To date, the M.A. Program in Climate and Society has graduated 34 students from diverse backgrounds including mid-career professionals, recent college graduates, and a variety of students from fields of meteorology, biology, policy, activism, public health and education. Current and past students have come from all over the world and the program represents students from Australia, Bolivia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guyana, India, Lesotho, Palestine, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and the US.
Policy Professional
Shannon Buckley
Climate and Society '07
Currently:
Summer intern at NY DEC
As part of her internship requirement for the Climate and Society program, Shannon is working at the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Shannon's project involves working to propose a rule that will establish the terms of a CO2 trading program for the state.
"The solid background in climate science and the ability to coherently and intelligently respond to questions and comments related to climate change that I developed in the program have definitely been useful with working on a state rule that will affect many and that stirs strong emotions on both sides of the issue."
Researcher
Daniel Ruiz Carrascal
Climate and Society '07
Currently: Working on Thesis
PhD Candidate, Columbia University
Before starting the Climate and Society program, Daniel had amassed extensive academic and professional experience in the natural sciences. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering, and an MS in Water Resources.
Having worked and published countless of papers on the impacts of climate change on public health, specifically malaria, Daniel chose to write a thesis about this topic. His thesis is entitled: "A Multi-Model Ensemble Approach to Malaria Transmission Modeling"
In Fall 2007, Daniel will commence his PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University.
Research Scientist
Daniela Domeisen
Climate and Society '07
Currently: Summer intern at IRI
PhD Candidate, MIT
Building upon research she did throughout the academic year, Daniela is working with researchers at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI) to analyze how rainfall variability affects economic growth in developing countries.
From this analysis the impact of climate variability on economic and social development - mainly in Africa - will be quantified.
In the Fall, Daniela will begin her PhD in Atmospheric Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
"
The MA in Climate and Society taught me to think critically about the issue of climate change and gave me the opportunity to work with and learn from leading scientists which motivated me to continue in this field of research."
Development Professional
Ndika Charles Akong of Cameroon.
Climate and Society '05
Currently:
Scholarship Recipient, Hertie School of Governance
Berlin, Germany
and
Elected Member, Advisory Board, Global Village Energy Partnership
Click hereto read a message to prospective students from Ndika Charles Akong, Climate and Society graduate of 2005.
"I have been newly elected into the 16-member Advisory Board of Global Village Energy Partnership, a multistakeholder partnership launched as a Type Two initiative of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (2002).
"This initiative pools together over 800 partners from the private sector, civil society organisations, governments, and bilateral and multilateral donors, across the globe to enhance energy access for sustainable livelihood development.
"My experience in the program, and from my internship at the UNDP, have been instrumental to my engagement in the board."
Disaster Mitigation Professional
Kareff May Rafisura of Philippines.
Climate and Society '05
Program Coordinator, Climate Risk Management Team
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), Bangkok, Thailand
Click hereto read about the master's program summer internship completed by Kareff May Rafisura, Climate and Society graduate of 2005.
Rafisura plans to pursue a career in the field of climate risk management and disaster mitigation.
Policy Analyst
Lauren Faber
Climate and Society '05
Climate Change and Energy Projects Coordinator,
Global Issues Group
British Embassy, Washington, D.C.
"After completing the master's program, I feel comfortable conversing with policy advisors and economists, meteorologists and climate scientists. I appreciate how the program, and Columbia as an institution, are helping to advance the debate through a commitment to both science and policy.
"Building on what I have taken from my time at Columbia, I go to work each day to help countries engage in this debate. My contribution is modest, but the Climate and Society program has opened up a network that ensures its own continual growth."
Meteorologist
Diriba Korecha Dadi of Ethiopia.
Climate and Society ' 05
Early Warning Forecast Team Leader, National Meteorological Services Agency of Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Diriba Korecha Dadi, an experienced early-warning meteorologist from Ethiopia, attended the master's program in Climate and Society on a Joint Japan/World Bank Scholarship.
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (RSMAS)
Marine Affairs Division
"I am working toward a PhD which has an interdisciplinary focus on seasonal climate forecast applications in society.
"I learned that in order to effectively examine issues in climate and society, it is essential to be able to think in a number of different ways. The ability to investigate both long-term climate issues and seasonal climate variability from a number of different perspectives has given me a breadth of understanding that is helping me today.
"As a result of my MA studies, I feel very comfortable speaking a number of different languages (econ,development, policy, and science). My PhD work will be an ideal extension of the learning I accomplished through the program."
Public Health Professional
Asefaw Getachew of Ethiopia.
Climate and Society ' 05
Malaria & Vector-Borne Diseases Control Department,
Tigray Health Bureau
Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia
Educator
Daniel Dalmat
Climate and Society ' 05
High School Earth Science Teacher
Honeoye, NY
"I am teaching earth science to high school students, with an emphasis on relating the science to their everyday lives and to their society.
"The Master's Program in Climate and Society helped prepare me because it introduced me to many new interactions between science and society."
"While at Columbia I strengthened my belief that bottom up education is the best way to combat the issues facing us as a result of climate change and variability; if the children are our future then lets prepare them to understand what is happening today!"
