these intertidal objects form an ecological installation that protects eroding shorelines while providing shelter for sea life. designed by object territories, a design firm based in brooklyn and hong kong, the installation is being tested in the waters off randall’s island as a nature-based solution to coastal erosion. the project will soon expand to the coastline off nearby governors island as part of an initiative that will provide entrepreneurs with real-world labs for testing prototypes that address climate-change solutions.

a living lab for testing

the trust for governors island, which operates and manages much of the island, welcomes entrepreneurs to use the 172-acre island and its two miles of waterfront and helps funding innovative projects through its annual climate solutions challenge.

clare newman, ceo of the trust for governors island, says the trust is positioning the island as leader in piloting climate solutions for the new york city region. “let people come and try stuff,” newman said. “you’re not testing in isolation in a lab, but in a real-world environment and you can see how people respond.”

last year, object territories was one of six winners selected for the trust’s challenge on water abundance. in addition to $10,000 in grant support, the winners will have access to the island to develop and demonstrate their projects.

access to these kinds of living labs is critical for object territories, as the firm seeks to improve upon their intertidal objects. their prototypes first came to life in hong kong. the city hired the team, along with several others, to design coastal armoring units and sea wall panels. this effort kick-started their initial research and resulted in two different prototypes that were tested in the hong kong harbor: the octahedron and the rock pool, a miniature tidal pool that siphons water and sea life in and out.

the intertidal objects are a constant work in progress. “each time we try to improve by adding elements, like increasing the surface area with more dents to help self-shade or applying different textures,” said marcus carter, co-founder and architect of object territories.

when the team discovered, for instance, that larger holes made it easy for predators to come pick off baby oysters, they added smaller concavities that oysters can wedge in until they grow big enough to push out and have a better chance of surviving. they also applied different textures to the forms that make it easier for barnacles and algae to attach, enhancing the aquatic ecosystem and adding new voids for fish to lay eggs in.

“we also made sure that the objects could be placed in any orientation, forming a visible, almost gordian texture,” carter said. what stays the same in every installation, however, is the geometrical form, which easily integrates in existing stone sea wall structures.

working with nature, protecting by design

according to the new york city mayor’s office of climate and environmental justice, climate change is causing cloudburst events, coastal storms, and sea level rise to become more frequent and intense. in addition to creating a habitat for sea life, the intertidal objects offer a nature-based solution to help protect shorelines from the devasting ecological impact of coastal erosion and storm surges.

figuring out how to better protect new york city has been part of the public conversation since hurricane sandy hit new york in 2012. flooding became a reality for residents throughout the city and raised the question of how to fortify shorelines in ways that are not at war with nature, unlike the bulkheads or seawalls that have long been used to protect people and property. these traditional concrete structures may address immediate threats, but are inflexible to the faster changing climate and they can cause problems elsewhere, like loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation.

by contrast, the intertidal objects can be integrated into hard existing stone sea walls and promote a living shoreline. “they are only one ingredient in a very layered landscape,” carter said. they add an extra dimension to an existing sea wall, transforming it to a smart structure that not only protects the coastline, but also creates bio habitats. “or you can stack them like lego’s to build an artificial coastline,” carter said.

resilient defenders

providing object territories with access to governors island offers another opportunity: public education. in addition to being an ideal location to situate and experiment with their objects in the water, the island provides ample locations to showcase the concrete forms on land. visitors can see, touch and learn about the forms, which could give rise to potential collaborations with landscape-architecture firms.

the intertidal objects will soon be tested and placed in the existing stone coastline at governors island, gradually becoming camouflaged within and inhabited by new communities of aquatic creatures in the tidal waters of the east river.

the pilot will also monitor the objects on both locations under starkly different water conditions: the brackish water surrounding randall’s island and the faster-moving waters at governors island, closer to the mouth of the harbor. engineered to support natural spaces, the intertidal objects may soon add an essential layer of protection for new york shores, the people, and sea life.

according to the national oceanic and atmospheric administration, “the 10 warmest years in the historical record have all occurred in the past decade.”

