Pressing global issues such as clean water, gender equality, poverty and access to education will draw people from around the world to a United Nations-sponsored conference at Utah Valley University on Oct. 5-7. The “Why it Matters” conference will feature leading academic experts speaking on the U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

“I cannot think of a better place to convene and focus on these topics than a university,” said F. Wayne Vaught, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at UVU. “It is through sharing varied perspectives and engaging in robust dialogue in classrooms and public spaces, and against a backdrop of research, that we are most likely to find transformative ways to make the Earth a better place for all and for future generations.”

The conference will provide various opportunities to expand understanding and immerse in topics of interest.

“Selected presentations will be part of this conference and will include scholars from UVU and other universities from across the nation and around the world,” said Baldomero Lago, UVU’s Chief Officer of International Academic Administration and conference organizer. “In addition, there will be high-level speakers, including government and business leaders.”

In what will be an emotional and enlightening session, a panel of young refugees from several countries, including Ukraine, will share their experiences. Meanwhile, in the UVU ballroom, 2,000 newborn kits will be assembled by volunteers to benefit refugee populations.

In another event, models will walk a fashion show runway dressed in designer attire that exemplifies sustainable clothing and accessories. The “Why it Matters” conference offers something for everyone.

“The conference will include 13 thematic sessions with 52 speakers, a large-scale service project, a fashion show on ‘sustainable fashion’ with important designers from five different countries, over 100 scholarly presentations, eight side events, and several youth global network activities,” Lago said. “Participants should better understand the 2030 Global Agenda, adopted in 2015 under the approval of all the 193 member states of the UN. The goals are designed to be a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people on our planet now and into the future.”

This is not the first time Utah Valley University has hosted an event with the United Nations.

In 2019, the university partnered with Salt Lake City to bring the 68th annual Civil Society Conference to Utah. It was the largest event in the state since the 2002 Olympics, with 6,000 participants representing 141 countries.

“UVU was instrumental in bringing the UN Civil Society Conference to Utah in 2019. At a follow-up meeting in New York in February of 2020, I asked about the idea of UNAI (United Nations Academic Impact) organizing an academic conference. The answer was that they do not organize conferences but would support one if someone did,” Lago said.

The UVU Office for Global Engagement put the ball in motion with the understanding of the importance of what could be learned at the conference.

The conference harnesses strategies, expertise and resources across a broad spectrum of academic thought. The goal is to unleash a range of initiatives that ensure inclusive, safe, equitable, and sustainable development that could serve as a blueprint for higher education and other entities as they work to incorporate sustainable practices into their programs.

The conference is open to everyone. More information can be found at https://www.uvu.edu/global/wim22/index.html.

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