The 2015 Sustainability Solutions Festival schedule of events taking place in Phoenix, AZ February 16-21. All events are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. All events subject to change.
Monday, February 16
Sustainability Family Day 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Arizona Science Center 600 E Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85004
What innovative solution will you discover? Bring your family and friends to enjoy hands-on activities and special sustainability solutions presentations by ASU scientists at Arizona Science Center. Discover how you can make your community a better place and begin to (re)imagine the world you want to live in. General admission to Arizona Science Center is required. Elementary school students can win free tickets through our contest with Bear Essential News for Kids.
Tuesday, February 17
GreenBiz Forum 2015 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. JW Marriott Camelback Inn 5402 E Lincoln Dr Scottsdale, AZ 85253
A shared sustainable future is all about the power of partnerships—internal, external, supply chain, NGO, public-private and more. The tasks are simply too big to go it alone. The 2015 GreenBiz Forum brings together vast networks, insights and domain expertise to bring you the brightest thinkers and most influential leaders. You’ll get an unparalleled in-depth look at the key challenges and opportunities facing sustainable business today. The Forum is framed by the annual State of Green Business report, the eighth annual edition of GreenBiz’s acclaimed accounting of key sustainability metrics and trends. The Forum begins Tuesday with workshops featuring The Sustainability Consortium and an opening address by ASU President Michael Crow.
GreenBiz University Forum 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Wrigley Hall, Room 481 Arizona State University, Tempe campus
The high-wattage expertise of the 2015 GreenBiz Forum comes to ASU for a special shadow conference that will allow students, faculty, staff and friends of the ASU community exclusive access to sustainability experts working on projects that are impacting our world now. Gain unique perspectives on the challenges and solutions these leaders and thinkers are engaging in. You will hear from global influencers including Ron Gonen, CEO and Co-Founder of the Closed Loop Fund; Stephen Ritz, Educator at the Green Bronx Machine; and Carter Roberts, President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund.
The Emmy-award winning documentary, Chasing Ice , follows nature photographer James Balong in the Artic as he captures images for National Geographic that tell the story of the Earth’s changing climate. Within months of the first trip, Balong conceived the boldest expedition of his life: The Extreme Ice Survey. With a band of young adventurers in tow, Balong began deploying revolutionary time-lapse cameras across the brutal Arctic to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. His hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate. Chasing Ice depicts a photographer trying to deliver evidence and hope to our carbon-powered planet.
Film Screening: If You Build It 7 – 9 p.m. Student Union, ASU Polytechnic campus 7001 E Williams Field Rd Mesa, AZ 85212
If You Build It follows teachers/designers/activists Emily Pilloton and Matthew Miller to rural Bertie County, the poorest in North Carolina, where they work with local high school students to help transform both their community and their lives. Pilloton and Miller lead their students through a year-long, full-scale design and build project that does much more than just teach basic construction skills: it shows ten teenagers the power of design-thinking to re-invent not just their town but their own sense of what’s possible.
Wednesday, February 18
GreenBiz Forum 2015 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. JW Marriott Camelback Inn 5402 E Lincoln Dr Scottsdale, AZ 85253
On the second day of the GreenBiz Forum, expert sustainability leaders will share their “one big idea” regarding everything from supply chains and the purpose economy to employee engagement and social innovation. Stick around for additional presentations on the power of social media, leadership lessons and sustainability branding and strategies. You also won’t want to miss a special announcement of the 2015 Sustainability Solutions Festival. Be sure to register and join us for the Sustainability Solutions Celebration taking place at the Desert Botanical Garden after the Forum.
GreenBiz University Forum 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Wrigley Hall, Room 481 Arizona State University, Tempe campus
The high-wattage expertise of the 2015 GreenBiz Forum comes to ASU for a special shadow conference that will allow students, faculty, staff and friends of the ASU community exclusive access to sustainability experts working on projects that are impacting our world now. Gain unique perspectives on the challenges and solutions these leaders and thinkers are engaging in. You will hear from global influencers including Ron Gonen, CEO and Co-Founder of the Closed Loop Fund; Stephen Ritz, Educator at the Green Bronx Machine; and Carter Roberts, President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund.