from reporting on communities living through water scarcity in iraq to sea-level rise in egypt, author and climate security journalist peter schwartzstein has spent over a decade documenting how climate change fuels conflict, violence, and displacement. in this video interview, schwartzstein joins dre pedemonte to discuss his new book, the heat and the fury: on the frontlines of climate change, and explore the powerful link between ecological disruption and geopolitical instability.

amid this turmoil, schwartzstein and his book’s global anecdotes share how grassroots organizers and local communities are responding with growing strength and ingenuity. 

and together, we ask: is there hope — and how do we find it?

khimoor tells the inspiring story of goharyat, a 75-year-old artisan from a stunning, culturally rich region in gilgit-baltistan, pakistan renowned for its majestic glaciers. in his pursuit to preserve his community’s traditional craft, goharyat planted forests that once formed the backbone of his creative livelihood.

from bricklaying to crafting utensils, his work embodied cultural heritage. however, the influx of tourists and the harsh realities of climate change have taken a devastating toll. glacial melting has not only washed away the lands near his home but also led to the disappearance of the vital trees that supported his craft.

this profound loss forced him to adapt and acquire new skills, and today, his journey stands as an inspirational example in his community, guiding others in tree cultivation and sustainable practices. his story poignantly illustrates how climate change is eroding not just the environment but also the cultural fabric of traditional communities.

khimoor highlights the urgent need to protect both cultural heritage and the natural resources that sustain it, showing resilience in the face of a changing world.

what would you do without your local weathercaster? that’s a question the people of tupelo, mississippi had to ask themselves earlier this year.

on jan. 18, allen media group announced local weather coverage at 27 of its 36 member stations would transition to the weather channel headquarters in atlanta. the next day, meteorologists at the affected stations started sharing that they’d been laid off. 

tupelo residents sprang into action when they learned matt laubhan and his team at wtva were threatened. the day before allen media published a press release confirming the plans – when there were still only rumors from the meteorology community – an online petition kicked off to prevent all of the weathercasters threatened by the change from leaving their stations.

six mississippi state legislators even wrote a resolution urging the company to spare wtva from the layoffs. senate resolution 7 argued, during a 2023 tornado, “the timely reports from wtva saved the lives of those who took shelter because of the reports on wtva.” its adoption was unanimous.

as wtva viewers know, local meteorologists do more than just the forecast. they’re a source of life-saving information when extreme weather strikes. this role is only going to become more important as climate change continues to amplify the impact of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and drought.

under allen media’s plan, weather coverage would switch to a hub model of broadcasting. the company, which owns the weather channel, would tape customized forecasts for each station in atlanta instead of having each station produce its own forecast.

the change might’ve been negligible on ordinary days. “the normal two- or three-minute forecast that’s presented on air as part of a news broadcast, where that’s coming from is not such a big deal,” said keith seitter, executive director emeritus at the american meteorological society. but working at a remote hub is a significant disadvantage when extreme weather strikes.

“usually when a tornado warning is issued, you only have a matter of minutes, if not seconds, to take cover,” said vanessa alonso, a station meteorologist at kq2 in st. joseph, missouri. 

alonso covered the weather in 34 cities at the weather channel for a few years before returning to kq2. she said that, while hub meteorologists know the areas they serve, they don’t have the intimate familiarity local meteorologists do.

“in the local news, you are responsible for a certain amount of counties,” alonso said. “you know what the main city is in each of those counties. you know exactly the population, the area supermarkets, court houses, you know that [area] down to the back of your hand.” 

so it makes sense that, even in the age of apps and automatic alerts, people still turn to their local broadcast meteorologists when extreme weather strikes. a 2024 report by climate central found that local television audiences in orlando doubled during hurricane ian and increased by 78% in los angeles during tropical storm hilary when compared to the week before each storm. 

