Megan is an undergraduate student double majoring in Political Science and Law, Societies, and Justice, with a minor in Human Rights. She is a member of the Interdisciplinary Honors Program, and an undergraduate fellow for the Center for American Politics and Public Policy. She is interested in a variety of topics including environmental injustice, political polarization, human rights, and political theory. Through the Political Science Honors Program, Megan is currently researching the influence of elite messaging on climate change polarization, and the potential of a united elite for promoting climate policy.

Forrest is an undergrad at the University of Washington in the Environmental Studies program. His interests include climate advocacy, community organizing, and gardening. Forrest advocates for comprehensive climate policy as the founder and chair of Sierra Club at the University of Washington and a member of the Sierra Club Seattle executive committee.

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science and Geography. My academic interests include environmental rights and systems in the Pacific Islands, and environmental policy, particularly in the carceral system.

Nolan is an undergraduate student double majoring in Political Science and History. He is interested in studying policies aimed toward a just transition to a net zero society, as well as adaptation strategies and the intersection between climate and labor politics. Nolan is also actively involved with a variety of organizations, including Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honor society on campus, as its Director of Finances.

Mason (he/him/his) is a sophomore transfer student from Whatcom Community College, where he graduated with an Associates in General Engineering. Seeking a Political Science and Informatics degree, he hopes to learn how to synthesise information technologies with complex political issues. Mason is extremely interested in how advanced computing algorithms, data analysis, and machine learning can be used to better understand large scale political and institutional issues, specifically climate change. Mason is currently researching Alaska’s Permanent fund dividend – a form of Universal Basic Income- looking to examine how it has affected the state holistically, and works as a Back-End developer on a UW Start-up, AvePass. In the past, Mason has worked as a student advocate serving at Whatcom as ASWCC Student Body President and Senator. In Mason’s free time he runs with the Husky Run Club and is an avid music listener.

Peyton is an undergraduate majoring in Environmental Engineering and Political Science with a focus on Climate Adaptation and policy. He’s interested in how to bridge the gap between large scale engineering projects and the legislation surrounding them, as well as breaking down the polarization of climate change in politics. As an avid hiker, the conservation of the Pacific Northwest’s forests and utilization of community outreach to protect Washingtons natural landscape in the decades to come lies at the heart of his long-term goals.

Olivia is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Studies and minoring in Political Science. Her academic interests include environmental justice/equitable policy distribution, sustainable development, and comparative politics. This past fall, she worked under DIS’s Sustainable Development program in Copenhagen to analyze local environmental projects and collaborate on innovative solutions for a climate-resilient future. She is currently interning for Zero Waste Washington, where her research will concentrate on the status of compost and food waste initiatives at the city, county, and state level.

Hannah is an undergraduate student double majoring in Sociology and Geography, pursuing the Environment, Economy and Sustainability Track. Her interests include climate change advocacy, political organizing, and community outreach. By pursuing her chosen fields, Hannah hopes to develop her skills in multimedia education to provide accessible information to communities affected by environmental harms. In the past, Hannah has worked with HFS SEED to spread awareness of on-campus sustainability and the Washington Bus to increase political action with Seattle youth. Hannah is currently working with UW EcoReps and Sunrise UW to continue advocating for policy change to mitigate the climate crisis and other Environmental Justice issues within the local community and beyond.

Zoe is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Studies, with a focus in climate justice and environmental policy. She is interested in policy and research on reducing and preparing for climate change impacts on human health. Since coming to the University of Washington, she has lobbied to Washington state’s House of Representatives and Senators for the University of Washington and is currently a research assistant for Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research at Stanford University.

Shern Sze is an undergraduate student majoring in Economics and Political Science. She is interested in environmental policy and its power to incentivize both organizations and governments to take concrete actions on climate change. At UW, Shern Sze advocates for international students’ representation in the Student Senate and serves as the Director of ASUW’s Office of International Student Advocacy.

Sydney Lyman is an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science with minors in Environmental Studies and Ethics. Her current interests include global environmental policy, institutional sustainability, the ethics of climate change, and the intersection of climate change and capitalism. Sydney is the recipient of several philanthropy honors, including the Young Philanthropist award from Spokane County United Way, for her community service and organizing efforts. At UW, Sydney is active with First Year Programs as a environmental studies FIG instructor and writes for the student newspaper The Daily, focusing on environmental issues and current events.

Jessica is an undergraduate student majoring in Political Science, with a focus in Political Economics, alongside minoring in International Studies from the Jackson School. She is interested in studying foreign relations, economic development, international trade and finance, and international climate policy. Her current research involves around the short and long term effects of environmental policy on major industries within the market, such as transportation.