auston received a BSc in Biology from Queen’s University and went on to complete a Masters of Science at Carleton University under Dr. Steven Cooke, where he studied how catch-and-release impacts the behaviour of fish. Over the course... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST
SWING 309

Taking Action: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

10:20am PST

Climate Change Conversations - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST

SWING 308

Awareness of climate change is high, and there is support for climate action, but it's difficult to know where to start. A good first step is to talk about it. This workshop offers a 3-part framing for a climate change conversation: a) what climate change is, b) why it matters, and c) what we can do about it.

Speakers

Stewart Cohen

Self - Employed

Stewart J. Cohen is an author and educator on climate change. He recently retired from a 35-year career as a climate change research scientist at Environment and Climate Change Canada (formerly Environment Canada). He studied geography at university, obtaining degrees from McGill... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST
SWING 308

Understanding Climate Change: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

10:20am PST

Powering Change: Energy and Climate Connections - Gr. 10-12 FILLING

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST

SWING 207

Understanding climate change as it relates to energy is a topic worthy of deeper conversation. This collaborative workshop investigates the complexity of this topic from a biological and societal perspective with questions posed to generate participant involvement. This session will close with a few vignettes profiling how climate solutions involving our current energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources that is already taking place here in our province.

Speakers

Tiffany Zhang

West Point Grey Academy

This workshop is presented by the AP Environmental Science class from West Point Grey Academy, inspired by their in-depth and enriching explorations of advanced course material. Drawing influences from across their studies in the sciences and social sciences, these students offer... Read More →

Lucy Finlayson

West Point Grey Academy

Anya Li

West Point Grey Academy

Manuela Shklanka

West Point Grey Academy

Ann Wang

West Point Grey Academy

Sabrina Wood

West Point Grey Academy

Jessica Yin

West Point Grey Academy

Friday February 21, 2025 10:20am - 11:20am PST
SWING 207

Understanding Climate Change: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

11:30am PST

Sustainable Chemistry - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST

SWING 405

In this workshop, students will be equipped with an understanding of green chemistry principles. Students will be challenged to think about sustainable alternatives to plastic usage through the lens of chemical engineering and be encouraged to discover creative solutions to our current climate crisis.

Speakers

Veronika Franzova & Sebastian Saldarriaga

Luiza Lima

School Programs Coordinator, University of British Columbia

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST
SWING 405

Sustainability Solutions: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

11:30am PST

Science to action: effecting change as a scientist - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST

SWING 309

Speakers

Auston Chhor

Salmon Habitat Biologist, Raincoast Conservation Foundation

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST
SWING 309

Taking Action: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

11:30am PST

Climate Change Conversations - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST

SWING 308

Speakers

Stewart Cohen

Self - Employed

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST
SWING 308

Understanding Climate Change: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

11:30am PST

Ocean Wise Sea Dome - Gr. 10-12 FULL

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST

CIRS - BC Hydro Theatre

This workshop includes two exciting stations where participants will learn about various animals and ecosystems, the current issues facing them, as well as handle and
view numerous artifacts to bring the experience to life.

Station 1 Inflatable Ocean Wise Sea Dome
Participants will be virtually taken under the sea in our four-meter tall by six meter-in-diameter Sea Dome. Guests will hunt with cuttlefish over sea grass, coast over coral reefs with sea turtles and sharks, feed with the humpback whales off the coast, swim with sea lions in the kelp forests,
and dive deep with opalescent squid. Participants will watch our 360-degree screen showing 4K footage, immersing them into the wild world of our oceans without ever getting wet!

Station 2 Local marine artifacts
Experience the wonders of the temperate ocean off the coast of British Columbia! Let our educators guide you through lush kelp forests and learn about the delicate ecosystem balances that let these underwater forests thrive. Pet a sea otter, hold a sea urchin, and explore various invertebrates that call our beaches home. Learn about the difficulties these animals and ecosystems face every day right before our eyes and how we can help support and clean up our own backyard.

Speakers

Mercedes Toca

Ocean Wise

Robin Hanson

Shaye O Donnell

Rachit Trivedi

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST
CIRS - BC Hydro Theatre

Understanding Climate Change: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

11:30am PST

Sustainable Campus Tour - Gr. 10-12 FULL

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST

CIRS - Atrium

Join us for an exciting adventure around campus! On this fun climate walk, we’ll explore how the campus is designed to work with nature, protect wildlife, and adapt to climate change. Along the way, you’ll uncover surprising ways UBC is building a greener, more sustainable future.

Speakers

Simran Gill

University of British Columbia

Simran is a fifth-year student majoring in Global Resource Systems, with a specialization in global health, nutrition, and food systems. During her time at UBC, Simran developed an interest in food security, food literacy, and sustainability. Working with various local food initiatives... Read More →

Leonard Zheng

University of British Columbia

Leonard is a fourth-year student completing a Major in Food, Nutrition and Health. He grew up in mainland China and later moved to Vancouver in grade 8. Inspired by discussions on solving world hunger and promoting sustainable agriculture in his IB Geography class, he pursued studies... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:30am - 12:30pm PST
CIRS - Atrium

Understanding Climate Change: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

1:30pm PST

Climate Change Theatre Action! LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST

SWING 307

In this fun, interactive workshop, you will explore the power of theatre and stories to address the climate crisis. You will learn what a “theatre action” is, how to write for the theatre, and leave with your own short play. No theatre/writing experience required, but if you have some, it is welcome. This workshop is flexible, designed to accommodate you, no matter how shy or outgoing you may be.

Speakers

Elaine Ávila

Elaine Ávila (she/her), of Azorean descent, was one of the first Fulbright Portugal Scholars at the University of the Azores. Elaine writes plays based on untold, true stories of women, workers, Portuguese immigrants and the climate crisis, incorporating humour and music. Elaine... Read More →

Electric Theatre Company

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST
SWING 307

Communicating and Expressing for the Planet: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

1:30pm PST

Sustainable Campus Tour - Gr. 10-12 FULL

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST

CIRS - Atrium

Speakers

Simran Gill

University of British Columbia

Leonard Zheng

University of British Columbia

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST
CIRS - Atrium

Sustainability Solutions: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

1:30pm PST

Climate Action in Motion - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST

SWING 109

This CityHive workshop invites participants to actively map out their climate futures by engaging with local climate action stories, drawing dreams into plans, and uncovering what the pathways to action can look like. Participants will explore how government responsibilities and urban forces connect to sustainability in different ways, and how harnessing one’s own story and relationship to land and community can be the first steps to generating our climate futures.

Speakers

Anjali Carter-Rau

CityHive

Anjali (she/her) grew up in Southern California. She holds a B.A. in International Relations from UBC, with a focus on International Economy and Development. Anjali has worked as a labor organizer as well as with the Youth Climate Corps as an organizer and Youth Committee member... Read More →

Aayush Sharma

CityHive

Aayush is an experienced facilitator, workshop designer, and health researcher. He holds a Master of Science degree in Health Science and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Science from Simon Fraser University. He was also a graduate fellow with the Community-engaged Research... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST
SWING 109

Taking Action: 10-12

Audience Grade 10-12 (age 15-18)

1:30pm PST

Collective Action 101: How to Inspire Climate Justice - Gr. 10-12 LIMITED

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST

SWING 122

Trying to inspire climate justice is challenging when youth are often faced with what they perceive to be unchangeable barriers. At ECF, we want to share different strategies to strive for collective action -- one we certainly need to combat climate change. Join us for a time of leadership through an opportunity to connect with your local MLAs by writing letters that will be delivered to their offices after the conference.

Speakers

Maggie Lu

Evergreen Collective Foundation

Maggie: A junior at Crofton House School, Maggie is delighted to be one of ECF’s Co-Directors. With a high interest in social justice, Maggie has been serving in community environmentally since she was in elementary school. Now, she has ideas and initiatives that she hopes can sprout... Read More →

Serena Zhang

National Co-Director, Evergreen Collective Foundation

A junior attending Crofton House School, Serena is immensely proud to serve on ECF’s executive team. She has been an active member of the foundation for three years, first as a volunteer, then as Director of Outreach, and now as a National Co-Director. Deeply interested in science... Read More →

Enya Fang

Evergreen Collective Foundation

A senior at Southridge School, Enya is deeply honoured to serve as ECF’s Executive Director. Since the organisation’s inception in 2021, Enya has opened 6 chapter teams, started 2 blogs, and debated BC Premier David Eby over youth climate policies. She looks forward to introducing... Read More →

Marek Cai

Evergreen Collective Foundation

Marek: Officially 83% finished with St. George's School, Marek is ecstatic to be the Director of Technical Operations at ECF. The best way to describe Marek is “interesting.” Not even himself knows what he is really good at, and has spent most of his life dabbling in almost everything... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm PST
SWING 122

Taking Action: 10-12