“we just had a blizzard here almost three weeks ago where we received about 13–16 inches of snow, and people came to myself and to my team first to see what was going to happen to us locally before they checked out other sources,” alonso said.

local forecasters’ value doesn’t begin and end after a storm passes. meteorologists are community fixtures in the towns they serve. they host charity auctions and drum up kids’ enthusiasm for stem careers. this outreach is essential to the role, said seitter. 

“going into local schools, talking to local community groups, that’s a really important part of what a broadcast meteorologist does.” 

the relationship between local weathercasters and their viewers will remain essential as climate change picks up speed. it’s already exacerbating extreme weather across the u.s., from hurricanes and flash floods to wildfires and heat waves. community meteorologists are uniquely positioned to help their audience make the connection between the two. 

in a 2020 experiment by the american meteorological society, participants were randomly assigned videos featuring their local meteorologist to watch: either three standard weather reports or three reports that tied climate change to the local weather. participants who watched the climate-focused videos were more likely to think that climate change was personally relevant to them and would harm people in their community.

john toohey-morales, one of the meteorologists involved in the study, said it’s critical that others in the profession help viewers understand the personal stake they have in addressing the climate crisis.

“why do people need to personalize the threat? because then they’ll talk about it. why do they need to talk about it? because if we talk, if we normalize talking about climate change and the crisis, it’s no longer the taboo subject of thanksgiving,” morales said.

the allen media storm seems to have blown over, at least for now. wtva and a few other stations posted articles on their websites declaring their teams are here to stay. laubhan is safe. but without a public statement from the company it’s unclear where other threatened stations stand, or whether those who already lost their jobs will be rehired. 

though the company hasn’t given an official reason for the reversal, it’s hard to imagine the outcry from affected audiences didn’t have an impact.

“byron backed out because so many viewers spoke up against what they were doing,” said alonso. “that shows how powerful local tv weather still is to the viewers.”

wildland fires have long been both a friend and foe to indigenous communities. while fires can bring destruction, they also play a crucial role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. as someone who grew up on an indian reservation, i have witnessed firsthand the delicate balance between these forces and the resilience of my community in the face of modern challenges.

this story explores the intersection of traditional fire management practices and contemporary innovations to address wildland fires, drawing on insights from community elders, fire management professionals, and local activists.

preserving tradition: the wisdom of controlled burns

for generations, indigenous communities have practiced controlled burns, or prescribed fires, to manage the land and prevent catastrophic wildfires. these burns help reduce fuel loads, promote new growth, and maintain the health of ecosystems.

i had the privilege of speaking with elder gerald banashley, a respected leader in our community, about the significance of these practices.

“controlled burns have always been a part of our way of life,” elder banashley said. “they help us live in harmony with the land and ensure the survival of both the people and the environment.”

elder banashley recounted stories of how controlled burns were traditionally conducted with great care and respect for the land. these practices were not only about fire management but also about preserving cultural heritage and fostering a deep connection with nature that has many connections. 

modern challenges: the impact of climate change

while traditional fire management practices remain vital, the reality of climate change has introduced new challenges. increased temperatures, prolonged droughts, and changing weather patterns have led to more frequent and intense wildland fires. to better understand these modern challenges, i spoke with laramie higgins, a fire management professional who works with the bureau of indian affairs (bia).

“climate change is exacerbating the conditions that lead to wildfires,” higgins said. “we’re seeing longer fire seasons and more extreme fire behavior, which makes it crucial to integrate traditional knowledge with modern technology.”

higgins emphasized the need for collaboration between indigenous communities and governmental agencies to develop effective fire management strategies. this includes incorporating traditional practices, like controlled burns, with advanced technologies such as remote sensing and predictive modeling.

community resilience: adapting and innovating

growing up on the reservation, i witnessed the strength and resilience of my community in the face of wildland fires such as the rodeo-chediski and wallow fires. despite the challenges posed by climate change, we have adapted and innovated to protect our land and people. local activist randall burnette, who leads a youth fire management program, shared his perspective on the importance of community-driven initiatives.

