The Our Planet in Focus lecture series invites lifelong learners to explore some of the most pressing environmental questions of our time. Through engaging, accessible talks, the series examines the intersections of climate, culture, oceanic change, and sustainability — locally and globally.
Presented in collaboration with the Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, the series brings together scientists, researchers, educators, and practitioners from across disciplines. Speakers draw on real-world research, policy insights, and lived experience to offer multiple perspectives on how environmental challenges affect communities, ecosystems, and future generations.
Designed for curious minds rather than specialists, Our Planet in Focus encourages thoughtful reflection, informed conversation, and a deeper understanding of our shared responsibility for the planet we call home.
Workshop DetailsWHEN: Mondays, 10:15 am –11:30 pm WHERE: Stony Brook Union Auditorium WHO: Current OLLI members who selected the workshop with their Spring 2026 registration. Others are welcome to attend individual sessions on a space-available basis. |
| Date | Title | Presenter(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2/9/2026 | The Fukushima disaster, and what you probably don't know about radioactivity in our seafood | Nick Fisher |
| 2/16/2026 | Too Many Ways to Help: How to Promote Climate Change Mitigation Behaviors | Reuben Kline |
| 2/23/2026 | Sustainability at SBU | Erin Kluge |
| 3/2/2026 | Assessing Sustainable Energy Solutions to Climate Remediation | Stanislaus Wong |
| 3/9/2026 | Storytelling Climate Solutions | J.D. Allen |
| 3/23/2026 | Assessing Risk and Regulating Human Exposure to Environmental Contaminants | Jaymie Meliker |
| 4/6/2026 | Conservation Happens in a Place, From a Place, Rooted in History | Luis Medina |
| 4/13/2026 | The Long Lives of Things: Beach Trash Stories | Joe Labriola and Kristina Lucenko |
| 4/20/2026 | Shellfish Health in a Changing Environment: Can They/We Adapt? | Bassem Allam |
| 4/27/2026 | I Like Exciting Things About Climate Change | Paul Shepson |
Presenters
About Collaborative for the Earth
Collaborative for the Earth (C4E) unites the campus community, cultivating conversation about climate, energy and environment.
Through large-scale events, lectures and roundtable discussions, C4E operates as a networking hub for climate and environmental scholarship.
Educating through experiential learning and off-campus field trips, we are working together to tackle the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
As the anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange, we are at the forefront of environmental and climate research, education and innovation — developing solutions that will shape a sustainable future for Long Island, New York and the Earth.