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Climate HQ Newsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2: November 2024
For students, faculty, and staff.
Climate HQ was created to empower SF State's diverse students, staff, and faculty to become climate justice leaders. Together, we are training student leaders, fostering collective knowledge, creating empowering events, and transforming our campus to face today's greatest climate challenges.
In this Issue: Spring 2025 course offerings & spotlights, advising info, summer field schools, grad certificate in PK-12 education, internship hiring, faculty learning communities, and upcoming & past events.
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As a collective of students, faculty, and staff committed to climate justice, we know members of our community may be worried or grieving in the wake of the U.S. election results, the fossil fuel capture of COP 29 in Azerbaijan, and ongoing global assaults on people and the planet. We also know that grief and love are deeply connected. As long-time social justice organizer and educator Mariame Kaba writes, "Let this radicalize you rather than lead you to despair."
We need our community, rooted in climate justice and collective liberation, more than ever. We believe everyone has a role to play to confront the climate crisis and reimagine more equitable and sustainable world. We need all aspiring students to lead the way: the activists, organizers, scientists, policymakers, artists, journalists, teachers, storytellers, healers, caretakers, engineers, designers, growers, and more. If you're looking for shared purpose and connection with like-minded people who care like you, Climate HQ is a place for you.
What we are reading & watching:
Daniel Hunter, 10 Ways to Be Prepared and Grounded Now that Trump Has Won
Farhana Sultana, How Do We Combat Climate Colonialism?
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, What If We Get It Right? Visions of Climate Futures
Kelly Hayes, Power Up: Resources for the Road Ahead
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Spring 2025 Enrollments Are Upon Us!
Plan Your Climate Change Certificate Schedule
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Applied Action: Class Spotlight!
Enroll to become a SFSU Climate Ambassador
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Enroll in COMM 675/ENVS 675 today to dig deep into climate justice action!
Open to all majors/minors.
You can but do not need to be pursuing the Climate Change Certificate to enroll.
- Build community on campus.
- Deepen knowledge about climate justice.
- Become a transformative leader.
- Gain job-ready skills.
- Help create hands-on communication projects and campus events.
- Make a meaningful impact!
Pre-Reqs
**Waived for Spring 2025!
Students should have some prior knowledge/experience with climate change and climate justice learning.
Climate Change Certificate
This class fulfills the "Solutions" or "Applied Action" requirements and is an Advanced Climate Justice course. It also doubles as an elective in COMM, ENVS, & other majors/minors (by approval).
Curious? Not sure?
Contact Constance Gordon (cgordon@sfsu.edu) and learn more about the course.
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PHYS 305: Physical and Astronomical Approaches to Climate Change Solutions!
This spring we’re offering a new class, PHYS 305: Physical and Astronomical Approaches to Climate Change Solutions! This class fulfills the GE UD-B and SF State Studies ES requirements. We will dive into the physics and astronomy behind many of the solutions (and non-solutions) for addressing climate change and develop action plans for the future. If you aren’t comfortable with science or math, no problem!
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Need Certificate Advising? | | |
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Climate Change: Causes, Impacts, & Solutions Certificate
Interested in the Climate Change Certificate? Need advising? This unique 13-19 unit program is open to students of any major and is a great way to complete your SF State Studies requirements along with many of your Upper Division and even major requirements too! Students take 5 classes, one in each of the following areas: Foundations; Causes; Impacts; Solutions; and a Practicum course. Students gain an interdisciplinary overview of climate change issues and climate justice too. This is a great way to get started in studies on climate change and is flexible to accommodate students in all majors.
Stay connected with us to learn about upcoming classes in the certificate and speak to any certificate advisor to plan your spring 2025 schedule!
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🌍 Climate HQ is Hiring! 🌱
Events & Earth Week Coordinator!
Apply by December 1st
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SF State students passionate about climate justice and eager to gain hands-on experience in event planning are encouraged to apply for this paid internship for Spring 2025.
In this role, you’ll work closely with campus partners to coordinate Earth Week 2025, organizing events like panel discussions, art showcases, and a film festival.
Join us in creating impactful, educational experiences for our 3rd Annual Earth Week Celebration.
Apply by December 1st to help lead the way toward a more sustainable future!