“our community has always been proactive in addressing fire management,” burnette said. “we’re educating the younger generation about both traditional practices and modern techniques to ensure that our knowledge is passed down and adapted to current conditions.”

burnette’s program combines classroom education with hands-on training in controlled burns, fire suppression techniques, and the use of modern firefighting equipment. the goal is to empower the youth to become future leaders in fire management and environmental stewardship.

a balanced approach to fire management

the story of wildland fire management on indian reservations is one of balance — honoring traditional practices while embracing modern innovations. by combining the wisdom of our ancestors with innovative technology, indigenous communities can continue to protect and preserve their land for future generations.

as elder banashley wisely said, “fire is a powerful force, but it is also a tool. when used with respect and knowledge, it can sustain us and the land we call home.”

in conclusion, the integration of traditional knowledge and modern innovations offers a promising path forward for wildland fire management on indian reservations. by fostering collaboration, educating the youth, and adapting to new challenges, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable future for our communities and the environment for generations to come. 

hit by 55 hurricanes since 1851, north carolina is the third most hurricane-prone state in the u.s. the devastating impacts of hurricanes such as florence, matthew, and now helene have made the effects of climate change in the tar heel state more pronounced than ever. 

hurricane helene, which struck north carolina last week, left entire towns submerged, displaced hundreds of people, and caused billions of dollars of damage. with climate change intensifying rainfall events and causing sea levels to rise, north carolinians confront an urgent question: how can we protect our communities from future floods?

the role of flood maps in preparation

flood maps are tools that help communities identify areas most at risk for flooding. these maps indicate different flood zones, such as high-risk areas that may require flood insurance, and include data such as base flood elevations (bfe) to predict potential water levels during major floods. however, despite their importance, many north carolinians – especially in rural underserved areas – struggle to access or fully understand these tools. 

one woman i spoke with, olivia green from kings mountain, shared her experience.

“i didn’t think we were at risk. our area never flooded before, so i never thought to look for flood maps or check any resources,” green said. 

even in flood-prone states like north carolina, many people assume that if they haven’t experienced flooding in the past, they are not at risk. but as storms grow in intensity, even areas once considered safe can become vulnerable to severe floods.

the uncertainty around floods is something that stuart pimm ph. d., a professor of conservation at duke university commented on.

“there are runs of good years and bad years. extremes [in weather events] are often worse than expected [..]. the chance of bad floods next year is higher because this year has been bad,” he said.

pimm suggested that communities must be ready for unpredictable and worsening flooding events in the years to come.

as climate risks rise, this disconnect between flood mapping resources and the communities they aim to protect is both individual and systemic. the challenge of flood preparedness raises larger questions: are the outreach efforts and tools aimed at informing people about flood risks reaching those who need them most? do people have access to flood maps? can information on maps be interpreted? 

flooding in north carolina: where do we go from here?

hurricane helene has made evident that flood preparedness in north carolina must improve – and that simply having flood maps available isn’t enough. to protect communities, these tools must be accessible, accurate, and better understood. 

ultimately, the responsibility of knowing one’s flood risk falls on multiple parties. federal agencies must provide the tools and ensure they’re accessible, but local governments also need to step up and ensure that these tools are being disseminated effectively. meanwhile, citizens must be proactive in seeking out information and taking steps to protect their homes and families.

in the wake of helene’s horrific destruction, north carolina faces a moment of reflection. whether it’s clearer mapping tools, better education, or stronger collaboration between agencies and residents, the state has an opportunity to re-evaluate how its communities prepare for extreme weather. the time to act is before the next flood arrives. 

public resources such as fema’s flood map service center , national flood hazard layer, and floodsmart.gov are places to start in understanding flood maps and personal property.

the flood didn’t just wash away homes; it washed away dreams. schools were destroyed, crops were ruined, and the vulnerability of our communities was laid bare. for years, the effects of climate change had been written off as a distant threat, a problem for the future. but as 27,000 schools lay in ruins and the catastrophic floods affected 33 million people across the country, the urgency of the crisis became undeniable.

