Our SOAR Eco-Innovation Academy kicked off its second year at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles! SOAR Academy students toured their facility, which brings together a collection of ocean innovators who collaborate in research and development. Students had a ton of fun learning about RCAM Technologies, the USC Sustainable Seaweed Aquaculture Lab, Eco Wave Power, and even got the opportunity to operate marine robots. AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world.
In Phase 2 of the SOAR Student Flight Plan, our students began corporate tours, learning about industry issues to aid in the development of a sustainability plan to create systemic change. Further Products, a family-owned and operated business that upcycles restaurant grease into biodiesel and uses the glycerin byproduct to make soap, lotion, and candles, hosted the first tour for our SOAR students. Students learned how Further Products promotes the idea of a circular economy, where materials and products are regenerated and recycled for as long as possible.
Kicking off the second corporate tour, SOAR students toured SoFi Stadium with Turner Construction and Build California. They got a behind-the-scenes look at how SoFi Stadium diverts waste, reclaims water, and keeps its 70,000 guests cool without the use of air conditioning. Structures like SoFi Stadium inspire our SOAR students to think sustainably about large construction projects. We are excited to see the ideas they build to push sustainability even further in this industry!
Next, our SOAR students had the experience of a lifetime at the Beyond Meat Headquarters. They spoke with the CEO of Beyond Meat, Ethan Brown, about the impacts that consuming meat has on our planet and health! Students enjoyed touring the color laboratory, where scientists conduct experiments to recreate the color of meat on plant-based meat. They donned aprons and assisted Beyond Meat chefs in the kitchen, cooking up (and eating) delicious meals like plant-based cheeseburgers, tacos, and empanadas.
SOAR students had a blast on the tour of the Northrop Grumman Space Park facilities. They enjoyed hearing about how Northrop identifies and manages sustainability in their programs with green spaces, reclaimed water, and sustainable career pathways! Our Grades of Green students even got to step foot in the Space Museum to explore the history of Northrop Grumman. During our tour, we spoke to a panel of three employees who work in sustainability to learn more about how Northrop is launching innovative ideas to put sustainability at the forefront of aerospace engineering.
Next up, the SOAR students will get to tour Subaru Pacific, an LACarGuy dealership, on February 25th to learn how this family-owned business gives back to the community and planet while driving the transportation industry into a sustainable future.
Want to learn more about how you can build a career in sustainability? Register for our Green Jobs Panel on April 30th!
Join our diverse group of industry partners in entertainment, energy, food, and more! Our SOAR students are eager to work with you to create innovative solutions to today's sustainability issues.
Need help getting started with LAUNCH? Use our curated K-5 Starter Series to help LAUNCH climate education on your campus. Learn how to create a green team and introduce climate topics in your classroom through project-based activities.
