Roots of Sustainable Impact
Welcome to "Roots of Sustainable Impact," the weekly show where leaders of Greentech and organizations in the climate-critical space gain practical strategies and insights to build thriving, adaptable businesses from the inside out.
Join us every week for in-depth 1-on-1 interviews as we go behind the scenes to uncover how organizations with a positive impact operate and scale. We explore how to set the stage for sustainable growth by implementing the right systems, staff, processes, and partners.
Whether you're a founder or a leader, this podcast equips you with the knowledge to grow your enterprise and amplify your impact.
Roots of Sustainable Impact
Educating for Impact: Critical Thinking, Climate Action, and the Future of STEM — with Eric Magers
Hey there! In this episode of Roots of Sustainable Impact, I had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Magers — an educator, entrepreneur, and environmental champion who’s been on a mission to connect STEM education with real-world sustainability solutions. We dive deep into how he’s doing just that through his two organizations: Seaside Sustainability and the National STEM Honor Society.
Eric shared how he got his start (including a sweet Earth Day story involving his mom!), and how his path led him from teaching to founding organizations that are now shaping sustainability education across the U.S. and beyond.
We talk about why STEM is the most effective way to integrate sustainability into schools, how students are naturally gravitating toward solving environmental problems, and what it really takes to prepare the next generation for the world they’re inheriting — especially with fast-moving tech like AI in the mix.
He also drops some major insights on:
- Why critical thinking is the skill of the future
- How his internship program is building real-world changemakers
- What organizations can do today to better engage with students in the climate and clean tech space
It’s a conversation full of insight, optimism, and tangible action — and one that reminds us how education and innovation go hand in hand when we talk about building a better future.
Thanks for tuning in, and as always, I’d love to hear what resonates with you!
Connect with Eric:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-magers/
Eric's bio
Eric Magers is an award-winning educator and experiential education trainer with over 30 years of experience engaging youth in STEM and sustainability. He’s passionate about inspiring others through project-based learning and fostering responsible action in schools and communities. When we create environments in our schools and communities that promote and value responsible action, youth are encouraged to become leaders in this work.
Eric is the founder and director of Seaside Sustainability and the National STEM Honor Society, both dedicated to embedding sustainability and STEM education worldwide. He developed the nationally recognized Green Scholars curriculum and has been honored by the White House and nominated as Science Educator of the Year.
He holds two Master’s degrees in education, along with certifications in project-based learning and sustainable innovation. A New England native born the year of the first Earth Day, Eric grew up with a deep appreciation for nature and now encourages others to “never underestimate your power; be an informed consumer; think globally and act locally.”
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