Annual green schools conference will celebrate its 10th year
Last month the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that TV personality and science communicator Danni Washington will keynote the annual Green Schools Conference & Expo (GSCE), taking place March 2-4, 2020, at the Hilton Portland Downtown in Portland, Ore. GSCE is the only national event to bring together people who lead, operate, build and teach in U.S. schools. GSCE will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2020. Registration is currently open.
“Danni’s passion for the environment is clear in the work she does to bridge the gap between the science community and the public,” said Phoebe Beierle, school district program manager at USGBC’s Center for Green Schools. “Her commitment to helping young students further their understanding of nature is shaping the next generation of scientists, communicators and conservationists.”
Washington hosts the STEM educational TV series called “Xploration Nature Knows Best,” which features the latest advancements in bio-inspired technology and design. She is the first African American woman of color to host an American science television series. At age 21, she co-founded the Big Blue & You, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to inspiring and educating youth about marine conservation through arts and media. Washington graduated from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science/Biology, and has spent 10 years using her science background to connect with and help people understand the natural world.
GSCE is produced in partnership between the Center for Green Schools at USGBC and the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). The two organizations share a common goal of helping make schools healthy, sustainable learning environments for students.
The conference is the largest gathering of green schools advocates in the country and supports the three pillars of green schools: environmental impact, health impact, and environmental and sustainability literacy. The GSCE program is available online and was designed to provide the lessons, tools and resources needed to transform schools into healthier, more sustainable places to learn, work and play. Education sessions at GSCE feature experts that will discuss occupant and student engagement, healthy indoor air quality, accessibility to school environmental programs, waste management, energy conservation and other topics related to sustainability in schools.
Editor’s Note
Also read Biomimicry in architectural design: The Bullitt Center
“The idea for this article originated from an evening of watching “Xploration Nature Knows Best” from Steve Rotfield Productions. The episode, “Biobased Buildings” with host Danni Washington, encompassed a cohesive discussion on products and buildings that mimic nature — biomimicry in design. The show included two examples of biomimicry in design, StoColor® Lotusan® and the Bullitt Center.”
