EarthLab News
Finding My Place in Climate Work Beyond the Lab
By Angelina Durbin
Climate Health Risk Tool Communications Intern, Summer 2025
For the majority of my life, I believed that climate work had a single entry point. If I wanted to make a meaningful contribution, I needed to be an engineer or a researcher who spent hours in the lab each day. This belief was instilled in me early on due to my educational background.
An Olympic orientation: UW Climate Impacts Group and Washington Sea Grant pilot a learning institute for emerging environmental professionals
Sixteen emerging environmental professionals – of different backgrounds, but together undertaking a new chapter in their careers near where the Elwha empties itself into the Strait of Juan de Fuca, on the Olympic Peninsula. They were part of a new week-long professional development opportunity designed through a partnership between the UW Climate Impacts Group and Washington Sea Grant. EarthLab team members supported the project and the story.
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Applying for the Research Fellowship Program
The Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center (NW CASC) Research Fellowship Program supports research related to climate adaptation for Northwest natural and cultural resource management and provides training in the principles and practices of developing decision-relevant science. The NW CASC invites applications for its 2026-2027 Research Fellowship Program from graduate students at University of Washington (UW), Boise State University (BSU), Oregon State University (OSU), Portland State University (PSU) University of Montana (UM), Washington State University (WSU) and Western Washington University (WWU) and from postdoctoral scholars at BSU, OSU, PSU, UM, WSU and WWU (this fellowship cannot provide funding for postdocs at UW).
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Q&A with our summer interns: Studying Adaptation, Building Skills for a Career in Climate
Every summer, the Climate Impacts Group hosts several interns from the EarthLab Summer Internship Program who reliably provide fresh and valuable input on our projects while receiving career development support. This year, their five interns entered the program representing a breadth of disciplines — computer science, education, business marketing & sustainability, medical anthropology and biology. They worked with the Washington State Climate Office on a flood modeling analysis project and Inclusive Excellence evaluation; with the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center on science communications and invasive mussel research; and with CIG scientists on mutual aid research. We’re already looking forward to hosting next year’s cohort. Before we close this chapter, we would like to share a few of the interns’ experiences – read on for a Q & A with Gavin Graham, MJ Powers, and Vickey Ye.
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Learn Climate + Public Health Research Methods with the Reach Fellowship
The University of Washington Research and Engagement on Adaptation for Climate and Health (REACH) Center is hosting the inaugural Implementation and Evaluation Fellowship, designed for health practitioners and researchers. Applications are due by November 28th at 5 pm PT. REACH is part of the Center for Health and the Global Environment, an EarthLab member organization.
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Crossing the Cascades: The Importance of Inclusive Environmental Communication
By Ella Gebers
Storytelling for Social Change Intern, Summer 2025
Growing up in Wenatchee meant growing up hiking in the foothills, swimming in the Columbia River, and skiing in the mountains. My love for the outdoors blossomed into a love for the environment and a deep appreciation for the childhood it gave me.
During my first year at the University of Washington, I discovered I could use my creativity to design for people with inclusivity in mind through the Human Centered Design and Engineering major.
Finding Connection Through EarthLab’s Cohort Model
By Brianna Blanchard
Storytelling for Social Change Intern, Summer 2024
I was a sophomore in high school when the 2020 lockdown happened. Now that I am almost done with my junior year at the University of Washington, I’ve had lots of time to reflect on what the last five years have taught me about isolation, connection, and the importance of community.
Applications Now Open for Climate Equity and Resilience Summer Institute
The Climate Impacts Group is now accepting applications for a three-week summer graduate program. This program is open to master’s, doctoral, and post-doc students, and early career practitioners (within five years of a terminal graduate degree). The priority deadline to apply is February 28 and the final deadline is March 17 at 5PM PT.
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Conserving and communicating on my own terms: My empowering (and muddy) summer as an EarthLab intern
By McKenna Sweet
Conservation Science Intern, Summer 2024
I want to go into wildlife conservation.
This is something I’ve known since my sophomore year of high school after watching an episode of Planet Earth II that highlighted the endangered Indri lemurs, who are endemic to Madagascar. This is also something I tell people when they ask what my majors are and what I want to do after I graduate.
NextGen Narratives | Building A Bridge Between Science and Lived Experience
By Caroline Hale
Climate Justice Academy Evaluation & Coordination Intern, Summer 2024
I grew up very curious about the environment and the natural world around me; as I have grown, so has this curiosity. Questions that pique my interest include: what level of responsibility do we as humans have to protect the environment? What does protection even mean, and do some people carry more responsibility for environmental stewardship than others?