amid the devastation, a new mission was born, not just to survive the floods, but to fight for a future that could withstand them. i was one of the volunteers who joined forces with the welfare association for a new generation (wang), a local organization in lasbela. wang is a youth-led nonprofit organization in balochistan, pakistan, dedicated to empowering communities and promoting sustainable development. focused on gender equality, environmental sustainability, and educational advancement, wang drives positive change through innovative projects and strategic partnerships.

by championing these causes, the organization plays a pivotal role in building a more equitable, resilient society in the region. our goal was simple yet overwhelming: to rescue, relieve, and rebuild. we organized fundraisers, secured donations, and distributed essential supplies like food, medicine, and shelter to those in desperate need. but it wasn’t just about material aid. we held engagement sessions with children, offering them a small sense of hope in the midst of chaos, reminding them that they hadn’t been forgotten.

the recovery process, however, revealed a deeper issue: the recurring cycle of poverty and loss. lasbela is a region where most families depend on agriculture and livestock for survival. a good harvest can mean the difference between sending a child to school or pulling them out to help at home. when floods wipe away crops, they also wipe away opportunities, pushing families further into poverty and children — especially girls — out of education.

as i worked with wang, the inequities of climate change became more apparent. though according to the intergovernmental panel on climate change (ipcc), pakistan contributes less than 1% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions,  it remains one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. the floodwaters were not just a natural disaster—they were the result of global systems that disproportionately harm countries like mine.

while rebuilding homes was critical, i realized that to break this cycle, we needed more than short-term solutions. in 2023, i was selected to participate in a climate adaptation bootcamp organized by the school of leadership foundation and unicef. this experience provided me with the tools and a grant to carry out a two-month research project titled “the impact of climate change-induced floods on girls’ primary education in lasbela.” over the course of my research, i visited flood-affected schools, gathered data, and met with local leaders to develop recommendations aimed at mitigating the impact of climate change on education.

what i found was heartbreaking but not surprising. many young girls had been pulled out of school permanently as families struggled to recover. in rural communities, education, especially for girls is often seen as a luxury, easily sacrificed in times of crisis. but education is key to breaking cycles of poverty and building resilience against climate disasters. without it, entire generations could be lost.

my research culminated in a series of policy recommendations, pushing for the integration of climate education in school curriculums and the need for more resilient infrastructure in vulnerable regions like lasbela. this experience opened my eyes to the larger systems at play, how gender, poverty, and climate are deeply intertwined — and solidified my commitment to fighting for climate justice on multiple fronts.

today, i continue my work, not just as a volunteer but as an advocate for long-term solutions. the flood taught me that while we cannot stop the waters from rising, we can build communities that are strong enough to withstand them. every effort, from rebuilding homes to rewriting policies, is a step toward a more resilient future.

but a closer look in the direction of black river next to the road reveals the remnants of what some residents call the “great vermont flood of 2023.” in july of last year, heavy rains inundated much of the state causing catastrophic flooding.

as of march of 2024, debris from dead trees are scattered everywhere; utility poles are leaning on their sides, bent low to the water on the verge of drowning. just beyond this road, a state park remains closed; pits of exposed soil caused by large volumes of runoff are lacking vegetation, despite their location being within vast stretches of forest. 

some community members in the surrounding towns seem to be at a similar state of recovery as route 131. 

chloe perry, a resident of wallingford, was left with a flooded home that was going to cost her $110,000 and nearly a year of labor to repair. the piles of debris were substantial enough for fema workers to say it was one of the worst-hit houses they’ve seen, according to perry – yet all she received in aid was a $250 check. 

perry, who also owns a bakery a few minutes from her home, is still recovering from those damages. “i got about two feet of water on the entire first floor of my home. so all my walls were ripped out, my floors were ripped out, [and] all my appliances died,” says perry. the $110,000 estimate in losses drawn up by her flood insurance company did not cover any private belongings.

to make matters worse, the high demand for contractors after the storm meant that perry had to take on much of the labor herself. thankfully, perry hopes to be done with the repairs in the coming weeks.

