Thriving Earth Exchange is pleased to announce our September 2024 cohort of Community Science Fellows!

They’ll be working with communities across the United States, Mexico and South America to launch impactful community science projects.  The partnership will connect communities with scientists and technical experts and support them as they work together to tackle local challenges related to natural hazards, natural resources and climate change. Stay tuned for more information about the impactful projects to come from this launch and the communities who lead and inspire them!

Abraham Adhanom is an Associate Professor of Management at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California. He is also is a faculty member at the UCLA International Institute. He teaches and develops graduate and undergraduate courses including Project Management, Operations Management, Business Process Management, Organizational Performance Improvement, International Project Management, and related courses. Abraham also teaches African Languages and Linguistics courses. He is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Business Process Management Professional (BPMP), and Certified Master Coach (CMC). He also leads corporate, public and non-profit consulting initiatives in his area of expertise. Abraham holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Management Information Systems, Master’s in International Business/Intercultural Studies, and PhD in Management/Information Systems Management. His research interests focus on Project Management, Organizational Performance Improvement, Process Modeling and Transformation, and African Strategic Change Management focused on African Colonial Legacies and Post-Colonial Leadership Development

María Lourdes Becerra-Zavala – I am an anthropologist and I live and work in the city of Xalapa in Veracruz, Mexico. I am a professor at the Universidad Veracruzana. My research experience includes cultural and natural heritage, cultural policies and cultural rights. I am in charge of the Observatory of Cultural Policies of the Universidad Veracruzana.

Since 2017 I have worked science community research approach with the participation of colleagues from universities such as the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the Universidad Autónoma de Coahuila, and the Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noreste. I think that as researchers we can communicate the knowledge in non-written formats such as maps, photography, video, so that we can reach a wider audience.

You can take a look at my work in the website: www.uv.mx/opc

Natalie Bennett is a PhD student in the Environmental Studies Department at CU Boulder. Broadly, her work probes the social and behavioral dimensions of climate change risk management and adaptation. Her current research focuses on wildfire risk and addresses the need for at-risk individuals and communities to live safely with fire, a naturally occurring ecosystem process, while also adapting to changing fire regimes and heightened risks due to climate change. Before entering graduate school, Natalie worked in climate adaptation and vulnerability planning, science communication, and community science for the Federal government, the nonprofit sector, and an environmental consulting firm.

Ananyo Bhattacharya is a Ph.D. candidate at Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is originally from the city of Vadodara, India. His primary research focuses on investigating the physical and chemical process governing planetary atmospheres, and their space environment. He has been a fellow of Entrepreneurs Leadership Program at U-M Center for Entrepreneurship where he worked on development of infant warming solutions for low resource communities. He has represented the university as a delegate to UNFCCC COP 28. As a graduate student and scientist in-training, he is interested in
development of technical solutions for social impact. Through the Thriving Earth Exchange program, he seeks to learn from the community and partner with professionals to integrate scientific research into solutions for positive change. He likes reading, poetry and exploring new places. You can reach him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ananyobhatt0101/

Olivia Boraiko graduated with honors in Earth & Environmental Science from Tulane University in 2021, where she eagerly pursued minors in Public Health and Geology, while earning a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. While studying, she worked in Dr. Gasparini’s Geomorphology and Landscape Evolution Research group, culminating her academic experience by independently designing and presenting an honors thesis on the hydrology of intermittent streams. After graduation, Olivia worked as a hydrology assistant for the Geological Society of America’s Scientists in Parks Program at Monocacy National Battlefield, then further continued her passion for environmental advocacy as a Natural Resource Advisor for the US Fish & Wildlife Service during seasonal wildfire events. She feels most connected to the land while overseeing natural resource protection during wildfire suppression activities, and leading restoration projects to mitigate suppression-related damages.

Cam Chavez Reed (they/them) is a PhD student at The University of New Mexico (UNM) where they study how rivers record tectonic signals of the construction of modern landscapes in the US Southwest. A 13th generation nuevomexicane, they are passionate about sense of place and identity in geoscience and how place based knowledge can enable futures thinking approaches. Particularly, they focus on decolonial methods in geoscience and recentering reciprocal relationships between people and place in geosciences. Cam also uses tools like remote sensing, SAR, lidar, and geochronology to study the landscapes of the Southwest. They hold two undergraduate degrees (Geosciences and Sustainability) from Arizona State University and a masters in Earth and Planetary Sciences from UNM.

Sushree Sangita Dash is a doctoral candidate at McGill University, Canada and a research participant at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. She serves as a Sustainable Lab Ambassador at McGill University and is a recipient of NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral (CGS D) and FRQNT awards. Her current research focuses on leveraging remote sensing and modeling techniques to accurately assess greenhouse gas emissions from feedlots.

Beyond her academic pursuits, Sushree is passionate about community engagement and has been actively involved in outreach initiatives to raise awareness about climate change and sustainable environment. She is a travel enthusiast, yoga practitioner, and a vivid reader.

