STCC ‘Sustainathon’ to feature climate talk by former NASA astronaut

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College will celebrate Earth Day 2022 with a virtual “Sustainathon” that connects students with scientists, including former astronaut and Western Massachusetts resident Dr. Cady Coleman.

The annual Sustainathon at STCC allows students to focus on environmental awareness, hear from renowned speakers and share research from STEM classes. The only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a range of classes and programs focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Zoom event from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on April 13 is free and open to the public. Coleman, a former U.S. Air Force colonel and retired NASA astronaut, will speak about climate change. She has spent more than 180 days in space accumulated during two space shuttle missions and a six month expedition to the International Space Station. Coleman earned a Ph.D. degree in polymer science and engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

STCC President John B. Cook will offer welcoming remarks. Other speakers include:

• Kumble R. Subbaswamy, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, chancellor, who will deliver the keynote address
• Trisha Andrew, associate professor in chemistry at UMass who will speak about renewable energy
• Bill McKibben, an author and recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award
• Ron St. Amand, director of science for high schools in Springfield Public Schools

Participating in the Sustainathon was a good experience for someone like me. I would normally not be able to do this type of research until later on. Salman Nadeem, STCC student

Also during the event, high school student Sustainathon competition winners will present their research projects.

The event will be streamed into Springfield public high school classrooms. Nearly 1,000 people have registered for the Sustainathon, which also draws viewers from other countries.

STCC student Benjamin Lockwood, 20, of Agawam, who plans to attend the event, participated in last year’s Sustainathon. He presented research he gathered while enrolled in the STCC Citizen Science Program, taught through the STEM Starter Academy.

“We were taught everything about how citizens can converge into being scientists,” Lockwood said. “We were taught a lot of different vocabulary, research methods and many things we could use to apply to what we did in our projects.”

Lockwood, who is studying biology at STCC, plans to transfer to a four-year institution. He hopes to eventually be accepted into a pre-med program and one day become a doctor.

“Participating in the Sustainathon was a good experience for someone like me,” he said. “I would normally not be able to do this type of research until later on.”

The Sustainathon focuses on the critical issues of climate crisis awareness and climate action.

“It’s very important for students like myself to be exposed to climate issues, because we are going to be (experiencing the effects of) climate change later on in life,” Lockwood said. “We can apply what we are learning to our own fields.”

Lockwood serves as a Supplemental Instruction leader at STCC. In that role, he works with class faculty and students to provide peer tutoring. He said the SI program and Sustainathon are examples of how STCC offers an enriching experience.  

“STCC is a very good community college,” he said. “It’s affordable, and I appreciate the diversity. Every course has a wide range of people you can connect with, and all the professors are very accommodating.”

Lockwood thanked STCC Assistant Professor Reena Randhir from Biological Sciences for supporting him and other students in their research projects.

Randhir, who is organizing the Sustainathon, said the event offers an exciting opportunity for students and the public to hear about climate change, renewable energy and other pressing environmental issues.

“STCC's Sustainathon event is to bring our community, students – who are our future leaders – and scientists together to celebrate Earth Day 2022 and to create awareness of current Environmental Sustainability challenges and solutions,” Randhir said.

Another STCC student who will attend the event, Salman Nadeem of Springfield, said it’s important for events like Sustainathon to remind everyone to do their part to protect the environment.

“I try not to waste water when taking showers or cleaning my hands. I don’t want to waste anything. I try to recycle,” Nadeem said. “Learning is the best skill we can have as humans, and putting those skills to use in the real world to help other people is what will help us find fulfillment in our lives.”

For more information and to join the Sustainathon on April 13, visit stcc.io/sustainathon.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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