In partnership with the Colleges of the Fenway Center for Sustainability and the Environment, the MMOC co-hosted the Annual Muddy River Symposium at Simmons University on April 8th. The event was so well attended that extra seating needed to be brought in. John Rogers, Associate Director for Energy Analytics for the Union of Concerned Scientists, energized the room with a call for student engagement and activism to counter the uncertainties of the environmental moment.
This year’s student poster exhibition was extraordinarily inspiring, with research ranging from “greener” diabetes treatment options and lithium-hydrogen converter technology to the impact of road salting on the salinity levels of the Muddy River.
Of special note was the Second Annual Frances Allou Gershwin Local Social Action Award, named in honor of former MMOC Chair Fran Gershwin. This year’s winning COF Sustainability Hub winners included Ella Poor (Emmanuel College), Madison Williams (Simmons University), Felicity Gonzalez (Wentworth Institute of Technology), Lily Cohen (Wentworth), and Katie Kranz (Wentworth):
“This Sustainability Hub aims to develop a comprehensive informational section on the COF website, designed to support students and the public in connecting with environmental initiatives in the Greater Boston area. The Hub will provide essential resources on student involvement, local food banks, food security organizations, outdoor spaces, community gardens, urban farming, and environmental organizations beyond the Colleges of the Fenway. The goal is to offer a user-friendly platform that helps students navigate opportunities for environmental engagement, particularly those who may feel uncertain about where to start in a new urban environment. This initiative stems from the challenges we, as freshman, faced in finding relevant resources to connect with the local environmental community. By consolidating this information in one accessible location, we hope the Hub will serve as a valuable tool for current and future students at COF who wish to become more involved in environmental issues and initiatives. Additionally, it aims to foster a sense of community and collaboration among students and local organizations. The hope is that this resource will not only enhance students’ understanding of the environmental landscape in Boston but also inspire greater participation in sustainable practices and environmental activism. Ultimately, this project strives to create a more informed, connected, and proactive student body, better equipped to contribute to environmental causes both on and off our campuses.”
Photos: Jack Tan
