The recent Adirondack Youth Climate Summit at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, N.Y., provided an opportunity for four Clarkson University students to increase their awareness of climate change causes, solutions and implications, especially as it relates to the Clarkson campus.

The summit drew high school and college students from around the region to discuss and plan ways to incorporate energy efficiency, recycling and local food resources into their lives and campuses.

Attending the summit were J. Sawyer Sutton, a senior communication major from Stowe, Vt.; Collin R. Yarbrough, a junior engineering & management major from Dallas, Texas; Kimberly M. Villemaire, a sophomore interdisciplinary social sciences major from Richmond, Vt.; and Ryan M. Hurilla, a freshman electrical engineering major from Port Leyden, N.Y.

The students were joined by faculty members Susan E. Powers, associate dean of engineering; Alan Rossner, director of environmental science & policy; and Roy Wilson, Jr., energy manager.

The Clarkson team developed a plan to quantify the University's greenhouse gas emissions to enable realistic and meaningful goals for the campus to reduce its impact.

The students plan to work through their campus clubs, including ECO, Synergy, and the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) throughout the year to institute change on campus.

The summit was organized by the Adirondack Climate and Energy Action Plan (ADKCAP) group and hosted by the Wild Center. Clarkson University was among the sponsors of the event through the direct sponsorship of travel and registration fees for five area high schools.