Missouri Southern to Host Earth Day Sustainability Conference

Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) is set to host its annual Earth Day Sustainability Conference on Friday, April 24, at the Billingsly Student Center in Joplin, Mo. The free event aims to foster meaningful conversations about sustainability and natural resource stewardship, bringing together community partners and stakeholders. The conference will feature a series of educational presentations and booths from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Speakers include Waylon Kinder of Noble Earth Recovery discussing e-waste, Jerry Harman of H2Ozarks on water quality, and Anna Swearengen of the Truman Environmental Task Force on collaborative environmental planning. Notably, Rebecca Collins of the Joplin Sustainable Technology Alliance will deliver a presentation on a community benefits agreement (CBA) specifically for sustainable data center development in Joplin. Dr. Teresa Boman, MSSU's Program Director of Environmental Health and Safety, emphasized the conference's role in sparking collaboration and empowering attendees to make a positive environmental impact. Educational booths will host organizations such as the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma's Environmental Department and the Jasper County Public Health Department. The event will also announce winners of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle competition for local students.