ESE symposium is in one week! We are excited to invite you to the 20th Annual Ecological Sciences and Engineering (ESE) Symposium, Friday September 18^th in Pfendler Hall, centered on the theme One Planet, One Health.

As an interdisciplinary program, ESE values the contributions of diverse perspectives and promotes collaboration across academic, community, and disciplinary boundaries. In support of this mission, the 2025 ESE Cohort has designed the 20th ESE Symposium, taking place on Friday September 18^th in Pfendler Hall, to bring together members of the Purdue and Greater Lafayette communities to explore the interconnected relationships between environmental, human, and animal systems.

This one-day event will feature:

• Coffee Break | Leopold’s Landing, Pfendler Hall, 2nd Floor | 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
• Five-Minute Thesis (5MT) Competition | Dean’s Auditorium, Pfendler Hall, Room 241 | 10:30 AM – 11: 30 AM
• Community Engagement Lunch and Learn Sponsored by ISF | Dean’s Auditorium, Pfendler Hall, Room 241 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
• 5MT Awards Presentation | Dean’s Auditorium, Pfendler Hall, Room 241 | 1:45 PM – 1:55 PM
• Interdisciplinary Panel Discussion | Dean’s Auditorium, Pfendler Hall, Room 241 | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
  • Moderator:
    • Dr. Nathan Shaof, ESE Alumni with a PhD in FNR and MS in HLA, Assistant Program Leader, Agriculture and Natural Resources Urban Agriculture Specialist, Diversified Farming and Food Systems
  • Panelists include:
  • Dr. Jonathan Brooks, FNR Alumni, Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University
  • Farmer Cee, CEO of Green Heffa Farms, Author, Entrepreneur, Farmer, Herbalist, and Advocate for Ethical Business and Sustainable Living
  • Lisa Fogarty, Toxic Substances Hydrology Program Manager with Environmental Health Programs with USGS
  • Aaron Schacht, CEO and Board Director of BiomEdit
• Book Signing with Farmer Cee| Dean’s Auditorium, Pfendler Hall, Room 241 | After the panel concludes.
• The Black Girl’s Guide to Building a Boutique Farm: Practical Advice to Keep Your Business Cute, Profitable, and Sustainable by Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley

Through these activities, attendees will engage with researchers, practitioners, and community members while fostering collaboration across ecological sciences, engineering, and health-related fields. The symposium is open to the entire Purdue University community and the Greater Lafayette community. Please join us in celebrating community, collaboration, and action. Additional details are available online.