Join Handshake to Apply
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Faculty Learning Communities
Apply by November 20th
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Faculty members: do you have an interest in incorporating climate change and/or climate justice into your pedagogy? Through SF State’s Climate Justice Leaders Initiative, Climate HQ aims to strengthen climate justice teaching, research and outreach at SF State.
Climate HQ supports climate justice teaching at SF State through Climate Justice Faculty Learning Communities. Modeled on the Center for Equity and Excellence in Teaching and Learning’s Teaching Squares, these communities will meet regularly throughout the semester to support each other and share best practices for teaching and learning focused on climate justice pedagogies.
The Climate HQ Faculty Learning Communities will take place spring 2025. Each should consist of three to six faculty, staff or students. Both interdisciplinary groups and people within departments/disciplines are encouraged to apply.
The communities should meet to work on their project for 10 hours over the course of the semester, using curated resources to create a proposed pedagogy outcome including but not limited to: syllabus change, readings list, assignment/exercise, lecture(s), project-based collaboration between departments, community collaboration and/or organization of a Climate HQ event for campus.
A $500 honorarium is provided. Please apply by Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 5 p.m. For questions, please email Carolina Prado carolinaprado@sfsu.edu and view full call for proposals.
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Announcing Two New Summer Field Course Opportunities in 2025 | |
LS 430
Future of the Forests
Head to Ecuador for three weeks mid-June 2025 and gain class credits! Students will visit the world’s most biodiverse rainforest and cloud forest, see first hand the impacts of oil development, and hear from environmental defenders combating oil and mining projects. This course is part of the Climate Change Certificate and meets many requirements at SF State.
For more information, contact Professor Logan Hennessy (loganh@sfsu.edu), and complete the: Student Interest Survey
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DES/ENVS/LS 312
Climate Issues and Activism
This course will involve a combination of on-campus and field-class in the Sierras. This course will include a one-week visit to the Sierra Nevada Field Campus near Bassets, CA. We look at the impacts of climate change in California’s ecosystems and ecology, and explore several techniques and strategies in using art for activism, and engaging in campaigns.
For more information, contact Professors Saskia van Kampen (saskia@sfsu.edu) and Logan Hennessy (loganh@sfsu.edu), and complete the: Student Interest Survey
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Pursue a Graduate Certificate in
PK-12 Climate Justice Education!
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Prospective graduate students and PK-12 educators!
We are currently recruiting our first cohort of educators to participate in SF State’s Graduate Certificate in Climate Justice Education. This program will bring together experienced educators from schools and community organizations to lead climate justice education efforts in the Bay Area and beyond.
Join us for an online information session on December 3 at
4:00 p.m.
Register here.
View the complete flyer here.
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Upcoming Event
Special Pre-Screening of Climate California!
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Screening will be followed by a discussion panel and free food
Please join Climate HQ and our friends at NorCal Public Media for a very special pre-screening of “The Songs of Strangers,” an episode from their new PBS-funded series, CLIMATE CALIFORNIA followed by a panel discussion with the filmmakers and reception in the lobby of Coppola Theater.
Wednesday, December 11th
6:30-8:00pm in the Coppola Theater in the Fine Arts Building
Free food and drinks will be served after the screening from 8:00pm-8:45pm.
Seating is limited. RSVP here (for head count only).
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Keep Up With Our Campus Partners!
Spotlight on the Environmental Resource Center (ERC)
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Learn more about the
Environmental Resource Center
and follow @as_erc_sfsu on Instagram
for event alerts!
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The Environmental Resource Center aims to provide opportunities for SFSU students to engage in environmentalism and sustainability on campus and in the greater Bay Area. The Fall 2024 ERC team is focused on zero waste, the circular economy, green jobs, regenerative agriculture and native plants, and climate justice/policy education. Recurring events include the ERC Open House, Sol Patch Garden activities, Clothing Swaps, Zero Waste Sorting, EcoFest, Earth Week, and more. Local partners and sponsors like Heirloom Coffee Roasters, Sloat Gardens, and Daisy Refillery extend the ERC’s reach beyond SFSU and into the larger community.
EcoFest 2024 Is Underway!
