On Earth Day 2026, the UHD President’s Lecture Series hosted an eye-opening and important presentation, “Sustainability Transitions in the Anthropocene,” especially highlighting the melting of glaciers around the world and their impact on rising sea levels and the Houston Ship Channel. Luckily, we recorded the talk in case you missed it.
Moderated by UHD Professor Natacha Poggio, the panel discussion brought together innovative leaders in anthropology and design to discuss cultural and systemic pathways toward more just and resilient futures:
- Rice University anthropology professors Dominic Boyer and Cymene Howe, co-hosts of the podcast Cultures of Energy
- Designer, professor, and entrepreneur Nathan Shedroff.
Boyer and Howe discussed their film “Not OK, A Little Movie About a Small Glacier at the End of the World” and how they used ritual as an approach to bringing attention to the disappearance of the Ok Glacier in Iceland. They created the first glacier funeral ever, garnering much media attention and prompting other glacier funerals around the world.
Shedroff also shared his interdisciplinary perspectives to address sustainability during the "Anthropocene,” our current geological epoch defined by human impact, including industrialization and urbanization.
Also, the 2026 President’s Lecture Series featured “Legacy & Leadership: Harry Gee Jr. and His Children,” a fascinating look at Houstonian Harry Gee’s Chinese heritage and his impact on Houston as an immigration attorney, in May. If you missed this special talk celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the recording provides a unique glimpse into one family’s legacy.