Symposium on Sustainability

The Symposium on Sustainability is an annual event held each February dedicated to the celebration and showcasing of ISU student, faculty and staff sustainability commitment, initiatives and accomplishments.

Iowa State University's Live Green Initiative provides a call to action to all students, faculty and staff to be fully committed and engaged in ensuring our next sustainable decade. Through our actions and decisions regarding our campus, its operations and initiatives we can make efforts to support our next sustainable decade.
 
Initiated in 2009, the Symposium on Sustainability features a keynote speaker highlighting excellence nationally and/or internationally in environmental, economic or social sustainability. Accompanying the Symposium is the annual Sustainapalooza event. Spearheaded by The Green Umbrella student organization, Sustainapalooza offers interactive GIY "Green-It-Yourself" Centers, opportunities to explore and pledge individual sustainability commitment, sustainably-minded giveaways, as well as local food and food ingredient refreshments. A poster and tabling reception highlights each years event, showcasing campus and community dedication to and engagement in sustainability, as well as offering opportunities for dialogue and connections. Each year’s event also features additional opportunities for education, engagement and empowerment either through panel discussions, documentary screenings or dialogue sessions.

2026 Symposium on Sustainability

The 2026 Symposium on Sustainability was held March 2-3, 2026 in Memorial Union.

To view photos from the event visit our photo gallery.

Thank you for attending Sustainapalooza!

Symposium Overview

The 2026 Symposium on Sustainability celebrated the sustainability efforts and initiatives taking place within our campus community focusing on supporting and nurturing enablement and empowerment toward a sustainable future that extends into the Ames community, as well as communities across the state and throughout the world. Features of this year’s event included a keynote speaker, sustainability tabling and art exhibits and the accompanying multi-faceted, interactive event, Sustainapalooza.

Keynote Speaker

This year's speaker was Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert, TV personality, speaker and author of the book No New Things.

For more information visit the ISU Lectures Program page.

Sustainability Tabling and Artwork / Research Exhibit

Thank you to all those who participated in Sustainapalooza! To view photos of the event visit our photo gallery.

Artists

  • Shanzida Akter
  • Mariana Castro Azpíroz
  • Josie Baker
  • Mia Balong
  • Russell Brummer
  • Jiin Chang
  • Nicky Christensen
  • Trevor Collins
  • Ruadhri Deans
  • Rebecca Maria Dias
  • Adeline Heilman
  • Ana Orescanin
  • Marzieh Poorbarfehi
  • Kephren Pritchett
  • Ni Zhang

Tabling Organizations

  • Alliance for Disability Awareness
  • Alpha Kappa Psi
  • Ames Climate Action Team
  • Ames Campus Lions
  • Ames Public Library 
  • Ames Seed Library
  • City of Ames
  • Culinary Food Science Club
  • Engineers for a Sustainable world 
  • Engineering Student Council
  • EcoTips
  • Eco Theater Lab
  • Food at First
  • Good Earth Student Farm
  • Graduate Society of Women Engineers
  • Green AmeriCorps  
  • Green Umbrella
  • International Association of Students in Agriculture  
  • International Student Council
  • ISU Custodial Services
  • ISU Dining
  • ISU Horticulture Club
  • ISU Organic and Urban Ag Program
  • MFA Program and Creative Writing Program 
  • Mustard Seed Farm Community Garden
  • Overflow
  • PRISUM Solar Car
  • Red Cross Club
  • REFORM
  • Reiman Gardens
  • SLOSS Center
  • Story County Conservation
  • Student Government Sustainability Committee 
  • Sustainable Ag Student Association (SASA)
  • United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
  • Wind Energy Student Association
  • Zoo, Exotic, and Wildlife Club 

Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability

Congratulations to our Live Green Awards for Excellence in Sustainability recipients Elizabeth Smith and Tatiana Twedt.