This October, Madhav Mohan ’22, a student Sustainability Assistant at Carleton attended the PLAN Students for Zero Waste Conference held at the University of Pennsylvania. We had some questions to ask him about it, and here is what he had to say:
How was it?
“As a passionate environmentalist, interested in waste management, this conference presented an ideal opportunity to connect with like-minded and passionate individuals. Over the course of the three days, I interacted with a wide range of people. From students who started their own start-up to reduce waste to conservationists working at Oceania and WWF. The conference had informative sessions on waste and capitalism, food waste, project execution on campuses, and many more valuable topics. I had a great experience meeting and interacting with new people, even meeting people I hope to work together with in the future!”
What is the one thing you learned that you would want to implement at Carleton?
“I met a student who ran her own food reduction company and I am hoping to connect with her to see how we can help Carleton students. They effectively provide students with cheaper meals by helping the restaurants sell goods that would have otherwise gone to waste. It’s a great idea and I would love to help them out!”
The key takeaway? Any advice for future attendees?
“I really enjoy working on environmental projects that produce tangible results. So, for me, going into the conference I was hoping to brainstorm potential ideas I could carry out at Carleton or beyond. Or even meet with people I could work with in the future.
“So I’d say the most important thing going in is to know what your goals are (what are you hoping to gain from the conference) and what you have to offer to other attendees. Lastly, I’d say networking and interacting with new people was the most beneficial and inspiring experience for me. It definitely made the experience more enjoyable and memorable. Don’t be afraid to go out of your way to meet new people!”
The city of Philadelphia?
“Love it. All conference events are walking distance from the University City area, and there are restaurants and shops nearby too. There are two large universities in the area, so you can interact with multiple students!”