The Grand Rapids RCE introduced an initiative to host an annual Youth Virtual Conference on Sustainability related issues. For the past 2 years they have successfully connected schools from eight countries on three continents in real time to present and discuss issues pertaining to sustainability such as water and food systems.

The 3rd Annual Youth Virtual Conference will again be organised by RCE Grand Rapids and this year’s topic is Energy Systems and Sustainability. 

In February or March, 2016 (to be determined via Doodle poll to avoid conflict with school calendars), multiple secondary schools (ages 14-19) from RCE cities across the world will be linked in a four hour, peer-education symposium. Each class/student group will present their research on a sustainability related energy issues of interest to them and their region.

The following RCE cities have participated in the past and/or have expressed interest in participating again: Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, Portland, Oregon, United States
Curitiba, Brazil, Kerkrade (Rhine-Meuse), Netherlands, Lima-Callao, Peru, Bogotá, Columbia (Colegio Montessori in Medellin, Columbia), Nairobi, Kenya, and finally Saskatchewan, Canada.

The benefits of this conference are many and include the following objectives:
(1) Create a global learning community in order to understand the complex issues of sustainability 

(2) Develop a skills set of collaboration, communication and problem solving among bright young people

(3) Understand how local actions have a global impact

Please review the attached documentation and complete the Doodle Poll in the associated e-mail link. Please return the registration form by email the latest by October 14th, 2015.

Completing this form requires your selecting a school and classroom(s) to participate. Attached is an Abstract of the Virtual Conference, a Registration Form and a Project Guide for each teacher to use/modify when preparing their students.
Please note you will need to be available for a Blackboard Collaborate Technology Test to be scheduled upon registration. The “Blackboard” technology used is very robust and will adapt well to the format used during the conference. However, the
hardest part of any virtual event is to ensure that the technology works well for all participants; so one to two tests will be done in advance. Pease visit www.GrandRapidsRCE.org for details and videos from previous YVCs and return to. Information will be updated on the website in due course.

Please contact grandrapidsrce@gmail.com if you have any questions.

The registration form can be downloaded here. The abstract on Energy can be found here.