JOHNSON CITY (Aug. 31, 2020) – Dr. Audrey Depelteau, director of the ETSU Innovation Lab, was chosen to be a mentor in the first Climate Reality global virtual training held in July. Five hundred Climate Reality Leaders from around the world served as mentors for more than 10,000 participants. Climate crisis training focused on diversity, equity, inclusion
Depelteau’s graduate studies focused on environmental toxicology, and she trained
to be a Climate Reality Leader in 2013 to support Innovation Lab clients developing
green technologies. The Climate Reality Project (CRP), founded and chaired by Nobel
Laureate and former Vice President Al Gore, is dedicated to catalyzing a global solution
to the climate crisis. As a mentor in the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, Depelteau
is part of a global network of advocates and influencers trained to talk about the
impacts of climate change and the solutions at hand. Her role as mentor is to assist
and support new Climate Reality Leaders throughout their training and to support them
in taking action and building their capacity to drive change in their communities.
The CRP is committed to building a more just and equitable world, one where all voices
are heard and respected. They recognize that a diverse and inclusive movement is critical
to solving the climate crisis.
Depelteau previously mentored Gore’s top farm managers. As such, she not only assisted in finding panelists but she also attended the inaugural, invitation only gathering of The Climate Underground, a two-day conference hosted by Gore at his Caney Fork Farms in Carthage, Tennenssee, in October 2019. The conference convened leading farmers, scientists, entrepreneurs, chefs, researchers, policymakers and other experts to explore the intersection between soil health, food and healthy communities. Depelteau was one of 300 people invited to attend again this year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference will also be virtual.
In her role at the Innovation Lab, located at 2109 W. Market St., Depelteau assists
aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners to develop their ideas from concept
to commercialization in the technological fields. The lab offers wet and dry lab space,
office space, an entrepreneur resource center, meeting rooms and an innovation studio.
For more information about the Innovation Lab, visit etsu.edu/ilab or email innovationlab@etsu.edu.
Depelteau is available for virtual climate presentations and recently taught a climate class to high school students in Irapuato, Mexico. Contact Depelteau at depelteau@etsu.edu.