

Spring 2025
From Ideas to Impact: A Student Showcase on UN Goals
π April 19 & 20, 2025
π7am PST / 10am EST / 10pm China Time
πZoom
Join us for a transformative 2-day virtual event showcasing groundbreaking student innovation and research aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals!
Unlock the Future: Witness Student-Led Solutions to Global Challenges
Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you believe in the power of youth to drive meaningful change? Then you won't want to miss "From Ideas to Impact: A Student Showcase on UN Goals."
This unique virtual event brings together visionary students, esteemed UN experts, and forward-thinking individuals to explore innovative solutions to pressing global issues. Over two dynamic days, you'll:
- Be Inspired: Witness captivating presentations and case studies from students tackling critical UN goals, from climate action to food security.
- Gain Expert Insights: Hear from renowned UN experts like Tommaso Paiar and Advit Nath, who bring decades of experience in global strategy and impact.
- Discover Cutting-Edge Research: Explore in-depth research papers on topics like climate change education and financial literacy, presented by the next generation of thought leaders.
- Celebrate Innovation: Be part of the excitement as we announce the winners of the IdeAction Global Pitch Competition and award funding from the LIL Venture Fund.
- Connect and Engage: Network with like-minded individuals and be part of a community dedicated to creating positive change.
*The Zoom link will be emailed to you upon registration*
Meet Our Esteemed Experts:
- Tommaso Paiar: Advisor at Catalyst Advisory, with 20 years of experience in UN, change management, and strategy consulting.
- Advit Nath: Senior Investment Advisor at Catalyst Advisory, with over 25 years of global experience, including significant work within the United Nations.
- Jiaqi Chen: Co-Founder & Associate Director at Catalyst Next.
Day 1: Viewing Innovation Through the UN Lens
- Kick off with the official launch of the Leadership & Innovation Labβs partnership with Catalyst Next.
- Hear a compelling keynote speech from UN expert Tommaso Paiar.
- Dive into student-led initiatives, including:
- Franklin Zhang's "30 Day Challenge"
- Alicia Li's "Food For Thought?" addressing food waste with AI
- Ciana Tzuo's "Tact&Tech" exploring innovative problem-solving.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion with Tommaso Paiar and Advit Nath.
Day 2: Exploring Research Inspired by UN Goals
- Discover groundbreaking research on critical topics:
- Connor Marshall on "Climate Change Education"
- Jack Andreuccetti on "The Determinants of Financial Literacy Programs in the US"
- Ninad Hosanagar on "UN Sustainable Development Goals: Exploring Sustainability in Relation to Climate and Health"
- Witness the excitement of the LIL Venture Fund as we announce the winners of the IdeAction Global Pitch Competition.
Organized by: