Be a Part of the 2025 VINS Science Symposium: A Celebration of Student-Led Climate Action and Environmental Learning!

The 2025 Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) Science Symposium is fast approaching. The Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative is excited to spread the word and encourage 4th- to 8th-grade students, teachers, families, and anyone interested to engage with this exciting event, which offers opportunities for hands-on scientific research, community-driven solutions, and real-world learning. While the deadline to participate in this year’s symposium has passed, attending the event with your students is a great way to inspire them to get involved next year.

Hannah Gelroth, VINS Senior Director of Education, shared that “the symposium is a powerful opportunity for students to showcase their work and be active participants in the work to combat climate change.”

The event takes place over three days in May, with each day offering unique opportunities for students to showcase their work and contribute to building a more sustainable and just future.

Energy in the Ecosystem - May 6, 2025

The 2025 VINS Science Symposium kicks-off on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, with Energy in the Ecosystem day. This day is dedicated to students who have participated in the VINS Science Symposium programs, where VINS Educators work closely with each class to identify community-based problems, guide scientific research, and develop actionable solutions. These students will present their findings on themes like:

• Biodiversity of Animals

• Invasive Species

• Habitat Protection

• Food Systems

  
  

Through these projects, students explore the vital connections in ecosystems and examine the role of energy in sustaining life across various species and habitats.

Earth and Human Activity - May 7, 2025

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, the symposium continues with Earth and Human Activity day, also open to students who have worked with VINS Educators. This day focuses on how human actions affect our planet. Students will present projects on:

• Extreme Weather

• Carbon Footprint

• Renewable/Nonrenewable Resources

• Waste and Pollution

  
  

These projects offer students a chance to reflect on the environmental impact of human behavior and propose ways to mitigate our collective footprint on the Earth.

Equitable Climate Action Partnership (ECAP) - May 8, 2025

The symposium concludes on Thursday, May 8, 2025, with the Equitable Climate Action Partnership (ECAP) event, which invites students to present climate action projects focused on equity and sustainability. This day is particularly special for the Upper Valley Teaching Place Collaborative because ECAP is one of our flagship programs that supports educators and their students as they create and implement climate action projects in the Upper Valley and beyond. This day highlights how students can address climate change and its disproportionate impacts on marginalized communities, exploring solutions that foster climate resilience and justice. Students whose teachers are participating in ECAP will share their efforts in areas like:

• Environmental Justice

• Climate Resilience

• Sustainable Community Development

  
  

Joan Haley, UVTPC Project Manager and Principal & Co-Founder of Education for Climate Resilience, who reflected on last year’s event, wrote: "One group of students had been working on sit spots in nature—taking time to sit quietly, observe, and reflect. This practice allowed them to form a personal connection with the natural world, which they then expressed through art and journaling. Their presentations not only showed their understanding of climate science but also revealed how their relationship with nature had evolved." Read Joan’s full blog post here: https://www.uvtpc.com/post/vins-science-symposium

Watch this video created after last year’s ECAP symposium day, where over 100 students from five schools gathered for a day of presenting their ECAP project results, a keynote from a VT State climate scientist, and other science-oriented activities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBSaGUfeJVc

Keynote Speaker on Sustainability

The keynote speaker for the symposium will be Rosi Kerr, Director of Sustainability at Dartmouth College.  She will be offering valuable insights on sustainability and the steps we can all take toward a more sustainable and climate-friendly future.

Important Dates and Registration

If you are interested in seeing students in action sharing their research and solutions, gaining exposure to real-world science, and becoming leaders in environmental action, consider attending one of the symposium days. It’s a great way to see if this might be a good program for you and your students, and also just a FUN way to support student learning. You can RSVP here

Schools interested in participating in the 2026 VINS Science Symposium should sign up by August 31, 2025. For more information, visit the VINS Science Symposium website here.

We look forward to seeing the creativity and leadership of students from across the region as they showcase their work at the 2025 VINS Science Symposium!

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