New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) is the state’s largest student directed grassroots organization with chapters on college campuses throughout the state. We teach students a range of practical skills while working on local and statewide campaigns regarding voter empowerment, affordable higher education, environmental protection, and government-reform. Last semester, NYPIRG registered over 1,800 Queens College students to vote, organized events and rallies to highlight the dangers of environmental pollution. This semester NYPIRG at QC is fighting to keep higher education affordable, while continuing our efforts to protect the environment. In a statewide coalition effort to enhance the state funding allocated to SUNY/CUNY schools, we brought over 500 students to Albany on March 2nd to lobby their elected officials. Students also focused their efforts on combatting climate change by contacting their local elected officials and the governor to protest the $7.6 billion bailout to nuclear plants, rather than focusing resources on renewable energy. To continue NYPIRG’s environmental protection efforts and to celebrate Earth Week 2017, we will be hosting a panel discussion, “Earth Day 2017: Climate Chaos, Corporate Greed” on April 20th starting at 3:30pm in the Summit Flex Space. The discussion will cover the science of climate change, climate law, and the ongoing investigation into Exxon Mobil by multiple state attorney generals, including our own, Eric Schneiderman.