INDIANA — The Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) has officially opened its call for breakout session proposals ahead of the 2027 Indiana Sustainability and Resilience Conference (ISRC). The annual event serves as Indiana’s premier gathering for sustainability professionals, academic scholars, municipal officers, and grassroots organizers working to strengthen the state’s climate and resilience networks.
Organizers are inviting proposals focused on delivering actionable skills, insights, and initiatives tailored to Hoosier climate leaders. The proposal submission period runs through Friday, Aug. 28, 2026.
Session submissions are encouraged across several core focus areas:
- Clean Energy & Built Environment: Transition strategies, grid modernization, and sustainable architecture.
- Policy & Local Government: Municipal resilience planning, regional policy tools, and public funding execution.
- Green Infrastructure & Research: Nature-based solutions, storm management, and applied environmental science.
- Community Engagement: Inclusive outreach, environmental justice, and local coalition building.
The full conference will take place on Friday, Feb. 5, 2027, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Plainfield Indianapolis Airport.
Launched under IU’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative, the Environmental Resilience Institute works to equip Indiana communities, businesses, and nonprofits with the research and tools needed to adapt to shifting weather patterns, severe flooding risks, and economic transitions. The ISRC provides a central platform to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world municipal application across both urban and rural sectors in the Midwest.
Previous conferences have drawn hundreds of participants statewide, creating cross-sector partnerships aimed at lowering municipal energy costs, expanding urban tree canopies, and securing federal environmental grants for local projects.
Prospective speakers and session leaders can direct questions and submit breakout proposals to event organizers at ISRC@iu.edu.