Upcoming Event
11/18 - EcoFest Day 3 - Green Jobs Mixer and Panel: Speak with representatives from Recology, SF Environment, GrizzlyCorps, and more regarding internships and entry-level opportunities at the University Club (2nd floor of Cesar Chavez) 1:00-3:30pm. Learn about what skills helped our panelists land their current jobs. Light refreshments included. Panelists include:
+ Taylor Mogavero, Climate Action Coordinator Office of Sustainability SFSU
+ Luis Reyes, Forest Health Community Engagement Fellow at Golden Gate Parks Conservancy
+ Laura Walsh, Policy Manager at Save the Bay
Past Events
11/5 Senior Seminar Fix It Clinic & Clothing Swap: The ERC partnered with ENVS Senior Seminar and the Fashion Network Association to hold a Clothing Swap and Fix it Clinic on 11/5.
11/6 EcoFest Day 1 - E-Waste Collection & Tabling: ERC collected over 60 pieces of e-waste and tabled with the School of Environment, the Sierra Nevada Alliance of Gators, and the Office of Sustainability to highlight environmental resources on-campus. ERC partner, Heirloom Coffee Roasters, gave out and educated students on sustainable coffee.
11/13 - Ecofest Day 2 - Zero Waste Sorting & Garden Workshop: ERC students near Quickly sorted lunch waste at 12:00pm, and attended a workshop in the Sol Patch Garden at 1:00pm with rosemary clippings. The Sol Patch Garden is located across the street from Mashouf which is on the corner of Font Blvd and Lake Merced Blvd. You can find it here: Bit.ly/SolPatch
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Bestselling Science Fiction Author Kim Stanley Robinson comes to SFSU
On Monday, November 4th over 200 SFSU students, faculty, and staff gathered at the Seven Hills Conference Center to hear award-winning sci-fi/cli-fi author Kim Stanley Robinson discuss the solutions to the climate crisis rooted in hope and the power of storytelling to shape the future.
The panel was co-hosted by SF State faculty across campus: Geoff Desa (Management and Social Innovation), Charli Sakari (Physics and Astronomy), Gopal Dayaneni (Race and Resistance Studies), and Andrew Joron (Creative Writing). It was co-sponsored by the Climate HQ and the SF State Foundation.
Read a full summary in SF State News!
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Photo credit:
Juan Montes, Strategic Marketing & Communications
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"Pacific Islander Poetics and Climate Justice" with poet & activist Craig Santos Perez
On September 18th, poet and activist Craig Santos Perez visited as part of "Pacific Islander Poetics and Climate Justice" to discuss the histories and power of Pacific literature (oral and written traditions of storytelling) and poetry/poetics. He also discussed how poetry can help process and express the lived experiences of colonialism and climate injustice, orienting us to possibilities otherwise.
In her opening remarks, host and professor/poet Dr. Leora Kava (Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies in Race and Resistance Studies) emphasized the centrality of Indigenous perspectives on climate justice and land rematriation, including of Ohlone lands in the Bay Area.
This event was co-sponsored by the Department of Race and Resistance Studies, Critical Pacific Islander and Oceania Studies and minor program, ARC Program, and Climate HQ.
Watch a recording of this event here!
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Climate HQ Launch Party Recap
Thank you for joining our community
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Climate HQ’s Certificate Launch Party on October 24th was a fantastic success, bringing together over 60 enthusiastic students and many faculty members! All were eager to explore the many offerings at Climate HQ.
Attendees connected with faculty to learn more about the Climate Certificate, Applied Climate Justice courses, the Climate Action Fellowship, the importance of voting, and much more.
The event inspired students and sparked genuine excitement for taking action through our programs. We’re thrilled to see so many passionate SF State students and faculty ready to participate in the movement for climate justice!
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About Climate HQ
Our Initiatives & Core Values
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In 2021, participants across 6 of SF State's colleges joined to create what would become Climate HQ, a hub to empower SF State's diverse students, staff, and faculty to become climate justice leaders. We began by creating the Climate Change Certificate Program, open to all students in every major.
We then developed the Climate Justice Leaders Initiative, a multi-year effort to grow our impact through education, research, and action. We launched a paid opportunity for students called the Climate Action Fellows, developed Applied Climate Justice Courses, rolled out Faculty Learning Communities and Faculty Mini Grants, initiated a PK-12 Graduate Certificate in Climate Justice Education for teachers, hosted annual events like our thematic Earth Week (including an annual film fest), + more.
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