Current Cohort

Grace conducts research on energy justice and agriculture in both the United States and Ghana, focusing on human-centered methods and storytelling. Through ethnography, Grace aims to create more rounded and integrated understandings of underrepresented communities around the world. Areas of interest at COP29: climate justice, just energy transition, indigenous populations.

He is currently pursuing an honors thesis assessing how aid and development policies have impacted ecosystem service provisioning in South and Central America. In addition to his research, Aidan is also a leader in Emory’s outdoor community, where he can be found teaching students at the climbing wall, guiding backpacking trips, or practicing with the climbing team. Off-campus, he has worked in the field as a ranger and in the office as a consulting analyst for Black & Veatch. In the future, he plans to continue a career where he can address interlinked environmental and social challenges. Areas of interest at COP29: climate finance, carbon markets, nature-based solutions, energy transition.

This year Sarah is president of Emory Gender Expansive and Women’s Ultimate frisbee, Climate Action Chair of the Emory Climate Reality Project, and was an orientation coordinator. Sarah is from Washington, DC where she has interned at its water utility and transit system, and she is interested in local-scale solutions to equitably manage natural resources in ways that improve health outcomes, pursue environmental justice, and prevent further greenhouse gas emissions. At COP she hopes to learn more about what this looks like around the world, and at some point in her career hopes to work on transportation and urban sustainability. Sarah also loves to dance, walk, see live music, and sew.

Dana’s thesis focuses on soil science and geospatial techniques to explain methane cycle processes within a long-term research forest in Maine. She previously earned her BS in Environmental Science (Earth & Atmospheric Science track) and a Minor in Music at Emory College in May 2023. She began her college years co-founding Emory’s chapter of the Climate Reality Project and the Emory Climate Coalition where she trained climate advocates and encouraged college administration to take active roles in our collective futures. Additionally, Dana has been involved in community advocacy and climate justice projects, most notably with the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE) as a Just Energy Academy member and a Keep That Same Energy Youth Ambassador. A lifelong multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, Dana performs her original environmental advocacy songs with the goal of building more resilient communities for the betterment of our planet. After Emory, Dana wants to conduct and publish novel research as a scientist for a climate science-based organization and continue to use music as her science communication device.

Willow is currently a Climate Justice Intern at CARE International where she is working on developing principles for locally-led mitigation. On campus, Willow serves as Lab Coordinator for Dr. Jola Ajibade’s Climate Resilience and Transformations Lab. She also serves as a teaching assistant for Dr. Ajibade’s Climate Solutions, Environmental Justice, and Community Resilience-Disasters respective courses. Upon her graduation in May, Willow will join the CDC’s Climate and Health Program where she will focus on translating climate science into practical resource for public health departments who are working to adapt and mitigate to the impacts of climate change in their region.

Previously, Catherine interned in the U.S. Senate and Acadia National Park. As a student activist, Catherine served in the Emory Climate Coalition and as the first Chair of Sustainability in the student government. During COP29, Catherine is interested in climate conflicts, power and oppression, economy, and science communication.