Brief Description: The Biosphere Residential Program is home to all residents that have an interest in how people interact with the world around them. By exploring Penn, the greater Philadelphia area and beyond, we seek to gain a better understanding of our role within the ecosystem. We run exciting, “environmentally-flavored” events like hiking, canoeing and skiing that grant residents a greater appreciation of the natural world and we invite speakers from Penn and the greater Philadelphia area to talk about sustainability and environment-related topics.  For the 2017-2018 academic year, we are proud to announce an increased interest in the Biosphere residential program.

The Biosphere Summit is our biggest event of the year, welcoming everyone at Penn, especially undergraduates with a budding interest in the environment. To commemorate the Year of Innovation, we seek to invite pioneers and experts in the field of environmental innovation and technology, such as the designer of Cira Center, managers of the Philadelphia Park Commission as well as leading Penn environmental researchers such as Howard Neukrug among others. We are firm believers that the best way to improve our environment is through innovations in technology. As such, the Biosphere Summit coupled with the Year of Innovation grants us a rare and exciting opportunity to discuss these topics with undergraduates who have incredible potential.

The Summit will begin with a brief introduction of the Biosphere Program, followed by 4 guest speakers giving 15-minute, TED-style talks and 5-minute Q&A sessions, and concluding with a catered dinner where attendees will be able to speak to the experts in a more casual setting. We hope to engage with and educate the audience about the environmental innovations that will eventually become a necessary element of the integrated human biosphere.