Special Programs
The VERGE 23 special programs are a combination of activities, sessions and programs — featuring bold and innovative voices, artwork and ideas — that leverage the power of technology to address the climate crisis and build a clean economy.
Evening Activities
Beat! That! Heat!
A Climate Action Game Show
Date: Tuesday, October 24th (8:30-11:00pm), Game Show from (9:00-10:00pm)
Location: Guildhouse, 420 First St, San Jose, CA 95113
Imagine if Family Feud, Celebrity Lipsync Battle, and Nickelodeon’s Double Dare all joined forces to save the planet. Welcome to Beat! That! Heat! - an interactive game show where players contribute to climate solutions while having a great time. The game is a 1-hour experience where teams compete in wacky absurd challenges while they learn about the science and the art of cooling the planet. Drawdown? Check. Carbon Metric Tons? Check. 80s-inspired Dance-offs? Triple check. No advance sign-up is required to attend this activity.
Rise Up: After Dark Party
Date: Wednesday, October 25th (8:30pm-12:00am)
Location: The Ritz (400 S 1st St, San Jose, CA 95112)
The Rise Up: After Dark Party is indeed the official fundraiser for GreenBiz.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing and empowering BIPOC professionals to accelerate a just transition to a clean economy. The funds raised from this event support GreenBiz.org and its flagship Emerging Leaders Program.
Activations and Experiences at VERGE
IDEO Speculative Futures
Immersive, futuristic vignettes about how business and society will have to reconfigure themselves to thrive and grow within our planetary boundaries. Each vignette combines human insight with emerging technology to imagine how we might address a complex sustainability challenge:
-
Carbon Transparency
-
Waste-less Living
-
Electrification of Everything
-
Nature Rights & Rites
More information can be found on their website here.
Zendarium Recharge Room
Presented by Rainforest Connection
A multi-sensory installation crafted by Bay Area artist, Brian Schrier. Drawing inspiration from Bernie Krause, Schrier transports viewers into the heart of the Amazon rainforest, engaging sight, sound, touch, and smell. The installation employs Rainforest Connection’s nature recording hardware to capture authentic sounds of the Amazon, tracking climate change, migration patterns, species density, and illegal logging. These sounds, presented through an eight-channel surround soundscape, are complemented by dynamic lighting, temperature, and humidity variations, creating a synesthetic environment that authentically replicates the original rainforest settings. This immersive experience is a call to action, aiming to inspire respect and understanding of these delicate ecosystems at risk, and promoting conservation awareness through experiential art.
Pachama Nature Corridor
A walkway that bridges the two worlds of Verge and Bloom, and in doing so, invites attendees to go on a journey with Pachama and understand how we see carbon in action and approach the journey to 1.5 degrees with a growth mindset and nature as our partner. This corridor will move from one end of nature, degraded to restored, while narrating the journey to get there and hitting on key ways that technology visualizes the journey.
More information can be found on their website here.
EV Live x General Motors
An immersive, virtual electric vehicle showroom that allows users to interact one-on-one with EV specialists and learn everything about electric vehicles, and a Brightdrop Zevo 600 vehicle.
More information can be found on their website here.
Art Program
The VERGE Art Program is an integral part of VERGE 23. We believe that art has the power to transcend traditional boundaries and spark meaningful conversations, inspiring change in the process. Our program showcases exceptional works of art from talented artists across the globe. These pieces illuminate the critical themes of our time, particularly those related to climate change and sustainability. The selection process was meticulous, with each submission evaluated for its ability to engage with our audience. Learn more here.
Tours
Offsite Tree Planting x One Tree Planted
Come join us for a morning tree-planting event at Veggielution Community Farm in San Jose, where you will learn about an exciting community-building farm. Veggielution's mission is to connect people from diverse backgrounds through food and farming to build community in East San Jose.
