On Thursday, December 12, GCC faculty affiliates, postdoctoral affiliates, and Interfaces of Global Change (IGC) fellows came together for an afternoon of sharing ideas and celebration of student and postdoc achievements. With a festive, cozy atmosphere and a program centered on collaboration, the event reflected what the GCC does best: bringing people together across disciplines to exchange perspectives, spark new partnerships, and strengthen our community.

The afternoon began with welcoming remarks and updates from GCC Director Dr. Bill Hopkins, who shared highlights from the past year as well as upcoming events and activities. His remarks underscored the continued growth of the GCC community and the importance of creating intentional opportunities for affiliates and fellows to come together, learn from one another, and build lasting connections.

GGCC staff member passes orange hat over welcome table to IGC fellow. Attendees gather and chat during break service

IGC Capstone Projects: Learning Beyond the Classroom

One of the most anticipated portions of the afternoon was the series of IGC Capstone Project presentations, where graduate students showcased how interdisciplinary training translates into real-world engagement.

Capstone projects give students the opportunity to design and lead collaborative projects that align with their professional goals while strengthening skills in teamwork, interdisciplinarity, and science communication.

This year’s presentations reflected the breadth of interests and creativity within the IGC community:

  • How are invasive species managed in developing countries?
  • River Discoveries in Montgomery County
  • Roots of Change: Inmate Natural Resources Education
  • VT Graduate Student Perspectives on Data Analysis
  • Trash to Treasure: Reduce, Reuse, Remix
  • Ripples of Change: Art for Action

The presentations highlighted student growth and development, and their creative approaches that connect science, data, and art with diverse stakeholder communities.

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Synergy Grants: Building New Research Partnerships

The afternoon continued with Synergy Grant presentations, featuring projects supported by the GCC Early Career Synergy Grants program. This initiative is designed to foster new and innovative collaborations between GCC faculty affiliates while supporting the professional development of postdoctoral scholars and advanced IGC fellows.

The presentations showcased research that crosses disciplines, geographies, and methodologies:

  • Social-ecological drivers of arapaima poaching in the Amazon, Priscila dos Reis Cunha
  • Expanding Sierra Leone’s One Health initiatives to include deforestation, urban development, and their threats to human, wildlife, and ecosystem health, Dr. Tori Hymel
  • Implications of selections of methodological approach on inferences of ecological niche evolution, Dr. Claudia Nuñez-Penichet
  • Effects of co-infection of a zoonotic and enzootic wildlife pathogen: integrating avian host responses and mosquito host preferences, Dr. Anna Perez-Umphrey

These presentations exemplified the spirit of the Synergy Grants program by encouraging new partnerships, supporting early career researchers, and promoting  new innovative research directions that may not emerge otherwise.

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Ending the Year Together

The event concluded with wrap-up remarks and transitioned into a festive networking reception, where the focus shifted to celebration and community. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks, captured memories at a photo booth, and were greeted by a surprise visit from the HokieBird, adding to the holiday cheer.

As conversations continued and laughter filled the room, December Discussions felt like more than an end-of-year gathering, it was a celebration of the community that makes the GCC what it is. We are deeply grateful to our faculty affiliates, postdoctoral scholars, and IGC fellows whose curiosity, collaboration, and commitment drive our work forward.

Large group of GCC and IGC affiliates gather with HokieBird at the photo booth. IGC fellows huddle for a picture while other GCC affiliates watch and smile. IGC fellows prep their props while in the photo booth area HokieBird poses with arms spread wide next to a black lab. The dog is holiding a red bag with a whte VT on the front of it.

This year’s event was especially meaningful as we celebrate the GCC’s 10th year as a Center. We look forward to continuing this journey together, building new connections, advancing innovative research, and shaping the future of global change scholarship in the years ahead.

December Discussions | December 12, 2025