Sustainability Solutions Celebration 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. Desert Botanical Garden 1201 N Galvin Pkwy Phoenix, AZ 85008
Revel in the spirit of sustainability while enjoying the tastes, smells and landscapes of the world-renowned Desert Botanical Garden, where winners of the ASU Rob and Melani Walton Sustainability Solutions Awards will be recognized for their creative thinking and extraordinary solutions. This special engagement of the Sustainability Solutions Festival will include live performances and the introduction of the Sustainability Solutions Tour at the Desert Botanical Garden.
Thursday, February 19
GreenBiz Forum 2015 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. JW Marriott Camelback Inn 5402 E Lincoln Dr Scottsdale, AZ 85253
The final day of the GreenBiz Forum will break out into specific sessions covering real-world sustainability applications like energy efficiency and performance measurement. The Forum closes with a special end-cap presentation that will summarize every topic covered and answer the question, “What do I do on Monday?” Check out
GreenBiz University Forum 11:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Wrigley Hall, Room 481 Arizona State University, Tempe campus
The high-wattage expertise of the 2015 GreenBiz Forum comes to ASU for a special shadow conference that will allow students, faculty, staff and friends of the ASU community exclusive access to sustainability experts working on projects that are impacting our world now. Gain unique perspectives on the challenges and solutions these leaders and thinkers are engaging in. You will hear from global influencers including Ron Gonen, CEO and Co-Founder of the Closed Loop Fund; Stephen Ritz, Educator at the Green Bronx Machine; and Carter Roberts, President and CEO of the World Wildlife Fund.
Ignite@ASU 6 – 9 p.m. A.E. England Building Downtown campus, Arizona State University
Ignite your imagination by hearing people from across our community share their visions of (re)imagining our world. Community members will pitch their solutions to sustainability challenges during captivating five-minute visual presentations.
Pump is an inspiring, eye-opening documentary that tells the story of America’s addiction to oil, from Standard Oil’s illegal tactics to the monopoly oil companies enjoy today. The film explains clearly and simply how we can end this monopoly and finally win choice at the pump. Pump shows us how making a variety of replacement fuels widely available to consumers will reduce fuel prices across the board. Diversifying the market with replacement fuels that are cheaper, cleaner and American-made will also create jobs, strengthen the economy at home and promote stability abroad. The film features experts like John Hofmeister, former President of Shell Oil Co. and ASU Senior Sustainability Scientist; Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors, Inc.; Peter Goldmark, former president of the Rockefeller Foundation; and other noteworthy figures who share their passionate views and knowledge.
Join us for a free screening of the critically acclaimed documentary Carbon Nation, a film directed by Peter Byck, ASU professor of communication and sustainability. Carbon Nation is an inspirational, optimistic, non-partisan film that celebrates sustainable solutions and inspires action. Carbon Nation will be followed by the screenings of four new short films including:
- Soil Carbon Cowboys by Peter Byck
- Water Rainglers by Thomas Hawthorne, Ren Andres and Philemon Henry
- Garden City by EJ Hernandez, Aidan Cooney, Chris Smith and Vianka Villa
- Water Bottle Video by EJ Hernandez and Thomas Hawthorne
Friday, February 20
Chandler Science Spectacular Art Walk 6 – 10 p.m. Downtown Chandler
Technology meets the arts as Downtown Chandler transforms its monthly Third Friday Art Walk into a creative look at the science behind the food and drink, beauty, art and invention around us. Explore a special exhibit featuring works of art that consider sustainability through its subject matter as well as its materials, and participate in discussions, exhibits, hands-on activities, shows and tours.
Saturday, February 21
Explore your global footprint by learning the journey of a shoe, how to cultivate your own food from your home and (re)imagine what the Valley of the Sun could be during this community event. The Civic Space Park in the heart of downtown Phoenix will come alive with performances by the time-traveling theater troupe Blue Bike Gang, music from local bands and sustainable lifestyle demonstrations from area organizations. Get a prize if you bike, walk, ride the bus or light rail, bring an electronic item to recycle and/or donate unwanted clothes and shoes at our Goodwill tent at the event.