Ninth annual RE Climate Symposium celebrates climate solutions

"Tonight, we gather to celebrate the environmental stewardship of our students, showcase the remarkable work happening across Ransom Everglades, and look ahead to a future still unwritten – one shaped by the next generation," said RE Director of Environmental Sustainability Kelly Jackson. 

Nearly 250 student projects were displayed in the Fernandez STEM Center and across the upper school campus, highlighting research and creative works, and connecting science, social studies and math. An opening assembly in the Lewis Family Auditorium offered teasers to projects presented in the Fernandez STEM Center by Noah Mitchell '31, Ryan Kantesaria '31, Chika Adele '31, Juan Dasburg '31, Abby Krawill '31, Joshua Havenick '31 and Samaya Dewan '31.

The event also spotlighted student-led initiatives that have been implemented, such as Students for Solar, which has helped expand solar energy at RE to three installations totaling 479 panels, and the school's two-year-old composting program, which is nearing the milestone of diverting 100,000 pounds of food waste from landfills.

"Understanding the problem isn’t enough," Yahvi Raj '31 said on the Swenson Hall stage. "Real change requires action."

 

Upper school students had their highest level of participation in the event's history, with 31 Marine Field Research students presenting posters on topics such as threats to manatees, invasive lionfish, coral restoration, and enhanced weathering as a climate solution. Infographics and creative work from the Biology & Ecology of Sharks class, along with presentations from the South Florida Economic Ransom Everglades Conference, highlighted green temperature control, Miami’s thrifting renaissance, and sustainable agriculture. The symposium also featured the winners of the RE Business Challenge, Blake Langer '26 and Nina Galinsky '26, who presented their sustainable business idea, Solar Sip.

"One of the most unique aspects of this symposium is that it brings people together to talk about climate change – not with a sense of doom and gloom, but with hope, energy, and a sense of possibility," Jackson said.

The symposium also honored the winning entries to the RECS Film Festival. The film by Ben Barrington '31 earned first place; Kantesaria's scored second place; and Krawill's earned third. 
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