Cooper Union x Climate Week 2021 is a series of lectures and events that aim to engage our community in assessing the role of the climate crisis in our day-to-day lives. This year, we'll focus on the themes of reconstruction and deconstruction as we imagine all of the work ahead of us. The Cooper Climate Coalition aims to promote curiosity, interdisciplinary dialogue, and sustained engagement with the climate crisis.  

Sunday, September 19
Peekskill Hike
Blue Mountain Park, Peekskill

A socially distant hike at Peekskill State Park to discuss the current climate movement and Cooper Climate’s plan moving forward. Afterward, a stopover at Peekskill Brewery. Proper shoes and masks are required. Water, snacks, and weather-appropriate attire are recommended. Please meet at the Peekskill Metro-North train station at 10:50 am (from the 9:45 am Grand Central Train) or meet at the Blue Summit Mountain Trail at 11:30 am. We will hike the Blue Mountain Summit Trail which is a 3.3-mile hike. More information is provided after registration.

Monday, September 20, 7pm EDT
Climate Momentum: The Things That Keep Me Cheerful in the Face of the Worst Problem Ever.
Rebecca Solnit
via Zoom x Youtube

Renowned writer, historian, activist, and author of titles such as Men Explain Thing to Me, Call Them By Their True Names (Winner of the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction), and 2020’s Recollections of My Nonexistence Rebecca Solnit sheds light on how she faces the Climate Crisis dead-on in her everyday life and her work. Registration required.

Tuesday, September 21, 6pm EDT
Unfolding Futures
Ken Liu, Karen Lord, Moderated By Amy Brady
via Zoom x Youtube

Authors Ken Liu and Karen Lord speak on the role of science fiction in painting decolonized future narratives. In their writing through the lens of science, engineering, and technology as well as cultural and intuitive bodies of knowledge. This conversation will be moderated by writer and journalist Amy Brady. Registration required.

Wednesday, September 22, 2pm EDT
Structures of Consumption
Sria Chatterjee, Nandita Sharma, Gaye Chan, Moderated By Radhika Subramaniam
via Zoom x Youtube

Art historian and environmental humanities scholar Sria Chatterjee will be in conversation with Sociology scholar Nandita Sharma, and conceptual artist and food-access activist Gaye Chan of Eating In Public. The conversation, moderated by curator and writer Radhika Subramaniam, will be discussing the throughline of movement and mobility in postcolonial visual culture as it develops alongside the climate-changed future. Registration required.

Thursday, September 23, 12pm EDT
Reconstruction & Deconstruction
Billy Fleming, Doris Sung, Moderated By Austin Wade Smith
via Zoom x Youtube

Architecture educators Billy Fleming and Doris Sung will be combining their experiences to talk about ways of reconstructing architectural education and Architecture Studios around climate policy and the Green New Deal. This conversation will be moderated by architect and Cooper Professor Austin Wade Smith. Registration required.

Saturday, September 25, 6-10pm EDT
CUSAP x Climate Week Closing Celebration
41 Cooper Sq. Alumni Roof Terrace 

Paul Garrin AR'82 will discuss smart local energy solutions for the Lower East Side centering around avoided costs, retrofitting, and microgrids, based on a practice he calls “Ecolibrium” This will be followed by a celebration of Climate week, and Cooper’s climate initiatives with music, vegan food, and a plant raffle hosted by CUSAP, as well as a natural dyes activity/ workshop hosted by BioArt lab. Bring your clothes, fabric, or paper to dye, or use some of our second-hand finds. Registration required.