SALON
Building a Sustainable Future
IN CONJUNCTION WITH
SEEING CLIMATE CHANGE?
at the Benton
The William Benton Museum of Art opens its newest exhibit on Thursday, January 16. Join Guest Curator Robert Thorson, Professor of Earth Sciences at UConn, for a guided walkthrough of the exhibit on Friday, February 16.
Technically, we can’t see climate change because climate is an abstraction, a categorical name for what we expect the weather to be. What we can see are natural phenomena related to climate such as tropical forests, desert dunes, and creeping ice sheets. This exhibition invites you to learn to see the effects of climate change in our daily lives by examining natural phenomena in works of art. How might the scene in a 19th century painting look different today, and how could the scene in a 20th century photograph look different in the future? Curated with Robert Thorson, Professor of Earth Sciences at UConn.
Exhibition highlights include Professor Thorson’s climate primer, which defines six key terms and explains their relationship to climate science through works of art; landscape paintings from 1850-1900, the interval used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a baseline for measuring climate change between “then” and “now”; and a series of Connecticut landscape photographs by James Welling that encourage us to visualize the year 2100.
This exhibit will be on display from January 16 through July 18, 2024
SALON
BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
As we grapple with the challenge of climate change, this panel, aligned with the exhibit Seeing Climate Change?, examines how the next generation is leading the charge of building a more sustainable tomorrow. Highlighting innovative strategies, entrepreneurial approaches, and multidisciplinary perspectives, panelists will discuss the integral role young people play in creating a resilient and equitable future that prioritizes environmental responsibility.
PANELISTS
Julia Ghagare ’26 (BUS)
Enthusiastic about reshaping population habits around overconsumption, Julia is committed to raising awareness on environmental impacts tied to consumer choices. She is a sophomore Marketing major in the UConn Honors Program.
Jonathan Schoelkopf ’25 (BUS)
Jonathan is interested in operations and development within the startup landscape, particularly around culinary and sustainable fashion businesses. A Werth Innovator, he is also an Associate and Onboarding Lead at Hillside Ventures. Jonathan is a junior studying Management & Entrepreneurship.
Kassandra Vazquez-Felipe ’24 (CLAS), ’25 (MA)
Kassandra is deeply passionate about public policy, environmental justice, and civil rights. Her ultimate goal is to drive significant changes in climate change policy and regulations. Kassandra is a senior Environmental Studies major concurrently completing a Master’s in Public Policy.
MODERATOR
Zoey England ’22 (CLAS)
Zoey is currently Chief of Staff at the Werth Institute. Passionate about social and creative entrepreneurship as a catalyst for change, she is also a published journalist, covering topics related to climate change, public health, and social networks. She graduated from UConn with an individualized B.A. in Population Health, Disease, & Policy.
Admission to the Salon is free. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Reception: Assorted Desserts & Coffee/Tea/Punch
RSVP appreciated. (optional)
This event is in collaboration with UConn’s Werth Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
245 Glenbrook Road, Storrs, CT 06269
860.486.4520
Open: Tuesday–Friday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM; Saturday & Sunday 1:00 – 4:00 PM
Note: Food, drink and large bags/backpacks are not allowed in the gallery.
A Coatroom is available for Coats and bags.
ADMISSION:
Admission to the galleries is free.
Donations are appreciated. Suggested donation $5 per person.