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����Ӱҵ East Liverpool’s Environmental Justice Conference was held April 18, but in a remote format that was unlike any previous conference held over the last 15 years.

Through the wonders of technology, this year’s conference was held in a webinar format, allowing presenters and guests to attend from their own personal off-campus locations.

This year’s theme was “ ����ӰҵBirds and ����ӰҵBees,” focusing on the importance of these species to the balance of our environments and the world’s ecosystems.

After months of planning, the conference almost came to a halt once the COVID-19 pandemic hit. ����Ӱҵcommittee members quickly switched gears and refused to cancel the annual event. Instead, they spent hours and hours researching available technology; finding online TED talks to replace scheduled speakers; and encouraging students to participate.

In the end, the remote conference was a huge success and well-attended.

����Ӱҵconference included student presentations; three TED talks about birds and bees; a yoga session that had participants humming like bees (which was great for attendees who were sitting for hours); an open discussion among participants; and the announcement of award winners.

Even though the conference was held in a webinar format, there were 50 attendees; 28 student presentations; 32 poster submissions; 25 paper submissions; and several faculty and staff volunteers.

Student award winners included:

Posters:

Nicole Fazio, first place for “Bees, Our Food System and Human Manipulation;” and Carlye Neaffer, second place for “Climate Change and the Future: ‘ ����ӰҵTalk’ No One Wants to Have.”

There were four honorable mention winners in the poster competition: Derek Firth for “Killer Bees…When Eco-Activism Turns to Eco-Terrorism;” Ashley Krieger for “Poultry: An Environmental Punishment?;” Phillip Martin for “Clipped Wing, Odd Duck, Lucky Fin: A Sociological Analysis of Ableism and the Disability Community Using Animal Metaphors;” and Brooke Thorne for “To Bee of Not to Bee…Afraid.”

English/Cultural Studies Papers:

Victoria Watson, first place for “Blue Jays and Human Ways;” Autumn Leeper, second place for “Bird Feeders and the Culture Around Them: A Common but Lesser-Known Community;” Sydney Pearce, honorable mention for “ ����ӰҵWaggle Dance: Communication, Language and the Difference Between the Two.”

Physical Science/Sociology Papers:

Aaliyah Ruppel, first place for “Sociology of Bird Graffiti;” and Carlye Neaffer for “Climate Change and the Future: ‘ ����ӰҵTalk’ No One Wants to Have.”

Cutline A: Dr. Darryl Hancock, conference committee chair, served as moderator for the Environmental Justice Conference

Cutline B: Attendees participating in a remote format.

Cutline C: TED talks were used as guest speakers for the conference.