Second Nature's Climate Action Pursuit

Call for Session Proposals

2021 Climate Action Pursuit: Request for Proposals

Submitting a proposal means you will get to contribute your expertise to the Pursuit. Strong sessions will help people across our networks – in higher education, finance, climate solutions, nonprofits, and government – face today’s intersecting crises and accomplish their climate, resilience, and justice goals.

How to Submit a Session Proposal
We recommend planning out your proposal first, prior to visiting the online proposal submission form.  We have a pdf copy of what the submission form will look like to help you.
PDF COPY OF SUBMIT A SESSION PROPOSAL

Once you have planned out your proposal, you can enter it into the actual online proposal submission form to officially submit it!  The form is a short set of questions to lay out the concept for your session – if accepted, we will provide a session planning template to you, to fully develop the session along with relevant speakers/facilitators.
SUBMIT YOUR PROPOSAL HERE

See below for FAQ’s about the Climate Action Pursuit program and session proposals, and please reach out to Michele at Second Nature with any questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What will the Climate Action Pursuit agenda look like?

• Programming will be flexible and engaging, connecting participants through virtual meetings, webinars, workshops, and on-demand video content.
• Sessions will be scheduled during four check-in points. Unlike a typical in-person conference, participants won’t be sitting through back-to-back presentations. 
• To help participants focus on the action-oriented content and the progress they are making towards their goals over the course of the year, sessions will be scheduled during concentrated periods – four check-in milestones: October 7-8, and December 9-10, 2021.
• A participant might choose just one or two sessions in each check-in period, or may spend most of the day engaging with peers through Pursuit programming during each check-in period if their schedule allows.

What kinds of sessions will be offered?
We anticipate offering 6 types of sessions:

• Keynote – (INSPIRE):    1-2 speakers, 30-45 mins, engaging formats (Ask Me Anything, Fireside Chat, etc.), to be recorded and shared widely
• Panel or Roundtable – (INFORM):    2-5 speakers, 30-90 mins, share examples of best practice, new ideas, key concepts with space for questions, generally will be recorded and shared widely
• Workshop – (SUPPORT & EMPOWER):    1 or more expert facilitators, 45-150 mins, share tools, strategies, and information, work through activities with participants, solve problems together, create new tools, etc. May be recorded and shared, but less likely. Must include concrete tools, action plans, or takeaways.
• Peer-to-Peer Conversation – (CONNECT):    1 or more peer facilitators, 15-60 mins, 1-1 or small group format for networking, troubleshooting, and connecting. Not recorded.
• Demonstration – (INFORM):    1 or more tool, platform, or example to profile (ie, software demo, campus tour), 15-60 mins, broadcast-style (pre-recorded or live)
• Activity – (INSPIRE, SUPPORT & EMPOWER, CONNECT):    entertainment, arts/culture, stress relief, community-building

What makes a good session?
A strong session will meet the following key criteria:

• Helps participants move forward on one or more of the Pursuit themes (Neutrality, Policy, Racial Justice, Community, Student Leadership, Knowledge) – see more about the thematic tracks here.
• Offers concrete action items, tools, resources, examples, best practices, or takeaways.
• Acknowledges the intersectionality of climate justice, carbon neutrality, sustainable finance, social equity, racial equity, higher education affordability and equity, resilience, and more.
• Reflects and/or contributes to racial justice.
• Helps to connect participants with peers, and in particular to make connections across traditional silos.
• Serves the current needs of key stakeholders in higher education, finance, and climate solutions – advancing existing goals, meeting current challenges, aligning with current workloads.
• Provides an inclusive platform for speakers, panelists, facilitators, and participants to bring diverse identities, life experiences, and professional expertise to discussion, planning, and action. 
• Includes and highlights the experiences and perspectives of people directly affected by climate impacts and social inequity as well as traditionally underrepresented people, perspectives, and solutions.
• Uses interactive formats and engaging speakers/facilitators to provide a rich, generative session rather than a lecture.

What are the next steps if my session is selected?
Session organizers will work with the Second Nature and IEN teams to develop a final session plan based on session planning templates, invite and confirm diverse and engaging speakers/facilitators, and participate in a session prep call. Session organizers are expected to register for the full Climate Action Pursuit, and will receive a 25% discount code for registration.

• More Information about Second Nature's Climate Action Pursuit