Class of 1997 25th Reunion - Program & Schedule - 1997

Friday night music playlist from DJs Butta, Spaam, & TV Theme music curated hour

Bar closes at 1AM

Start your Saturday morning (weather permitting) with some gentle stretching and breathing exercises, and get your body feeling "yoga good" for a busy day of reunion activities! This is a mixed-level class featuring modifications for all levels of ability, so whether you have been practicing for years or have never touched a yoga mat, everyone can have an enjoyable experience in this class. Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. No previous yoga experience necessary; children and all ages welcome.

Your first stop when arriving in New Haven is Central Registration where you will be able to check in and pick up your keys if you are staying in campus housing. Once checked in, you can proceed to Old Campus, our home for the weekend.

After checking in at Central Registration, head to Old Campus, our home for the weekend. YAA staff and students at the Class Help Desk in the Dwight Hall Common Room will be ready to hand out nametags and reunion souvenirs and answer your questions throughout the weekend.

Shu Hu, Assistant Professor of Chemical & Environmental Engineering

One hour of sunlight reaching the earth equals one year of global energy usage. We now use solar energy at a global scale: some states even produce over 90% of electricity from sunlight, but only occasionally. The main challenge now is to store the solar energy from a hot summer day for later use in cold winter, that is, long-duration storage. Professor Hu's group makes novel materials that directly store solar energy in the form of carbon-free green hydrogen at scale. The stored hydrogen is not just fuel; it is a useful chemical for synthesizing fertilizers, producing steel, and upgrading petroleum.  

Oswald Schmitz, Oastler Professor of Population and Community Ecology, Yale School of the Environment

There is a critical bridge between biodiversity and climate that is increasingly recognized by scientists. From wolves to elephants and wildebeest to whales and fish, healthy populations of wild animal species can have major – but currently underappreciated and undervalued - positive impacts on carbon drawdown and storage. Professor Schmitz will discuss emerging research that is showing that by bringing back and conserving wildlife populations to significant, near historic levels, we have the potential to supercharge climate mitigation. This science is called: “Animating the Carbon Cycle.” Combining this nature-based solution with an array of other solutions and technologies and changed human behaviors can revolutionize our ability to change the trajectory of climate change. 

David Skelly, Frank R. Oastler Professor of Ecology, Yale School of the Environment; Director, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History

When the Peabody Museum was created in 1866 it was part of a broad effort by Yale College to embrace the sciences - a new way to understand the world. From its inception, the museum was intended to be integrated with the experiences of Yale students. In 2024, we will re-open a completely renovated Peabody with a renewed dedication to undergraduate engagement and support of teaching and research across the University.

Stephanie Wiles, Henry J. Heinz II Director, Yale University Art Gallery

On March 13, 2020, the Gallery closed its doors to the public in response to an alarming increase of COVID-19 cases being reported across the country. Within a week, nearly every cultural institution in America had followed suit. September 2021 marked the beginning of a return to our pre-pandemic ability to share collections and exhibitions with students and the public. Stephanie Wiles, the Henry J Heinz II Director, will discuss important acquisitions made during the pandemic through the generosity of many donors, coupled with strategic purchases. Many of these artworks are currently on view in the Recent Acquisitions exhibition.