Rosmini College TOTCUS hosted the third climate impact Symposium last week, involving 148 students from around the world

Rosmini College TOTCUS hosted the third climate impact Symposium last week, involving 148 students in the two presentation days. The main (WEST) Symposium took place on Friday evening and included students from Raffles Institution on their eighth visit to Rosmini College. Earlier in the week the EAST Symposium was hosted in the evening to correspond with the European and Asia time differences, 

Presentations were delivered by students in Finland, Germany, India, Vietnam, Philippines, South Korea, Marshall Islands and Chile (Punta Arenas and RapaNui) who worked alongside Rosmini students to engage in an inquiry related to the impact of climate change on the physical, social and indigenous environment.

Our on-line audience reached six continents. 

Former student and former TOTCUS leader Jack Hollewand remarked that he was pleased to see many of the projects moving toward action rather than just gathering information and sharing that. In particular it was pleasing to see the expansion of the microplastics projects to include surveying and comparing results of beach sand and moving further into tyre tread shedding and the movement of micro/nanoplastics through the human body. 

The freshwater group has also expanded to engage in a more in-depth study on Lake Pupuke. And a new group made up of Chiwis (Chilean and Kiwi students) examining just how climate proof and functional school classrooms are. These projects will continue to expand with focus in 2026.

The Rosmini TOTCUS membership will meet this week to discuss next year's plans before heading off on summer holidays -- hoping that everyone will become more accepting of our need to seek adaptation means to our changing world and doing their best over summer and beyond to protect our natural environment.