Sustainability symposium returns March 2-3

The 2026 Symposium on Sustainability, hosted by the university's Live Green initiative, will be held March 2-3 in the Memorial Union.

Events begin Monday evening, March 2. Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert, TV personality and author, will present the keynote address, "Not Buying It: How to Fight Our Urge for Overconsumption," at 6 p.m. in the MU Sun Room. The University Book Store will sell copies of her two books, including 2025's "No New Things: A Radically Simple 30-Day Guide to Saving Money, the Planet and Your Sanity."

Recipients of the calendar year 2025 Live Green Excellence Award will be announced prior to Piper's talk.

The annual Sustainapalooza event returns on Tuesday, March 3 (5-8 p.m., MU Great Hall). "Acting Today, Impacting Tomorrow, Sustaining Forever" is a come-and-go event with opportunities for education and action through activities, a clothing swap, four Green-It-Yourself venues, a sustainability art and research exhibit and networking with sustainability-connected campus and community organizations. The ISU Repair Café will be open, where volunteers repair non-working small electronics, clothing, accessories and jewelry. Enjoy local food refreshments, sustainably minded prizes and music from KURE 88.5.

Plan ahead on a few ways to participate at Sustainapalooza:

• Donate your gently used clothing for the event clothing swap. Donations can be dropped into collection boxes in the University Library, General Services Building or residence halls, or brought to the event. For every item donated, a "new to you" item can be chosen at the event. Visitors without items to donate still can shop. Bring two non-perishable food items for The SHOP or $2 for a "new to you" item (five food items or $5 gets you three clothing items).
• Donate gently used bras to support the Iowa chapter of I Support the Girls. Donations can be dropped in collection boxes in the General Services Building or residence halls.
• Donate your gently used fleece blankets. These will be resized and participants will make tie-blankets for the residents of the Ames Animal Shelter.
• Volunteer online to help set up or tear down the event.  

Questions may be directed to ISU sustainability director, Merry Rankin.