a few towns over in windsor, vermont, kimberley friesenhahn and her husband joseph experienced a sudden scare during the storm when nearly a dozen trees fell and struck her pig den in the backyard. miraculously, all the pigs lived.

however, the damage has had a significant impact on her plans for her farmstead. “ it was expensive because we weren’t able to salvage the fencing that we had for them, which meant we had to go purchase all new fencing… it definitely puts a stress on the budget,” she said.

the pigs, which were an integral part of her plan to develop a silvo-pasture, a pasture that integrates trees, across the multi-acre woods beyond her current farmstead, may no longer serve a purpose for the freisenhahns. “we just had to put all of those plans on hold… we just don’t feel comfortable allowing the animals in the forest,” she continued.

as climate patterns in vermont progress toward wetter springs and summers, the floods aren’t the only concern for the freisenhahns: more rain means less time out in the woods for the goats, as their hooves will be vulnerable to diseases if not kept dry. damper grounds also mean looser soil, which translates to greater chances of trees falling, as last july demonstrated. this poses serious risks of following through with their plans for the silvopasture. after last july, the friesenhahns decided to put a pause on their development plans for the farmstead.

liza welch, a friend of the freisenhahns and the owners of busyb goat farm and apiary in weathersfield, was met with the news that their usual supplier for hay was not able to produce any hay at all that summer. “as a farm, we have 53 animals. we usually have to source about 1600 bales of hay to get us through the winter,” welch explained. “when i do that, i have a couple of different sources of hay. and i actually had three of our sources reach out to me [last year] and tell me that they couldn’t fulfill the promise.”

to those that have dealt with similar repercussions from the flooding as perry or freisenhahn, the issue now lies in the future of vermont’s climate patterns. if such storms increase in frequency, it can only mean more trouble more often. “i own a bakery here. my kids go to school here. i can’t leave the area and there’s nothing else i can afford even within probably 200,000 of what i paid for my house,” says perry. “i get flood warnings now and it sends me into a whole panic.”

and that panic was only validated with another heavy storm in december 2023 that added salt to the open wound for many residents. for perry and her family, the second storm brought in another four feet of water into her basement. after the encounter with fema, perry has not applied for any more aid.

on the brighter side, communities have come together more than ever over these last nine months, which perry felt was important to emphasize. she highlighted the wallingford thrift shop, explaining that the shop has taken the lead in helping those who have lost personal goods from the storm. 

welch believes that such catastrophic events are only going to improve vermont’s resilience, saying “each time something like this happens, vermont has taken a stance to be stronger and get more productive and more precautious. we do our best with what we’ve got and we overcome.”

evanston, il – a team of northwestern university climate scientists teleport back in time with naturally preserved records they extract as cylindrical cores of lake sediment.

the sediment layers in the cores open the way to time travel through climate changes over the past 20,000 years. third-year ph.d. students bailey nash and aidan burdick analyze cellulose and carbonate materials, respectively, found in sediment over time to better understand how we can prepare for accelerating human-caused climate change now and moving forward.

after carefully extracting the sediment cores from lakes in greenland and the midwestern united states, the team brings them back to professor yarrow axford’s quaternary sediment laboratory on campus for the laborious analysis.

“this research is very iterative,” burdick said. “you do one thing, you learn something from it, you move on to the next, and eventually, you build a body of knowledge over time.”

burdick focuses his research on the midwest, looking at sediment deposits from lakes around the region. by building a record of illinois’s hydroclimate, his research will help serve illinois and midwest city officials by improving water resource management, among other applications.

“we can already see clear evidence of way more sediment being deposited after europeans arrived [in illinois], probably because of agriculture and things like that,” burdick said. “i’m using this core to try to understand lake chemistry in the context of carbonate materials. we can use the chemical variations in the minerals to see how the local hydroclimate has changed over time.”

while burdick is focused on the midwest and great lakes, nash noted that much of the team’s work takes them to the arctic, specifically in south greenland where deglaciation began around 15,000 years ago driven by rising air temperatures. this upcoming summer, nash will be visiting the community of narsaq to conduct her research.

