Saturday, August 13, 2011

Fulbright ETA Argentina, March 2012 - December 2012

Over the course of my Fulbright year in Argentina, I'll share observations, insights and new learning in this blog.

Beginning in March 2012, I will teach English at a college or university in Argentina, as well as conduct research or coordinate a community-based project, depending on my location. I'll be able to share more details, including my location and research or project topic, in Oct 2011.

In the meantime, here's a little more information about me.

I graduated from Bates College in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Studies. After leading outdoor adventure trips for teens in New Hampshire for the summer, I began working at the Garrison Institute on their Climate, Mind and Behavior Initiative, where I've coordinated three multi-day symposia for researchers and practitioners working to catalyze pro-environmental behavior change in cities and organizations. We apply insights from the social and cognitive sciences to climate solutions, with the goals of improving environmental outcomes and strengthening individual and community resilience. Across these efforts we've found it's important to take into account our innate cognitive biases and social and cultural conditioning; many factors contribute to effective environmental decision- and policymaking, communications, and program development and, to be effective, it is essential to recognize the influence of our mental, social and cultural contexts.

While in Argentina, in addition to teaching English, I hope to learn about cultural conceptions of climate change as well as the emergence of local environmental solutions and methods of adaptation. I'm eager to hone my Spanish language and teaching skills and to contribute to a global effort of improving our communications capacity, in part to help deal with pressing global challenges like climate change.

I'm thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to live in Argentina, to get to know one city and university extremely well and to travel throughout the country to observe, absorb and partake in its cultures, landscapes, people and cuisines. I'm extraordinarily excited for my grant to begin!

Many thanks to my excellent Bates professors, the fellowship committee, and my family and friends for helping prepare me for this adventure. I am deeply grateful!