Since 1989, Penumbra has published the artistic and literary talents of students and creatives regionally, nationally, and internationally. As a publication, Penumbra is unique; its student-led staff personally solicits, selects, and edits its content and design.  

The topic of the conference invites contributors to reflect on the significance of ECOlogy as key concern in the United States of America and around the world today. Some of the questions the conference hopes to discuss are: have decision makers and communities developed effective strategies of dealing with climate change and the ECOlogical crises of this century, has American culture addressed the problems that threaten the ECOsystem responsibly and equitably, does ECOcriticism help in raising environmental awareness when applied to American cultural productions.