EC Climate Teach-In Engaged Campus, Community in Climate Solutions

Author: Martha Lemak '27, Elmira College

As the College prepares for the 2027 Climate Teach-In in March, organizers reflected on the continued growth of the Teach-In.

“Climate change is something that we take very seriously,” reflected Dr. Kelly Smith, Associate Professor of Environmental Science.

“We live in an area with a lot of water and a lot of mountains, with the potential for major storms and a lot of runoff,” she explained. “We also live in an area that is experiencing increased heat, which can be a stressor for our ecosystem and our people.”

These local environmental concerns were among the topics students, faculty, staff, and community members discussed during the fifth annual Elmira College Climate Teach-In event held on March 18, 2026.

Based on the increasing attendance at the annual event, it appears that many in the region are similarly serious about climate change and finding climate solutions. Attendance at the 2026 March Teach-In was the highest it’s ever been, amplifying the event's impact on campus and the broader Elmira community.

EC students, faculty, staff, alumni, community members, and a large number of students from area school districts attended discussion panels, interacted with hands-on displays and experiments, and contributed to the painting of a climate-themed mural in the campus’s coffee shop. Discussion session topics included religious perspectives, impacts on athletics and public health, and a climate-related production from the EC Theatre Department.

This year, the event attracted multiple local sponsors, including The Park Church, Community Arts of Elmira, and Trane®, a global company in the manufacturing of air conditioning and heating systems and a leading presence in sustainability.

Part of the advantage of the Teach-In is that it is interdisciplinary, which faculty and students appreciated.

“I like the Climate Teach-In because it is a topic that is important for all of our students, regardless of their major or their future career plans, but it’s not something they’re guaranteed to learn about in their classes,” explained Dr. Doc Billingsley, Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Sustainability program. “This is an opportunity every year for them to see how their plans might be shaped by our changing climate, and it’s good because it’s not just all the doom and gloom you hear about on the news, but there are some practical things we could do right now to make a difference.”

“As someone who goes to a liberal arts school, I feel like caring about the climate is almost inherent, and we need more awareness about it, especially in the current time that we’re in,” shared Gargi Gupta ’28, a Biology major in Elmira College’s accelerated six-year BS to DO program.

Additionally, attendees who live in the area appreciated how a number of the demonstrations were focused specifically on the climate of Elmira.

“The Climate Teach-In is important to me not just as an Elmira College employee but as a lifelong resident of Elmira,” said Sarah Vallely, Coordinator of Career Services and Career Education at EC. “It’s important because our students and the young students that we have visiting our campus get the chance to see the College actively participating in the improvement of our local and global environment, and voicing their concerns and recognizing that their concerns are heard.”

Given EC’s role in the local community’s architecture, economy, and culture, it is clear that the more EC can model sustainability education and sustainable policies, the greater its impact will be felt on campus and in the local community.