February 24-28, 2025

Join the Center for the Environment and partners across WashU for Environmental Research & Creativity Week, Feb. 24 – 28.  

This week of events will showcase the exciting environmental work throughout the WashU community, share innovative knowledge, and foster collaboration between faculty, students, staff, and partners. 

More events will be added in the coming weeks. Registration for center-hosted events will open in January. 

Monday, February 24

Environmental Research Symposium 

Center for the Environment

Julie Zimmerman, Yale School of the Environment professor

1:00-5:30pm | Clark Fox Forum, Hillman hall

This half-day symposium will bring together scholars, students, staff and partners to highlight environmental research across the university and beyond. 

The symposium will feature: 

  • A keynote from Julie Zimmerman, Vice Provost for Planetary Solutions at Yale’s School for the Environment 
  • A panel conversation from center scholars on emerging environmental work 

Tuesday, February 25

Cannibal Capitalism: The View from Trump’s America – 2025 Faculty Book Celebration

Center for the Humanities

4:00-6:30pm | Umrath Lounge, Umrath Hall

The celebration will feature keynote speaker Nancy Fraser on her book “Cannibal Capitalism: How our System is Devouring Democracy, Care, and the Planet – and What We Can Do About It.” 

S.T. Lee Lecture

McDonnell International Scholars Academy

5:00-7:00 pm | Clark Fox Forum, Hillman Hall

Samuel Myers, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Planetary Health and founding director of the Planetary Health Alliance will present.

Wednesday, February 26

Faculty Panel with Nancy Fraser Panel – Faculty Book Celebration Panel

Center for the Humanities

Noon-1:30pm | Olin Library Room 142

Day two of the Faculty Book Celebration includes a panel discussion with Nancy Fraser and featured WashU faculty members. 

Transformative decarbonization research led by WashU – Alumni Webinar

Joshua Yuan, department chair and professor of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering

University Advancement cohosted event

6:00-7:00 p.m. | Virtual

Learn about WashU’s CURB decarbonization research initiative featuring the project’s leader Joshua Yuan, Chair of the Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering in McKelvey Engineering. 

Thursday, February 27

Seeds: Containers of a World to Come – Gallery Tour

photo of “Vivarium: Apomixis,” by Kapwani Kiwanga

Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum cohosted event

Noon-1:00pm | Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum

Examine the relationship between plants, humans, and land through the works of 10 contemporary artists. Led by Curator Meredith Malone, this tour will explore the works of the exhibition Seeds: Containers of a World to Come, focusing on the way in which they reflect on and reframe our understanding of current environmental challenges and our connection to the natural world. The exhibit is open Feb. 21 through July 28 at the Kemper Art Museum. 

Tropical Forest February!  

Living Earth Collaborative cohosted event

Afternoon/Evening | Missouri Botanical Garden 

The Living Earth Collaborative – an innovative biodiversity partnership between the St. Louis Zoo, Missouri Botanical Garden, and WashU – will host an event exploring the hyperdiversity of plants and animals in the world’s tropical forest; highlighting the St. Louis region’s strengths in tropical forest ecology and conservation.

Friday, February 28

WashU’s Environmental Ecosystem – Lab & Studio Crawl 

Center for the Environment

1:30-3:30pm | Starting location: 1st Floor Brauer Hall, concludes Weil Hall 

Learn about the people, places, and processes that contribute to the rich environmental landscape at WashU. This curated series of lab and studio tours will highlight the modes and methods of various disciplines across the Danforth Campus. 

Let’s Celebrate – End-of-Week Reception

Center for the Environment

3:30-4:30pm | Kuehner Court, Weil Hall

Unwind after a full week of programs at this celebration of the myriad work happening across the WashU environmental community. Drinks and light fare will be served.