Week Ten

Back from spring break and into the swing of things again! 

This week, my primary focus is the Combat Climate Change Club (C4). As secretary, I'm helping coordinate any last-minute details for March 20th, the 3rd Annual Climate Change and Sustainability Conference hosted at UAA. I'll be attending on Zoom, just like other Alaskan community members that can't make it to Anchorage for the special event. My presentation this year is focused on communicating climate change and climate sciences to people who deny the existence of or "don't believe" climate change is driven by fossil fuel emissions. This topic is, at its core, the reason I am pursuing a minor in Professional Writing. I aim to be the most effective public communicator, regardless of the audience, and that includes being open to listening to all sides and perspectives. In order to truly make sustainable change, we need the support of the majority of constituents, and working on how we address climate action within our communities is a starting point to make progress towards that goal. 

While my presentation does not promise you'll be able to talk to that family member about climate change when you see them next, I do hope that the information I included will aid scientists, environmental activists, and people generally just concerned about the state of our national opinion towards climate and health sciences. 

Above: the slideshow and notes for my Climate Conference presentation. I have used the tips and information from this research to lead and follow many climate-denial conversations, with family and with strangers, and have seen some success. Of course, you won't change anyone's mind if you set out to do so... but as a scientist, sometimes it's nice to have a reminder of the way these conversations should flow: easily, without hate spewing from one side or the other. 

In addition to the Climate Conference, I also had the opprotunity to speak with my teachers from City View Charter's middle school classes, and share with these students how I went from being a middle school student to a college student in Alaska, studying environmental science and interning with NOAA. Questions they had for me ranged from, "how did you know college was the right choice for you over a trade school?" to "what's your cat's name?" I did my best to answer all questions thoroughly, and Taiga (the cat) only sat on my keyboard once, while I answered what inspired me to learn more about environmental science. 

It was a fantastic motivational boost to be brought back to my roots, see the smiling faces of educators that taught me math/history/science when I was as young as seven years old, and share pictures of Alaskan animals with students who just might be inspired to learn more about Alaska or post-high school education opprotunities such as Semester By the Bay. Especially considering the similarities between the teaching styles-- SBB uses "Experiential Learning" or fieldwork and hands-on application, and CVCS uses "Expeditionary Learning" which is the same thing-- I was extremely proud to represent two of my favorite communities. We are the crew that makes history, makes waves, and collaborates together. 

If you want to learn more about City View Charter School, please check the About Me tab at the top of this page or use the button below. I highly recommend the K-8th grade school for any youth if you live in the Hillsboro, Oregon area, but there are other opprotunities on my About Me page to get involved if you aren't in that area.