The University of South Florida’s annual Climate Teach-In continues to grow as more student organizations join the newly formed Climate Teach-In student organization (USF CTI) in raising awareness about climate education across the Tampa Bay region. This year, 220 students attended more than 35 events hosted by USF CTI and its partner organizations across all three USF campuses.
Teach-In Staples Engage Students
One 2025 USF Climate Teach-In highlight was a 5K run, a collaborative effort between the USF Running Club and USF CTI, giving members from both groups a chance to meet new students and enjoy a sunset run.
“The 5K was a lot of fun,” said Logan Purcell, a first-year accounting major and treasurer of the Running Club. “It was Florida weather, but it was great to see a lot of people out there, enjoying the sun and the company.”
Another popular event, the Climate Teach-In Art Exhibit 5x5 Fundraiser, invited USF student submissions in any medium—painting, crochet, collage or others—as long as the piece fit within a 5-by-5-inch square. Displayed in the Judy Genshaft Honors College Zimmerman Family Foundation Atrium, the exhibit attracted high foot traffic and interest from passersby. Attendees placed bids on the artwork, with proceeds going to the USF Botanical Gardens.
Maia Ryan, president of USF CTI, credited the exhibit’s visibility for its impact during the week.
“Having the 5x5 display in the Honors building was an eye-catching attraction that garnered a lot of interest around campus,” said Ryan. “We want to thank Professor Piracci for her help in making it happen!”
Val Lambert, a second-year environmental engineering major and USF CTI’s special events coordinator, echoed Ryan’s enthusiasm.
“We relied a lot on Professor Piracci’s guidance because we don’t know a lot about curating an art exhibit,” Lambert said. “I was surprised how much of it was emails before the actual setup, and all of the responses came in right before it closed. Every time I come to the Honors building, I see people looking at the exhibit, taking pictures and reading the poetry, so it seems like they’re really interested.”
Unexpected Collaborations
One of the most exciting aspects of this year’s Climate Teach-In was the creative programming introduced by new partner organizations.
On Tuesday, April 8, the USF Arm Wrestling Club hosted a demonstration in the Honors building, showcasing how a low-resource activity like arm wrestling could build community and raise climate awareness.
“Last year, the Teach-In worked with only 18 student orgs that were all environmentally focused,” said Honors Professor Andrew Hargrove. “This year, the students made it a point to get other types of organizations involved. Climate action is not just for environmental scientists — everyone has a role to play, even student organizations like the USF Arm Wrestling Club.”
Another student-led highlight was the birdhouse painting activity hosted by the Honors 3D HABLab. The group, which focuses on “habitecture” — combining engineering, art and environmental science to build animal habitats — invited students to paint laser-cut birdhouses on the Honors College lawn.
“First, we laser-cut birdhouses from plain wood, like a jigsaw puzzle, for better assembly and less waste,” said Claire Messerschmidt, research and development officer of 3D HABLab. “Then we painted them using bird-safe acrylic and alcohol inks. We had about 18 people attend.”
Continuing the Conversation
As the week wrapped up, USF CTI members and participating organizations expressed a renewed sense of purpose and passion for ongoing climate education.
“Dr. Hargrove kicked off the week with a public lecture about hope, and that hope has cascaded throughout the week with the other events and high attendance,” said Ryan. “The students are passionate about getting involved, and some of our events like the Career Fair have gotten a lot of engagement.”
Student organizations interested in partnering with USF CTI for next year’s Teach-In are encouraged to start planning early. USF CTI aims to expand its reach and collaborate with a more diverse range of student groups across all three campuses.
"We’re incredibly proud of our students for stepping into leadership roles to plan and run this year’s USF Climate Teach-In," said Charles Adams, dean of the Judy Genshaft Honors College. "What began as a grassroots effort in the college and Honors Living Learning Community has grown into a university-wide event, thanks to their vision, commitment and drive to make a difference."
The climate conversation doesn’t end with Climate Teach-In Week — and USF CTI invites the community to stay involved and keep the momentum going all year long.