Earth Charter Indiana is an Indiana non-profit founded on the four principles of the Earth Charter that include: 1) Respect and care for the community of life; 2) Ecological integrity; 3) social and economic justice; and 4) democracy, non-violence and peace.

Each year, they hold the Climate Leadership Summit, an annual, statewide conference specially designed for mayors, city, town and county leaders, and community partners to discuss how to prepare for the changing climate.  This year, in addition to being a sponsor of the summit, the new director of ISF, Professor Mathew Huber (EAPS) will be a keynote speaker presenting the institute to participants.

In addition, ISF member and Professor Panagiota Karava (Mechanical Engineering) will be presenting research on a team project, “MySmartE – A Software Platform for Smart & Energy-Efficient Residential Communities,” which is a first-time cloud-based eco-feedback and gaming platform that aims to promote energy conserving thermostat-adjustment behaviors in multi-unit residential buildings. The project reflects work supported by an initial $3.5 million NSF grant for the team project, “Sociotechnical Systems to Enable Smart and Connected Energy-Aware Residential Communities.” The team includes faculty members Ilias Bilionis (Mechanical)Engineering, James Braun (Mechanical), Leigh Raymond (Political Science)  and Torsten Reimer (Communication and Psychological Sciences).  The project introduces a new modeling approach for personalized eco-feedback design integrated with a collaborative social game to assist residents enhance their thermostat use while promoting community-level energy savings.

Because Purdue is a sponsor, all members of ISF can attend the conference, in person or virtually, for free. 

More information and register here.