Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) presents a two-day event bringing together a diverse array of scholars — including scientists, engineers, humanists and artists — as well as students and community leaders to spark discussion of three intersecting themes: energy, environment and community engagement.

The festival, sponsored by VCU’s Science, Technology and Society (STS) Program, begins Oct. 1st and is being held in conjunction with the kickoff of VCU’s Year of the Environment.

The E-Festival includes a participatory “paint a recycling dumpster” art project, a special screening of Earthdome Productions’ film “The Next Industrial Revolution” and a daylong symposium on the issues of engagement and sustainability, which concludes with a panel discussion on the challenges for a sustainable energy future.

The VCU E-festival concludes Friday evening, Oct. 2nd, with a staged reading at the Grace Street Theatre of “Louis Slotin Sonata” produced by the Carpenter Science Theatre.