Climate Week concludes with focus on sustainable technologies and arts

The final days of MSU's Climate Week highlighted innovative sustainable technologies, the historical interplay of mountain environments and cultures and the role of arts in environmental advocacy. According to the MSU website the week ended with a celebratory concert. All of the week's events engaged the university and wider community in discussions about combating climate change and promoting sustainability.

On April 24, David Carlson, former Director of the World Climate Research Programme, shared his experiences with electric vehicle (EV) technology during a presentation entitled “Driving Against the Grain: Enjoying an EV in Montana." Carlson's talk focused on his journey across various continents in an EV, illustrating the experience of EV technology. Charging infrastructure for EVs remains under development and drivers will need better charging stations at more locations in the future, he added that charging systems need stability, reliability and better data products. Carlson spoke about these facts in an article he published on Yale Climate Connections​​ in December of 2023. 

On April 25, Annie Coleman from the University of Notre Dame explored the nuances of outdoors access in her lecture as part of the Minds on Mountains Conference (MOMC). According to the MOMC webpage, they seek to promote interdisciplinary research and cooperation oriented towards vertical landscapes and ecosystems like the high alpine peaks of the Himalayan and the depths of the ocean.

The week concluded on April 26 with a Climate Concert at Reynolds Recital Hall, where the MSU School of Music performed a variety of pieces. According to Paul Lachapelle, a faculty advisor to the Campus Climate Coalition (CCC) and a key organizer of the event, the concert was designed to celebrate the intersection of art and environmental science, showcasing how creative expressions can play a crucial role in advocating for the planet.

 “We're trying to offer something for everybody, from music concerts to content that's more stem oriented,” Lachapelle said.

Lachapelle added that these activities come as part of the CCC, Climate Solutions Group and the Gallatin Valley Earth Day group’s united, broader efforts to educate and mobilize the community towards taking actionable steps in mitigating climate change.

“This is a central part of my work here at MSU. My goal with [campus climate activists] is to bring together all of the faculty and the students who have an interest in this. Whether it's directly related to their work, their teaching, their classes or something peripheral,” he said. 

For more information about climate action on campus or how you can get involved, contact Lachepelle at paul.lachapelle@montana.edu.