Climate LIVE K12 is back! We are thrilled to announce the next season of our free online series, open to all learners curious about climate and sustainability issues.
From October to June, Columbia Climate School researchers and students will share expertise on topics ranging from biodiversity systems, climate finance, climate action in professional sports and wildfire management. Students in middle school, high school, undergrad and graduate school are invited, along with educators, lifelong learners and the general public.
The 2026-27 season of Climate LIVE will also highlight young climate leaders from the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains pre-college program, where participants will hear from program alumni already making an impact in climate.
Experts will discuss each topic in an accessible, interdisciplinary way through 30-minute live webinars, hosted on Zoom. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and share thoughts at the end of the session.
Mark your calendars now! Climate LIVE sessions are scheduled for the second Wednesday of the month, from 4:00–4:30pm ET. Dates are included in the session descriptions below, along with an RSVP link.
Sessions are free, but registration is required. Each session has a targeted age range, also indicated in the session description, but all are welcome to any event. Zoom links will be sent to registered participants prior to the start of the programming, and webinar recordings will be available afterward on the Climate School’s YouTube page. Explore this season’s topics below and RSVP today!
2026-27 Climate LIVE Sessions
A Blooming Problem: Researching Solutions to Harmful Algal Blooms
Wednesday, October 14, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Maddy Nam, Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains program alumna
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
Algae are a natural and essential part of aquatic ecosystems, providing food and energy for other organisms. But nutrient pollution and climate change are creating conditions for algae to grow rapidly and form algal blooms that disrupt ecosystems and, even in some cases, produce harmful toxins. In this Climate LIVE session, students will meet a high school researcher investigating innovative ways to understand, prevent and mitigate algal blooms. Follow the research journey as they explore how scientists turn a real-world environmental problem into a research question, design experiments, navigate unexpected results and work toward potential solutions. Watch the recording here!
Biodiversity Matters: What Is It, and Why Should We Care?
Wednesday, November 18, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Jenna Lawrence, Columbia University professor affiliated with the Undergraduate Special Concentration and Major in Sustainable Development and the M.S. in Sustainability Management at the School of Professional Studies
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
All living things are endlessly interconnected, cleaning our water and air, stabilizing our soil, regulating our climate and providing food and medicine. Join us to explore how biological diversity—from genes to species to ecosystems and evolutionary processes—is fundamental to human societies and underpins every aspect of our economies. RSVP here!
Expanding Your Climate Action
Wednesday, December 9, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Ian Hunt, M.A. in Climate & Society alumnus, Columbia Climate School
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
You know you want to do something to help the state of our planet, but how can your actions grow beyond your reach? In this session, join author Ian Hunt to learn about different ways you can take your actions beyond just yourself and grow them to have higher impact and higher reach. RSVP here!
Climate Finance 101
Wednesday, January 13, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Lily McRae, M.S. in Climate Finance alumna, Columbia Climate School
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, graduates, teachers, public
What is climate finance, and why does it matter? This webinar introduces students to how money shapes climate action, from funding renewable energy and climate adaptation to rebuilding after climate disasters. We’ll explore where climate finance comes from, why good climate projects can still struggle to attract funding and what factors can affect what gets built and where. Students will also get a glimpse into emerging solutions and careers in the growing field of climate finance. RSVP here!
Meet the Boat Using AI to Catch Plastic
Wednesday, February 10, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Catherine Prunella, Water Quality Extension Specialist – Bronx, NYC, New York Sea Grant – Cornell University
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, graduates, teachers, public
Can artificial intelligence help clean plastic pollution in waterways? Learn about a plastic-catching boat developed by Columbia University researchers that uses AI to identify and collect floating plastic, and how you can contribute. RSVP here!
Going for Green: Driving Climate Action Through Sport
Wednesday, March 10, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Peyten Hernandez, M.A. in Climate & Society alumna, Columbia Climate School
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
Explore the relationship between sports and climate change, examining how sporting events contribute to environmental impacts and how climate change is reshaping the future of sports. Learn how major international events, including the FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games, are addressing sustainability through initiatives focused on reducing emissions, managing waste, conserving resources and building more sustainable venues and infrastructure. Consider the opportunities and challenges of making sports more sustainable while exploring how athletes, teams, fans and sporting organizations can help drive meaningful climate action. RSVP here!
Introduction to Drinking Water: What’s in It, and How We Keep It Clean and Safe
Wednesday, April 14, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Adelina Rolea, Ph.D. candidate, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
Drinking water is one of our most important natural resources. We drink water every day, often without a second thought. What exactly is in our water? And how is it kept clean and safe? This session will answer these questions and more! RSVP Here!
Super El Niño, Climate Change, and the Rise of La Niña
Wednesday, May 12, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Andrew Kruczkiewicz, Senior Staff Associate, National Center for Disaster Preparedness & Faculty Lecturer for M.S. in Climate, Columbia Climate School
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
What happens when natural climate patterns meet a warming planet, and what do these changes mean for people and communities around the world? Explore the science behind El Niño and La Niña, how they influence global temperatures and weather patterns, and how climate change can intensify their impacts. Learn what scientists mean by a “Super El Niño,” how these powerful events can affect extreme heat, rainfall, droughts and storms, and why the resulting risks vary across communities depending on their exposure and vulnerability. Discover how scientists are monitoring shifts between El Niño, La Niña and neutral conditions across different timescales, including what La Niña may bring in the coming months and years ahead, and what these evolving patterns could mean for societies navigating a changing climate. RSVP Here!
From Fire Seasons to Fire Years: How Climate Change Is Altering the Wildfire Management Paradigm and What We Can Do About It
Wednesday, June 9, 2026: 4:00–4:30pm ET
Presenter: Hudson Defee, M.S. in Climate Student, Columbia Climate School
Target Audience: High schoolers, undergraduates, teachers, public
Explore the history of fire management in the United States and how decades of fire suppression have shaped today’s wildfire landscape. Learn why climate change, including rising temperatures and prolonged drought, is making wildfires increasingly severe and challenging to manage. We’ll examine potential solutions—from prescribed fire and forest management to community preparedness—and consider what the future of wildfire response could look like in a changing climate. RSVP here!
For more information about the Climate LIVE K12 series, please explore our K12 Events & Resources webpage. Sign up here for our mailing list to stay updated on new opportunities, or contact Laurel Zaima-Sheehy, associate director of pre-college & partner programs, with questions.
We also offer Pre-College Programs, Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains Pre-College Summer Program and Professional Learning programs. We look forward to seeing you at a Climate LIVE K12 event this year!