Lora Davis is the Technical Project Manager for the Water Power Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She lives in Knoxville, TN with her husband and their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Prior to moving to Knoxville, Lora spent most of her life in the DC metro area. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Her current interests include affordable clean energy, workforce development, and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. In her free time, Lora enjoys knitting, crocheting, and volunteering. Before transitioning into project management, she worked as an administrative assistant in the Biosciences division and taught middle school math.

Melese Getenet Dessie is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Energy Geosciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He earned his PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of Granada, Spain, in 2023. During his doctoral research, he focused on the intricate processes of mineral self-assembly and pattern formation in alkaline soda lakes, employing advanced techniques like X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and geochemical modeling. At Berkeley Lab, his research is centered on understanding the roles of mineral-water interfaces in chemical-mechanical processes involved in rock formation, deformation, and their implications for energy and climate applications. Specifically, he investigates carbonate minerals’ interfacial energy, thermodynamics, and the stress-driven dissolution-precipitation processes that could occur in natural and engineered geochemical systems.

Carly Frank is currently a PhD student in the interdisciplinary Ecological Science and Engineering program and the Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Science Department at Purdue University. She received her MSc from the University of Maine in Quaternary and Climate Studies. In addition to her MSc, Carly earned a graduate certificate in One Health.

Her research uses qualitative methods to examine barriers to research output in Africa, as well as how African researchers view coproduction with international partners, and quantitative methods to explore changes in extreme heat. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking with her dogs, reading science fiction novels and learning to throw pottery.

Monika Giri is a graduate research assistant and Ph.D. student in the Integrative Conservation and Anthropology program at the University of Georgia. Her research combines her passion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk management with anthropological insights. She holds an M.S. in Environment Management and a B.S. in Forestry Science. Professionally, Monika has served as a researcher in several interdisciplinary research projects on climate resilience, environmental justice, and resource governance. Her academic and professional journey is marked by a commitment to addressing complex environmental challenges through a blend of
scientific research, community engagement, and policy advocacy.

Valeria Gonzalez – photo and bio coming soon!

Anne Hylden has loved science since elementary school, when her mom led after-school Hands on Science programs for the kids in her class. Anne followed her curiosity to a Master’s degree in Chemistry and taught math and chemistry to high school and college students for twelve years. Wanting to expand her communication skills for broader audiences, she went back to school and is now finishing a Master’s degree in Science Writing. She is building a business as a freelance scriptwriter for video and audio projects.

Anne enjoys talking science with just about anyone—scientists and non-scientists alike. She believes in the power of open, respectful dialog for collective problem-solving. And she is excited about facilitating conversations between people who do necessary research and people whose communities can benefit from that research.

Chelsea Jones is a 2024 Community Science Fellow with Thriving Earth Exchange. Chelsea’s passion for community science ignited while completing her B.S. in Environmental Science at the University of Texas at Austin. Chelsea participated in Longhorn Stream Team, a group of students dedicated to paddling Texas rivers and collecting water quality data from hard-to-access stretches of streams. Her early involvement in community science has guided years of work at the nexus of water and society. Her research has included karst hydrology in the Klamath-Siskiyou Mountains, industrial groundwater use in the Permian Basin, and frequency of freshwater fish kills in Texas. While working as a senior research analyst with the State of Texas, Chelsea facilitated interdisciplinary research projects to address some of the Southwest’s natural resource data gaps. Her projects were thoughtfully designed to provide practical tools to support system-level resource management decisions. Chelsea’s role expanded to include extensive public outreach efforts to engage local stakeholders and communicate increasingly complex ecosystem research. Chelsea is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico where she enjoys hiking, canoeing, and whitewater rafting.

Elvira Lafuente is a scientist (with a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology), originally from Spain, who has mastered the art of international relocations after living in more than five different countries and keeping about 30 houseplants alive and thriving along the way. Based in Lisbon and fluent in ‘Portuñol,’ she is also a DIY enthusiast with a creative yet practical approach to life.

Her academic research explores how organisms cope with environmental challenges like changes in temperature or pollution. She mainly focuses on how these factors influence the development of organisms and the evolution of populations. Elvira is passionate about mentoring, fostering inclusivity in academia, and engaging with the public through science. When she is not immersed in research, you will likely find her hiking to the top of a mountain to unwind or listening to the soothing bubbles from her snorkeling tube as she explores underwater worlds.

Kyungsun Lee (she/her/hers) is currently an assistant professor of Geography in the Department of History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. As an interdisciplinary environmental social scientist, Kyungsun‘s research focuses on investigating the governance of socio-technical systems for urban water sustainability transitions. She is particularly interested in the social-political aspects of unconventional freshwater resources, including desalination, wastewater reuse, and stormwater management systems. Her recent research examines how desalination technology is developed, diffused, and implemented in specific locations, and the role of key stakeholders and their networks in each of these processes. Kyungsun earned her Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resources Policy from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and completed her postdoctoral training at Texas A&M University. She holds a master’s degree in the History of Science and a bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Biological Engineering, both from Seoul National University. Outside of her academic pursuits, Kyungsun enjoys hiking and drawing. She is also passionate about science communication, seeking to bridge the gap between scientific research and public understanding.

