2024 | Highlighting Local Voices in Global Change Through Diverse Media

IGC Capstone Project | Interfaces of Global Change

Highlighting Local Voices in Global Change Through Diverse Media

Student Members:

• Carla López Lloreda, Biological Sciences
• Rebekah Riddle, School of Public and International Affairs
• Abir Jain, Fish and Wildlife Conservation 
• Casey McLaughlin, Biological Sciences
• Oluwaseyi Dasho, Geoscience

Faculty Mentor:

• Dr. Leighton Reid, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

There are many marginalized voices missing in global change research, management, and education. Especially those from places that are at the forefront of climate change, such as small islands, coastal areas, countries with lower economic resources, and places with historic environmental destruction. Importantly, these voices tend to be missing in mainstream media and in educational settings.

Initially, the group wanted to give voice to scientists of different disciplines who work locally in their own countries and regions and have experience working on topics such as environmental justice, global change, and environmental degradation. The group's aim was to get a sense of these scientists' personal experience and understand their hopes for improvement. 

The group's method was to interview diverse scientists, which they turned into a popular science article with illustrations.

Their hope was to not only highlight these stories, but also to increase the diversity of scientists that students see in education, which increases self-confidence and interest in science, and exposes others who may not have opportunities to directly interact with science research to this work.