UMass Amherst Key to Success of Climate Action Conference in India
The involvement of the National Student Data Corps (NSDC) Institutional Chapter at UMass Amherst played a major role in the success of Terra Confluence 2024, reports Sai Gattupalli, doctoral candidate in the Department of Math, Science and Learning Technologies in the College of Education.
The aim of Terra Confluence is to inspire climate action through education, innovation and collaboration. It was spearheaded by Poulomi Chakravarty, founder of India-based Global Climate Association. This year’s hybrid online and in-person event was held in late April in conjunction with Earth Day and attracted more than 150 participants ages 4 to 69 from five continents. It also featured expert speakers from countries including India, Bangladesh, Germany, Canada, Brazil, the Netherlands, Australia and the U.S.
“The event included a rich dialogue series and three competitive events designed for high school seniors and college students, and categories open to all,” said Gattupall, who is co-chair of UMass Amherst Institutional Chapter of NSDC. “These competitions focused on comprehension and storytelling, data analytics for college students, and a short video challenge for broader participation. Notably, the Climate Data Analytics Showdown received substantial contributions from our UMass Amherst NSDC Chapter.”
UMass Amherst Chapter leadership played a crucial role by providing brainstorming, technical support and competition tracks’ judging support throughout the event, Gattupalli said, and also served as judges in the Climate Conundrum Challenge for K-12 levels, focusing on storytelling and comprehension to elucidate climate change issues.
“This initiative perfectly aligns with our College of Education’s goals, which emphasize fostering critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, essential for nurturing responsible and engaged global citizens committed to sustainable practices,” he said. “These activities directly support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and reflect our dedication to diversity, community engagement, collaborative innovation and social justice.”