Forty students from Union College’s Environmental Action Media Lab will present their films in a sustainable banquet at Proctors’ GE Theater in Schenectady on Tuesday, March 6 at 5:30 p.m.
The event will showcase student work from the Environmental Action Media Lab, an interdisciplinary film studies course in which students create films to inform audiences about environmental issues and persuade them to take action.
"The Environmental Action Media Lab has allowed us to have passionate and meaningful conversations with like-minded people about pressing environmental problems, including problems that are not necessarily common knowledge,” said political science major Paige Tepke ’18. “We were then given the opportunity to creatively shed some much-needed light on environmental issues.”
President Stephen C. Ainlay will speak at the event and the mayor of Schenectady is expected to attend. Another 350 attendees are estimated to be present at the banquet, which will leave a minimal environmental footprint and serve a vegetarian dinner catered by local sustainably-sourced restaurants.
Students will present a firm action plan that the attendees will participate in.
“I’m taking this course to help persuade people to take their own action to protect the Earth, no matter how minuscule it may be” said Cameron Bechtold ‘20, an environmental science major.
Film Studies Professor James de Sève’s course focuses on teaching students filmmaking and storytelling techniques. The course material is augmented by fields trips and lectures given by guest speakers relating to environmental issues. The course is comprised of students from across the disciplines, including film studies, environmental science, and a variety of other programs.
“As an environmental science major, I have a lot of knowledge about environmental issues and a lot of tips on how to live more sustainably,” said Kira Wilson ‘20. “Taking this class gives me the platform to share my knowledge.”
For more information about the event or the Environmental Action Media Lab, please contact Professor James de Sève (desevej@union.edu).