The next generation of climate and energy leaders isn’t just participating in the conversation—they’re redefining how conferences drive real action. With a greater focus on impact, engagement, and inclusivity, student-led conferences are shifting from traditional speaker-driven formats to dynamic, solution-oriented experiences.
To explore this transformation, we spoke with Andrew Grabowski and Mallory Furlong, two leaders who are realizing the value of student perspectives in shaping the future of climate and energy events in North America.
Meet the Changemakers
🔹 Andrew Grabowski is an MIT SDM Fellow specializing in sustainable aviation and climate tech. He is actively involved in game-theoretic models for environmental attribute trading and is a key organizer of the MIT Energy Conference and the Zero Impact Aviation Alliance. His work bridges academic research and real-world deployment to advance clean technology solutions.
🔹 Mallory Furlong is an environmental scientist and sustainability researcher at the University of Toronto, with a focus on eco-anxiety and social sustainability. She has worked in environmental science, communications, and film and television, giving her a unique interdisciplinary perspective. Through her research and initiatives like Climate Crisis Café, she’s helping students process the emotional toll of the climate crisis and engage in collective action.
Together, Mallory and Andrew offer valuable perspectives on how climate conferences led by students are evolving to turn ideas into action.
From Passive Listening to Active Engagement
One of the most significant shifts in student-led conferences is the move away from passive panel discussions toward interactive, solution-driven formats. Mallory has noticed this shift firsthand:
“I find that there are more workshops and activities at student-centered conferences that encourage brainstorming and idea-sharing, rather than just listening to a select few experts. This approach gives everyone an equal voice in hard conversations about the uncertainty of our future, climate justice, and mental health. It also empowers students to be part of these conversations, rather than simply observing them.”
Andrew echoes this sentiment, describing how the MIT Energy Conference embodies MIT’s “Mind and Hand” philosophy, integrating experiential learning:
“While we continue to offer a robust lineup of panels and keynotes, we are expanding hands-on experiences such as the Startup Showcase, MIT Lab Tours, and Climate Workshops. These experiences allow attendees to directly engage with early-stage startups, explore cutting-edge research facilities, and contribute to shaping MIT’s technology investment strategies.”
These shifts deepen engagement, encourage collaboration, and provide attendees with actionable takeaways—a stark contrast to traditional conferences where attendees may leave feeling inspired but uncertain about their next steps.
New Priorities: Mental Health, Climate Justice & Deployment of Solutions
Beyond format changes, the themes and priorities of student-led conferences are also evolving. Mental health and climate anxiety have become increasingly important, according to Mallory:
“Younger generations carry the burden of knowing that the future isn’t looking good for us, yet we’re expected to fix it. At the same time, we often feel powerless as we watch corporations and governments exacerbate the problem. This creates a sense of climate anxiety that needs to be discussed.”
She also emphasizes that today’s student leaders view the climate crisis as not just an environmental issue, but a social, economic, and political issue:
“Gen Z sees climate justice and equality as non-negotiable. We can’t believe that past generations haven’t actively changed the systems that created these problems. Some see us as radical, but really, we’re just empathetic—we want a better future for everyone.”
For Andrew, the MIT Energy Conference is taking a different but equally critical approach—focusing on deployment rather than just innovation:
“Our theme this year is ‘Breakthrough to Deployment.’ We’re focusing on the journey of advancing climate tech from the lab to large-scale implementation. One key topic is how companies can effectively communicate their climate attributes to investors and customers. This is an area we’ve seen evolve significantly, and we’re eager to hear our panelists’ insights.”
Making Conferences More Inclusive & Accessible
Despite some recent Administration headwinds, diversity, equity, and inclusion have become core principles in student-led events, not an afterthought. Andrew highlights how MIT is using technology to increase audience participation, ensuring that everyone—not just those comfortable speaking up—has a voice:
“We’re implementing a mobile app that allows audience members to submit questions in real-time, making Q&A sessions more inclusive. This fosters deeper engagement, not only between panelists but also among attendees.”
Mallory explains that students are more intentional about accessibility in their event planning:
“We prioritize diverse panels, hybrid attendance options, event spaces that accommodate all bodies, and opening remarks from Indigenous elders—not just a quick land acknowledgment. Even details like having food options for different diets and volunteers assisting with waste recycling matter.”
These initiatives break down barriers and create space for new voices, making conferences more collaborative, equitable, and impactful.
What’s Next for Student-Led Climate & Energy Conferences?
The evolution of student-led conferences reflects a broader shift in climate leadership. The next generation isn’t just attending events—they’re actively reshaping them to be more inclusive, action-oriented, and solutions-driven.
Mallory’s work in eco-anxiety and social sustainability and Andrew’s focus on bridging research with real-world deployment are testaments to the depth and diversity of thought leadership emerging from student communities.
The question now is: How can professional conferences adopt these same approaches? The future of climate and energy leadership may depend on it.
The Future of Climate Leadership is Here
At Alder, we believe students are the driving force behind the next wave of climate and energy leadership. That’s why we’re proud marketing sponsors of the MIT Energy Conference for the third year in a row—to support the conversations that turn bold ideas into real-world impact.
If you want to be part of this momentum, there’s still time – the 2025 MIT Energy Conference is happening March 3-4, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. If you’re thinking about going, now’s the time to get tickets—registration closes soon: https://bit.ly/4hTM864 We hope to see you in Boston! ⚡
