2026 LEEF Conference Wakulla Wild

The Sustainability Fellows program provides an opportunity for students of any discipline to participate in furthering sustainability efforts on the FSU campus and in the Tallahassee community. Sustainability Fellows can be selected from any major or field of study. Fellows work in collaboration with campus and community partners to actively engage in research, propose strategies, and identify opportunities for sustainability issues.

As environmentalists, our goal is to engage in activities that improve the well-being of the environment and promote the conservation and preservation of natural resources.  If environmentalists use AI, it raises important questions about whether this use aligns with their ecological values. Using correlation and regression analysis, I investigated how the ecological values of environmentalists influence their use of AI. Results will answer the question: “How environmentalists’ perceived usefulness of AI and their familiarity with AI's environmental impacts predictive factors of their AI usage?”.

This poster showcases how geospatial technologies and immersive media can enhance environmental education. Using high-resolution 360° imagery and virtual-tour software, the USF Botanical Gardens were captured and transformed into an interactive virtual experience. Visitors can navigate the gardens and click embedded buttons that link directly to the USF Plant Atlas, providing authoritative information on featured plant species.  The tour serves as a dynamic teaching and outreach resource: it allows students, researchers, and the public to explore Florida’s diverse plant communities anytime, while deepening understanding of native ecosystems.

Content is created each month to educate the campus community on various ways they can positively impact stormwater systems and keep our watershed free of pollutants. Presenters will explain their research, collaboration with partners, and methods of communication.

This week-long summer camp is designed to introduce youth to and help them discover the world of urban forestry and related green industry jobs, through engaging, educational programming. The camp provides upper elementary and middle school youth experiences to explore the importance of forestry and urban trees for health and community benefits, the importance of nature being part of our cities, and the camp will inspire a new generation of urban forestry stewards.

Brevard Zoo’s Puerto Rico expedition empowered teen volunteers through hands-on conservation research, real-world field experience, and mentorship from scientists, strengthening their environmental stewardship, teamwork, and interest in conservation careers while gaining new transferable life skills.