Jessica (Jessy) Morgan received her PhD from the University of Chicago in 2023 in Biophysical Sciences and her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Smith College. She is passionate about community science, science education, and outreach.

Chioma Onwumelu is a passionate geoscientist specializing in data analysis, subsurface investigations, and environmental assessment. With a strong commitment to bridging science and community needs, she focuses on developing sustainable solutions through collaboration and research. Chioma holds a B-tech degree from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria, and a Ph.D. and MS degree in Geology from the University of North Dakota. Beyond her professional pursuits, Chioma is deeply involved in volunteering for various educational and community initiatives. Her dedication to knowledge-sharing and community engagement underscores her holistic approach to advancing the field of geoscience and fostering a more inclusive and informed society.

Mary Patrick holds an MBA in International Business and an undergraduate degree in Human Resource Management (HRM). With a diverse background as a youth leader, peer educator, system thinker, training assistant, mentor, and coach, Mary brings a wealth of experience to her role. Currently, she is making impactful strides at SAYDS Kenya, where she is dedicated to “planting seeds of change” and developing systems leaders capable of facilitating lasting social transformation. At SAYDS, Mary plays a pivotal role in equipping young people with complexity and systems thinking skills essential for addressing complex social issues. The SAYDS program empowers youth across Kenya to critically analyze social challenges in their communities and devise sustainable solutions. This initiative is fostering a growing community of engaged citizens committed to advancing their nation and Africa.

Mary’s work involves tackling youth civic marginalization and utilizing design thinking, science of learning concepts, and various research methods to craft effective strategies for youth engagement. By addressing issues of exclusion and disengagement, she ensures that young people are actively involved in governance, policy-making, and solving social problems. Her approach is centered on coaching, capacity-building, and nurturing talent, with a focus on practical, realistic change rather than individual heroics. She emphasizes the importance of systems thinking within the Accelerate Impact Model (AIM), which guides social enterprises through the Discover, Build, and Grow phases. This methodology helps social entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of societal challenges, ultimately leading to more effective and sustainable outcomes. Looking ahead, Mary aims to further explore and integrate systems thinking into her work, helping youth make sense of their observations and unlock their potential for impactful change. Her dedication to fostering a collaborative and inclusive environment underscores her commitment to developing future leaders who are adept at tackling social issues with innovative and holistic approaches.

Denissa Purba is a PhD Candidate in Civil Engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). She holds a MSc from UIUC and a BSc from the Institut Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia, in the same field. Her research focuses on integrating electrified transportation planning, energy technology analysis, and evacuation management modeling to enhance community resilience against disasters and climate change. Denissa’s work aims to promote the adoption of alternative fuel vehicle technologies and improve the efficacy of emergency preparedness and education. Denissa is a UIUC Mavis Future Faculty Fellow, a World Bank Youth Summit Delegate, and a Women Transportation Seminar (WTS) Scholar. At UIUC, she serves as the external partnership coordinator for the Graduate Society of Women Engineers Illinois, actively creating opportunities for interdisciplinary networking and skill development for women in STEM.

Suzanne M. (Suki) Smaglik (her/ella) is a geochemist who lives in east-central Washington state and is currently teaching chemistry at Yakima Valley College (a Hispanic Serving Institution) and geology at Laramie County Community College Online.  She has a BA in Chemistry and Geology from Beloit College, a MSc in Geochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines, and is ABD at the University of Hawai’I – Mano’a in Geology and Geophysics.  Her research interests have taken her from the some of the oldest volcanic rocks in the world (Minnesota & Wyoming) to recently erupted volcanic rocks on the ocean floor (near Easter Island).  Having spent the last 22 years teaching at community colleges, she has become a generalist and has moved her focus to climate change, water, and human interactions.  She enjoys doing science education outreach and volunteers with several local organizations. She also mentors early undergraduate research projects with a variety of topics.  In her free time she likes to read, cook, camp, hike and forest bathe with her dogs, or snuggle with her kitties.

Yixin Sun, known to many as Sunny, is a PhD candidate in economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Her research focuses on understanding the impacts of air pollution and people’s perceptions surrounding these impacts. Sunny employs a diverse toolkit of field experiments, surveys, and econometric methods in her work. Committed to fostering inclusive and comprehensive research, Sunny actively collaborates with a wide range of stakeholders, including local NGOs, policymakers, and fellow researchers from diverse backgrounds. This collaborative approach has broadened her perspective on the definition of research expertise. When she’s not looking at air pollution data, Sunny enjoys swimming, watching comedy, and embroidering.