Engineers for a Sustainable World, or ESW, gives the green light to developing a more environmentally-conscious world.

UT will host the annual ESW conference from April 6-April 9. The event features 29 speakers who will discuss a range of topics, from social issues, such as racial injustice in engineering, to technical pursuits, such as how to design the most energy-efficient buildings. 

According to the event’s coordinator, Alyssa Recinella, professors, students and anyone with an interest in learning more and collaborating over sustainability are welcome to the conference.

Architectural engineering freshman and ESW member Nhi Vu said the theme of this year’s conference is “Accelerate.”

“(This theme) brings to mind how we can gain momentum and accelerate (human) progress by influencing those around us to work together and bring projects to life,” Vu said. 

Vu said at the conference she is looking forward to learning about research in sustainable building materials and indoor air quality. 

“As an architectural engineering major, I’m definitely interested in different ways that a building can be sustainable and energy efficient,” Vu said. 

Brian Korgel, UT chemical engineering professor and one of the speakers at the event, said that while Texas is known as an oil-rich state that employs many in the petroleum industry, the ESW conference offers a different perspective. 

“I think conferences like this are really important for faculty and the student body to have a forum to talk about what we’re doing,” Korgel said. “(ESW) lets people know that we don’t just care about oil, but also saving the planet just as much as any other university.”  

Recinella said the key to influencing the public toward a more environmentally-friendly mindset is the passion of young college-aged students to promote a cleaner planet.

“Each college and each city has their own form of sustainability,” Recinella said. “They each have stories, culture and people who care. We try to shed more light on the hard work performed by these students and bring more attention to what others can do to make a difference.”