What Students Are Exploring

At its core, the conference is driven by student ideas — thoughtful, creative, and often very sophisticated.

 

Presentations follow a TED-style format and span a wide range of environmental topics, often combining science, technology, policy, and behavior. A sample of 2026 student presentations includes:

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• Using AI for Sustainability: Drone Trash Identification — Ajay Devendran (Roxbury Latin)

• The Sound of Biodiversity: How Noise Reshapes Ecosystems — Arthur Chen (Thayer Academy)

• Bloombusters: Biodetecting Toxic Algae Blooms Using CRISPR Technology — Shaanveer Gupta, Vidyuth Sathish, and Aashrita Joga (Thayer Academy)

• From Scraps to Sustainability — Suhas Sanjay Kaniyar (Belmont Hill)

• From Awareness to Action: Why Knowing Isn’t Changing Behavior — Alyssa McGuirl (Thayer Academy)

• Expanding EV: Using Electric Buses in Modern-Day School Transport — Alta Randall (Thayer Academy)

• Sustainability Through the Modern Lens: Using Drones to Create a Greener Planet — Adrian Chen and Ilan Tarevskiy (Belmont Hill)

• Comparative Analysis of Dietary Patterns and Their Environmental Impacts — Sadie Borushko (Thayer Academy)

• From Solheimar to the States: Cultivating a Culture of Sustainability in an Unsustainable Society — Carly Woll and Erin Kennedy (Dana Hall)​

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These talks reflect the spirit of the conference — students not only exploring complex environmental challenges, but proposing ideas, questioning assumptions, and thinking about what meaningful action looks like.

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In addition to presentations, the conference includes hands-on workshops led by students, ranging from environmental mapping and policy discussions to design, technology, and creative approaches to sustainability.

Keynote Speakers

Each year, the conference features a keynote speaker whose work is creating real-world, positive change.

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• 2026 — Pete Malinowski
  Founder of the Billion Oyster Project, focused on restoring oyster reefs and ecosystems in New York Harbor

• 2025 — Mark Anderson
  Director of Conservation Science at The Nature Conservancy, known for mapping climate-resilient landscapes

• 2024 — Lucy Hutyra
  MacArthur Fellow studying urban ecosystems and climate impacts. Head of the Hutyra Reasearch Lab at Boston University.

• 2023 — Austin Gallagher
  Founder of Beneath the Waves, focused on ocean conservation

Why It Matters

The conference reflects something James believed deeply: that time spent in nature leads to caring about it, and that caring can lead to action.​

Participating Schools & Organizations

Each year, the conference brings together a growing group of students from schools and organizations across the region, creating a collaborative community of young environmental leaders.

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Thayer Academy · Archbishop Williams High School · Belmont Hill School · Braintree High School · Brookline High School · Brooks School · Cohasset Center for Student Coastal Research · Middlesex School · Milton Academy · Noble and Greenough School · St. Mark’s School · The Roxbury Latin School · Tabor Academy · Weston High School​

Thank You

We would like to extend our deep gratitude to everyone who has helped bring this conference to life. The idea was first hatched by his grandmother, Darcy, and we presented it to Head of School Chris Fortunato at Thayer during a time when we were still shells of ourselves, moving through each day in a kind of daze. Don Donovan and Skip Schneider led the charge in the early days, and now Kiley Lilly and Jack Greene have joined the effort, helping to build this into the meaningful and inspiring event it is today. Thayer’s food service team provides delicious, healthy meals, while the tech crew brings energy and professionalism through music, lighting, and sound. The media team maintains a beautiful website and shares videos of each speaker, extending the reach of the conference far beyond the day itself. This event would not be possible without Thayer’s steadfast support, along with the generosity of so many friends and family members who have contributed over the years. We also thank all of the participating schools and students who have contributed to the conference and are committed to making positive change in the world.