The 7th Annual Johns Hopkins Sustainability Symposium on Research, Practice, and Education, hosted by the JHU Sustainability Leadership Council and Office of Climate and Sustainability, was held on April 8, 2026, at the Inn at the Colonnade Hotel.
The event featured presentations, panel discussions, research posters, and informational tabling from JHU students, faculty, and staff on a range of topics from environmental education, planetary health, climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental justice, responsible consumption, environmental policy, and more.
In addition to concurrent tracks, we were joined by former Senator Ben Cardin during a lunchtime fireside chat, moderated by Dr. Lainie Rutkow, interim provost. The day of impactful content concluded with a networking event and poster session, as well as an optional sustainability-focused tour of the beautiful Bloomberg Student Center.
Plenary Lunch with Fireside Chat
Symposium attendee joined us for a plenary lunch Fireside Chat with Interim Provost Dr. Lainie Rutkow and former U.S. Senator Ben Cardin.
Senator Ben Cardin served in the U.S. Senate from 2007 to 2025. Earlier in his career, he represented Maryland in the U.S. House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates. Across these roles, he worked as a champion for improvements to America’s water infrastructure system while preparing it for the impacts of climate change. Senator Cardin recently join JHU in a joint appointment with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Foreign Policy Institute of the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
Dr. Lainie Rutkow serves as the Johns Hopkins University interim provost. She is a professor of health policy and management at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the School of Advanced International Studies. As interim provost, Dr. Rutkow oversees ten schools as well as numerous interdisciplinary programs, academic centers, and support functions, and works closely with President Daniels to advance the ambitious goals of the Ten for One strategic plan. Dr. Rutkow is a key supporter in the JHU Climate & Sustainability Executive Committee, whose mission is to provide leadership guidance for sustainability activities, progress, and resources in alignment with our strategic goals as outlined in the university’s Climate Action and Sustainability Plan.
Symposium Schedule
-
Presentations & Sessions
Concurrent sessions throughout the day from 9 AM – 4 PM included series of speakers, panel discussions, and workshops. All sessions featured an opportunity for Q&A.
-
Research Posters
Research posters were on display throughout the day, including during breakfast, lunch, and breaks. Researchers were present to talk with attendees during afternoon breaks: 2:20 – 3 PM and 4 – 5 PM.
-
Informational Tabling
JHU groups, programs, centers, institutes, and departments hosted informational tables at the symposium. Representatives were available to talk to attendees during afternoon breaks: 2:20 – 3 PM and 4 – 5 PM.
Green Event
This event was planned with sustainability in mind, and we invite you to help us ensure it is a green event. To reduce waste, we encourage attendees to bring their own reusable water bottles and mugs. All meals will be served on reusable dishware with silverware and glassware. Snack and coffee breaks will have products made of compostable material so that all pre- and post-consumer waste can be composted. Lastly, to reduce impacts on our climate, all meals will be plant-forward, with vegan options. Learn more about green events here.
Getting Here
Inn at the Colonnade Baltimore – a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel (4 West University Parkway)
- Rooms at a discounted rate are available by booking through the room block: JHUSUSTAINABILITYSYMPOSIUM2026
- Walking distance from JHU’s Homewood campus.
- Accessible via JHU transportation and other local transit options (see below).
Sustainable transportation options to the symposium include JHU and other free shuttles and circulators, local bus and rail, walking, and bicycling!
Use any of the following JHU Blue Jay shuttle routes:
- Homewood-Ellerslie Contractor Shuttle (AMR stop)
- Homewood-Peabody-JHMI (Interfaith Center)
- Remington (Imagine Center)
- Short walk or transfer required:
- 10 min walk – Hampden Circulator (Greenhouse Lot stop)
- 15 min walk – Bayview Express (Bloomberg Student Center)
- 15 min walk – Homewood-Carey Business School (Mason Hall)
- 15 min walk – Homewood-Mt. Washington Shuttle (Keswick South or Mason Hall)
- 15 min walk – Keswick-Homewood-Eastern-JHMI EXPRESS (Keswick South)
- 15 min walk – Keswick-Homewood-Eastern-JHMI LOCAL (Keswick South, Bloomberg Student Center, or 33rd & Lovegrove)
- 15 min walk – Keswick Penn Commuter Shuttle (Keswick South or Mason Hall)
More information:
- JHU Shuttles (Free)
- Collegetown Shuttle (Free)
- Circulator: Purple Route (Free)
- MTA Buses, Trains, & Light Rail
Check out additional tips for travelling sustainably around campus and beyond!
The Inn at the Colonnade offers daily parking in their underground garage. For a reduced rate of $15/day, please take your parking ticket to the hotel front desk and pay hotel staff directly.
There are a variety of parking options available on the Homewood campus depending on your affiliation with JHU. The closest parking garage to the event is West Gate Garage, located behind the Johns Hopkins Club near the Chemistry building, which is a 10-minute walk from the Inn at the Colonnade.
Public parking garages are also located at 9 E 33rd Street (enter at 3271 Lovegrove) and 152-173 E 34th Street (Union Memorial Hospital parking garage) at an additional cost.
Sustainability Leadership Council
This Symposium is organized by JHU's Sustainability Leadership Council (SLC), students, faculty, staff, and alumni who collaborate to further sustainability initiatives across research, academics, operations, and engagement. Comprised of members from across the university, the SLC identifies strategies, incubates initiatives, and provides recommendations to the President and Provost to build a greater role for Johns Hopkins University in teaching, research, and leadership on sustainability, both locally and globally.
2025 JHU Sustainability Symposium
To see details from last year's symposium, visit the 2025 event page.
Celebrate Earth Month at Johns Hopkins
The Sustainability Symposium is part of the Office of Climate & Sustainability's 2026 Earth Month programming! Check out the full schedule of events, and submit your climate- or sustainability-related event to be included in our calendar.