UCLA Lab School to Attend 2024 Vatican Climate Summit with Pope Francis
UCLA Lab School, renowned for its mission to promote innovation and excellence in education through teaching, research, and public engagement, is proud to announce its participation in an international summit on climate change at the Vatican. Lab School Principal, Dr. Georgia Ann Lazo – along with a Lab School Demonstration Teacher, two exceptional students, and a dedicated school parent – will participate in the summit presided over by His Holiness Pope Francis.
UCLA Lab School, renowned for its mission to promote innovation and excellence in education through teaching, research, and public engagement, is proud to announce its participation in an international summit on climate change at the Vatican. Lab School Principal, Dr. Georgia Ann Lazo – along with a Lab School Demonstration Teacher, two exceptional students, and a dedicated school parent – will participate in the summit presided over by His Holiness Pope Francis.
This monumental event, scheduled for May 15-17 and hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, will convene scholars, leaders and experts from around the world to address one of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate resilience.
This summit – From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience – focuses on three key pillars: mitigation to reduce climate risks; adaptation to manage unavoidable risks; and societal transformation to enable mitigation and adaptation.
A laboratory elementary school serving 450 students ages four to 12, Lab School has a long history as a staunch advocate for environmental stewardship and education and is honored to contribute to this crucial dialogue.
“At Lab School, we recognize the vital role education plays in fostering environmental awareness and action,” said Dr. Lazo. “Our curriculum integrates environmental concepts and sustainability principles across disciplines, educating and inspiring students to become conscientious and compassionate stewards of the planet.”
Lab School has long-emphasized the importance of nurturing environmentally-conscious citizens as a core piece of its educational philosophy.
“Participating in this summit recognizes and underscores our commitment to equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to address pressing global challenges,” said Dr. Lazo. “We are proud to represent our school and contribute to meaningful discussions on climate resilience and sustainability.”
Lab School Demonstration Teacher Noelani Morris, Upper students Carlos Bautista and Lu Lipmen, and parent SJ Lipmen will also be participating in the summit, further embodying the spirit of Lab School’s dedication to environmental education.
In her role at Lab School, Morris, selected as a 2023-24 Eco-Rise Ambassador, is proud to champion the integration of environmental responsibility and sustainability into her classroom curriculum.
“At Lab School, we really believe in empowering our students to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond,” Morris said. “This summit truly exemplifies our educational philosophy and the unique experiences available to students within our exceptional school community.”
Located on the UCLA campus, UCLA Lab School is built around Stone Canyon Creek, which runs alongside the playground and through the school’s redwood forest, making it an ideal site for environmental education projects. Educators from all over the world visit the school each year to observe and learn from UCLA Lab School demonstration teachers and then take these models and practices back to their own classrooms.
In 2023, alumnus and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio established an inaugural Climate Justice Education Program at Lab School, expanding on current curriculum and creating hands-on learning experiences for students to connect with nature and develop knowledge of sustainable gardening and healthy eating.
Lab School’s participation in this event was made possible, in part, through the school’s work with the Alana Foundation – a social and environmental impact group – as well as by the former Wasserman Dean at UCLA’s School of Education & Information Studies, Marcelo Suarez-Orozco, now the Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Boston and member of the executive committee of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.