Meet Sophie Johnson from the inaugural class of Columbia Climate School
This fall, Columbia University will welcome the first batch of students graduating from the newly created university. Climate school. Utilize the expertise of the Earth Institute and its internals Many centers, Columbia Climate Institute will become the center of interdisciplinary climate research and education throughout the university, exploring and developing solutions to the most urgent and complex challenges of our time.
this Master’s Program in Climate and Society It is the first degree program offered by Columbia Climate Institute. This 12-month interdisciplinary program trains students to understand and solve the impact of climate change and climate variability on society and the environment. The 97 students enrolled in the program in the fall of 2021 will graduate from the Columbia Climate Institute in August 2022. Interview In the next few weeks, with some of these outstanding students.
Below, you can learn about Sophie Johnson, who was inspired by research on climate change after she witnessed the impact of climate change around her hometown in Seattle, Washington.
Can you tell us something about your background and how you became interested in studying climate?
Sophie Johnson, who has an artificial intelligence background, is interested in learning computational tools that can be used to analyze the climate crisis.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I have always been attracted to nature and fascinated by the process of creating different landscapes. Witnessing the impact of local climate change, such as wildfires and reduced snow cover, made me realize that the health of the earth is in danger, and my enthusiasm for the environment has changed from a pure appreciation of the environment to a desire to understand these changes. For my undergraduate degree, I majored in environmental science, majored in climate, and minored in mathematics. I have conducted paleoclimate research, explored computing applications, and cultivated my enthusiasm for climate science. I am interested in climate models and their ability to examine the past, explore future climate scenarios, and communicate risks to society. After graduation, I worked as a data science analyst in an artificial intelligence research institute, which made me more curious about the computing tools that can be used to analyze the climate crisis. I am very happy to be able to use my background and interest in the climate and society plan to work towards a more sustainable future.
Which courses in the Climate and Society Program are you most interested in?
I am particularly pleased to be able to further improve my quantitative skills in courses such as “Quantitative Models of Climate-sensitive Natural and Human Systems” and “Research and Calculations in Earth Sciences”. At the same time, I understand that the climate crisis cannot be viewed from only one angle. I also look forward to participating in courses such as “Managing and Adapting to Climate” and “Race, Climate Change and Environmental Justice Seminar”. I am eager that these courses will help me continue to build a strong interdisciplinary understanding of the complexities of the climate crisis.
How does the plan align with your career goals?
I am interested in the use of computational tools to research and exchange climate science, especially in paleoclimate and climate modeling. Ultimately, I want to work with people from different backgrounds to study climate change, disseminate science to the public and policy makers, and strive to find positive solutions for a more sustainable planet. I believe there are many ways to do this, whether through continuous academic research or working for an organization. This project caught my attention because it is interdisciplinary and it focuses on applying scientific research to real-world problems in order to bridge the gap between science and decision makers. This program will help me fully understand the impact of climate change on society and the environment, and at the same time allow me to explore my specific interests in climate science to pursue a career that avoids the worst-case scenario of climate change.
You will be a member of the first graduating class of Columbia Climate School. Did the creation of the climate school affect your decision to apply for the C+S program?
The creation of the climate school definitely influenced my decision to apply for the C+S project! My undergraduate studies in environmental science and subsequent data science work experience made me eager to continue my education while continuing to examine the climate crisis from an interdisciplinary perspective. Although I am already interested in the C+S project, the development of the school will only make it more interesting. The solution-oriented approach and collaborative nature of Climate School fits my values and motivations, making it a perfect fit. In addition, it provides a new opportunity to bring together several different research institutions to address climate change issues, while prioritizing social justice, interdisciplinary cooperation, and global participation.
When you look to the future of climate schools, what do you want to see?
Climate change can be said to be the most pressing issue facing society today. Therefore, in the future, I hope to see Climate School cooperate with projects in various disciplines and work together to find positive solutions. In addition to bringing together different regions of Colombia, I also want to see the community participate in education and raise awareness of adaptation and mitigation strategies. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I hope to see the Columbia Climate School inspire other schools and institutions to do the same and create centralized centers with similar values and goals.
