Schedule

09:00–09:30

IUSB Auditorium

Welcome & Sign-In

Opening welcome from conference founder Elena Krueper, IUSB representatives, and local officials. Includes remarks from the South Bend sustainability director and invited civic guests.

09:30–11:00

IUSB Classrooms

Workshop 1: Environmental Hot Topics

Breakout sessions covering biodiversity, data centers and AI implications, environmental law and policy, and a student poster walk-through. Students choose one topic area to explore in depth.

11:00–12:30

IUSB Classrooms

Workshop 2: Food for Thought

Sessions on climate psychology (addressing eco-anxiety and climate grief), media literacy and fact-based journalism in the age of social media, and diversifying the environmental narrative through Indigenous and environmental literature perspectives.

12:30–13:30

IUSB Dining Area

Catered Lunch & Networking

Catered lunch for all high school students and guests, with an extended poster session. Student reporters begin drafting feature story ideas while networking with IU faculty and environmental experts.

13:30–15:00

IUSB Classrooms

Workshop 3: Pick Your Medium

Students choose a storytelling medium to work in: short film production, photojournalism, or written journalism. Each session is led by a working journalist or YEPT leader.

15:00–16:00

IUSB Auditorium

Story Pitch Session

Students pitch their story ideas to a panel of journalists and professors in a friendly pitch contest. Winning pitches are selected for mentorship and potential publication.

16:00–17:00

IUSB Common Area

Optional Reception & Interview Hour

An optional closing reception where students can conduct interviews with local environmental experts and journalists, network with IU students, and follow up with workshop leaders.