My experience of presenting at a Sustainability Conference
At just 17 years old, I had the incredible opportunity to present at the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS) 2024 conference.
My journey with AESS started in my sophomore year when I joined with little direction or ambition to contribute. However, writing these blogs and chairing an in-school Environmental Initiative has equipped me with the confidence and versatility to make an environmental impact. Hence, I was delighted when I received an email in my inbox announcing a “call for proposals” for the 2024 AESS Virtual Conference.
Applying to present
Without hesitation, I opened the email and began writing my proposal idea. That’s because I already had an idea planted in my head, especially after presenting it to a room of 128 SEASAC athletes. What was my proposal? I hear you ask. First, here is the link to the speech in case you missed that, and second, my idea was: Digital Decluttering. Posting a blog about Digital Decluttering before helped me back my expertise and fill in a daring proposal: “Digital decluttering is largely unknown, possibly to AESS as well.” In my proposal, I also outlined my presentation while incorporating snippets of engaging facts:
“Assuming there are 200 people in the conference, 500GB of cloud storage is enough to charge everyone’s phone here for a year”
As a reader, in case you are unaware of the issue of digital decluttering, here is my Proposal’s description highlighting its contemporary significance:
“Especially due to the rise of AI, we need data servers to store our data/files/media. What is often overlooked is that these servers operate on electricity, generated from non-renewables, therefore, emitting CO2. A 5-minute declutter of your iCloud, Google Drive, and mail can reduce your carbon footprint.”
The Thrill of Acceptance and Preparation
Surprise and Nervousness! That’s how I remember it - I had almost forgotten I applied until I received this email.
The email also let me know the presentation format was a 5-minute Lightning Talk. I knew I had to make every second count.
In my initial brainstorm, I jotted down a hook to grab the audience’s attention, and then the key points that would fit into the five-minute slot. This involved distilling complex ideas into bite-sized, impactful statements. Then, I headed onto Canva and created visuals on a slideshow to complement the words, creating an impactful presentation while keeping it simple. Lastly, practice makes perfect. School was ending and with a few days to follow, I started timing myself while refining my delivery.
Overall, this 3 step process which seems rather intuitive prepared me well. Especially as an IB student, where time management is key, this kept me organized and made preparation feel like a breeze.
Presentation Day (aka D-Day)
1:00 am in the night: Revising my concluding statement while secretly wearing my pajamas under the desk, I knew I signed up for this. I set aside negative thoughts. I reminded myself they accepted me despite my young age, I could not let this stop me. As I waited for the speakers in my section called “Education for Sustainability II” to finish presenting, I set a prayer to the image of Guru Gobind Singh (a Sikh Guru) in my room to provide me with Courage and Success in my presentation. Within moments, I felt a sense of relief. I was at ease with my nerves. In retrospect, I deeply appreciate the religious and spiritual roots that keep me grounded through life’s obstacles.
My MacBook in the top right read 1:25 AM. The session head announced my name. I unmuted my mic. “Thank you, everyone, for gathering here today. I am truly humbled to present the issue of digital decluttering.” I caught a nod from the session head. I shared my screen and started the presentation. But, it was not without a hiccup. In presenting my second slide, I accidentally closed the slideshow. First, this 10-second break felt uncomfortable, but I quickly remembered my affirm in Guru Gobind Singh, prompting me to laugh and apologize lightheartedly. I continued with the presentation and received a virtual Zoom applause at the end.
I had just learned a lot more than being nervous. I had just presented alongside 3 university professors and a Senior Advisor for Sustainability Education. Not to mention, the Q&A section was weirdly extremely informative about environmental sustainability majors, hence, I learned about college straight from a Georgetown professor too!
I thanked everyone again. Others thanked me. The meeting ended. I closed my laptop and smiled at the photo of the Sikh Guru. I could sleep content.
Reflections and Advice (no matter your age)
When presenting, choose a topic that you back yourself with.
a. Visuals matter.
Use the 3 step-preparation, it is key.
Partaking in events relating to your passions, the benefits might surprise you.
Young age is motivation.
Bonus: I was elected a Board Member of AESS!
A delightful surprise. So far, I held back that while applying for the 2024 AESS Virtual Conference, I also applied for a Board Position at AESS. This was an ambitious jump from my position in the Development Committee where we raised USD 2000 for this conference I presented in. But, against all odds, I was elected by the AESS community to become a Board Member of AESS, a significant leadership role!
With this positive news, I conclude the 4th version of the EcoBizBlog. The past few months have been active with sustainable efforts and can’t wait to update you with more insights this summer! ;)
Additional links:
The Conference Agenda (I’m on June 20): https://site.pheedloop.com/event/2024AESS/schedule
My Election as an AESS Board Member: https://aessonline.org/aess-leadership-elections/#1682871394509-bd0b020a-38b8