“one of the primary questions that i’m trying to address through my ph.d. work is how arctic lakes respond [to climate change], especially in regard to their lake levels,” nash said. “so, did lake levels rise or fall during periods of past warmth? and what does that mean for arctic communities that rely on these similar arctic lakes today as a municipal water source?”

after extracting cellulose from ancient plant matter in the sediment, nash uses a mass spectrometer to analyze cellulose isotopes over time. cellulose is the most abundant biopolymer on earth, and the isotopic signature of cellulose that gets preserved in geologic materials can serve as a record of differing past climate conditions.

“these isotopic compositions can say a lot about whether lake level was higher or lower in the past,” nash said, “or if the environment was warmer or colder than it is today — those pieces of the climate story.”

it’s not well understood whether lake levels in the arctic will rise or fall in a warming world, but the risk of lakes either flooding or drying up is a climate concern across the world. thus, nash feels this must be investigated. because their work takes place on indigenous land, nash also emphasized the focus their group has on community engagement and performing scientific research respectfully and ethically.

“these communities have a very complicated relationship with western science in general and the people that we represent when we come back,” nash said, “so it really takes time and open-mindedness entering these communities and building trust, honestly, and laying the foundation of mutual respect and understanding.”

in a field dominated by men, nash gravitated towards axford’s lab not only because of her specialization on arctic paleoclimate research but specifically after reading axford’s science article titled ‘thanks to the glass ceiling breakers,’ outlining her experiences as a woman in stem.

“today, i’m living my dream,” axford wrote in her 2016 article, “and yet, despite how far science has come… i have lost track of how many times i’ve met a colleague for the first time and been told, ‘i’ve read your papers. i thought you were a man!’”

“i was just blown away by everything she had to say [in the article],” nash said. “i thought she seemed like such an incredibly strong glass ceiling-breaking scientist… the arctic is the most rapidly warming region on the planet today, which poses a very immediate concern for climate scientists. i was very compelled by the argument that studying past and current arctic climate change impacts can help us better understand and prepare for current and future climate change impacts globally.”

picture this: you’re a montauk local on dec. 18 2023 and as you and your loved ones watch the news, a winter storm is expected. when hearing the term, “winter storm,” one immediately thinks of a blizzard. unfortunately, this close-knit hamlet and other long island towns experienced a storm resembling a hurricane.

it shrank many of the cherished beaches and caused major flooding, damage to coastal homes, and even a flood of trash on the shorelines. that’s not all. three more storms rolled in like turbulent waves within the next month. this destruction (to my hometown) brought perilous risks for the future of the local’s livelihoods. it’s a devastation that came to the attention of people of all ages. local instagram stories revealed ditch plains beach, webster beach, and main beach swept away by chaotic waves, leaving bare sandbags and trash for miles. 

some of the best waves come from storms like these, attracting surfers within the montauk community and outside of it, but there is a downside to this that the locals and the rest of eastern long island continue to struggle with. even though montauk is a small community, there is no doubt of its resilience when it is faced with hardships like this. we look back at hurricane sandy, a storm that ravaged the dunes, destroyed homes, and even took lives. despite those hardships and the loss of loved ones, these events have also prepared us for future ones by realizing how fragile our coastal environments truly are.  

as someone who grew up with the ocean — watching the waves crash against the coarse sand, doing the polar plunge, fishing with my family, and learning to surf — i want to protect my home. if none of us did, we wouldn’t have the lives we have now. from the moment my little self met the ocean, it immediately became a part of my life. it’s like one of your first friends that you can always go to, but the ocean will never leave. like a friendship, you need to protect it by safeguarding it and respecting how important it truly is. if you don’t, it weakens over time.

my family and i surf here, my dad takes my siblings, friends, and me out to fish. my two best friends and i paddleboard every summer, and those i graduated with from montauk public school and east hampton high school have a unique and special connection to montauk. everything in this town is interconnected because of the locals and those who visit.

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