The EnAct Club’s annual spring Symposium brought new energy to the PDS community this year. Organized by coheads Sophia Zhou ‘25, Heidi Hudicka ‘25, Nikita Malhotra ‘25, and Michelle Xu ‘25, the event focused on one of today’s most debated global issues: energy, emphasizing fossil fuels and sustainable energy sources. 

The Symposium this year was held on March 6th, and the event is held once a year to spread awareness of different environmental issues to the PDS community. The after-school gathering welcomed students and faculty to participate and learn about the current events and the future of energy. The theme was carefully chosen, as the relevancy and related policies have been expressed in national and global conversations. “We wanted to make sure that students at PDS were educated to understand relevant issues facing energy,” commented Michelle Xu ‘25, emphasizing the importance of awareness among students. 

One of the major highlights was the guest speaker: Professor Alison Ferris. Professor Ferris teaches at Princeton University, and is an expert in sustainable aviation fuels. Her lively presentation not only introduced research about fuels, but also greener solutions and reducing carbon emissions. Additionally, her research consisted of low-carbon fuels, and continuing to develop sustainable aviation fuels using data-driven modeling. Professor Ferris kicked off the Symposium with an amazing introduction, and the participants were flooded with curiosity and lingering questions. 

Beyond the keynote, the event held a variety of interactive activities to keep each and every participant engaged. The coheads kept the event organized, sorting each person into groups, and rotating so everyone was able to experience each activity. The event ran smoothly, ensuring time was spent efficiently, and involving all members in challenges and information. Compared to previous years, this Symposium drew a record turnout, successfully expanding its awareness and attention towards environmental issues. 

Thanks to the leadership of the EnAct coheads and the enthusiastic participation of the student body, this year’s Symposium made an impact on the PDS community. The energy and enthusiasm from the event will for sure continue to fuel new ideas and begin preparing for the next EnAct Symposium.