Conservation on Screen: Highlights from the Wild & Scenic Film Festival
I had the chance to immerse myself in an evening of films that were as inspiring as they were sobering. The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is built around one clear purpose: to use the power of film to spark a deeper connection with nature and inspire action for a healthier planet.
What struck me most was how the six short films, though set in different parts of the world, all carried threads that tied back to Texas and the challenges we face here. From questions of land use and public access to concerns about water, waste management and plastics, biodiversity concerns, and urban development hurdles, the stories felt universal yet deeply personal.
Local Climate Solutions: Biodiversity & Forest Conservation in the Sierra Gorda
The festival opened with a story from Mexico’s Sierra Gorda, where one family’s decades-long mission has blossomed into a community-led model for forestry conservation against local industrial emissions. This film reminded me how education and science can drive measurable regeneration while also creating economic opportunities for people living directly with the land.
Key Takeaway: A community-led model shows how science, education, and economic innovation can regenerate ecosystems while supporting local livelihoods.
- Published in General, Professional, Texas
Cracking the FOAK Code: Scaling Climate Tech from Concept to Reality
On September 4th, I had the opportunity to attend Austin Climate Hub’s first event of the fall season: “Challenges and Emerging Solutions to Scaling First-of-a-Kind Energy Technologies.” Held at The Sunset Room in downtown Austin, the event brought together an all-star panel of investors, financiers, and cleantech leaders to tackle one of the most persistent challenges in the climate innovation space—how to get bold new ideas off the ground and into the real world.
The evening was packed with insights, networking, and conversations around the nuances of funding and scaling first-of-a-kind (FOAK) energy technologies. These are the game-changing projects that, while promising, often get stuck between R&D and real-world execution. So what’s holding them back and how do we move them forward?
- Published in General, Professional, Texas