Conference Organizers
- April 2021 Conference Organizers
- December 2020 Conference Organizers
Dr. Gillian Bowser is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. She has worked on international environmental assessments as a high-level stakeholder representative on the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO6) produced by the UN Environment. Dr. Bowser incorporated her international negotiation experiences as an AAAS Diplomacy fellow at the U.S. Department of State to train students in science diplomacy. She has led student delegations to international negotiations, such as UNFCCC, Commission on the Status of Women, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Dr. Bowser is the Chair of the YEAH Network's Steering Committee.
Dr. Leah Dundon is a Research Scientist in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA. She is also an active environmental lawyer. As a Lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science, she conceived, developed, and taught an interdisciplinary Honors Seminar on climate change, culminating in taking all 14 students and two graduate students to the UNFCCC COP25. Her academic research focuses on risk and resilience, including extreme weather impacts to infrastructure systems. Dr. Dundon leads YEAH modules on law as an approach to addressing environmental problems, the legal status of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement, as well as modules on geoengineering (including geo-engineering law and policy).
Dr. Brian Forist
Dr. Sarah Green is a Professor of Chemistry at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA. Her research is in the dynamics of organic carbon in the environment. Dr. Green teaches atmospheric chemistry, general chemistry, and an interdisciplinary course in Climate Science and Policy offered annually since 2015 at MTU. She also contributed modules to the highly successful MOOC on climate communication, Denial101. She served as a Jefferson Science Fellow in the State Department (2013-14) focusing on environmental issues in the Asia Pacific region. Dr. Green co-chaired the Scientific Advisory Panel for the international GEO6 assessment, where she worked with Dr. Bowser. Dr. Green collaborated in the pilot effort to bring students to the UNFCCC as teams and jointly taught a virtual class with Dr. Bowser to prepare students to travel to COP25. Dr. Green contributes modules on physical science and Earth system science to the YEAH Network’s classrooms. She introduces students to real-world aspects of the negotiation process and how scientists can effectively engage with policy-makers.
Dr. Susie Ho is the Associate Dean (International Education) in the Faculty of Science at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and the Director of the Master of Environment and Sustainability (MES). MES is an interdisciplinary, international and industry-linked program spanning Science, Business, Law, Arts and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. With a background in freshwater ecology, and over 12 years of experience in curriculum design and scholarly research in ecology and sustainability education, as well as multiple top education awards, Dr Ho contributes a broad relevant expertise, as well as educational excellence as an advisor to the project. She has designed educational programs to cohesively cover all 17 SDGs. She works on enhancing sustainability curriculum by integrating disciplines and teaching in areas, such as scientific literacy, environmental security, leadership, governance, and international development. Dr Ho has led three student delegations to international negotiations, including the UNFCCC as Monash University's Head of Delegation. Dr Ho will contribute to curriculum design and teaching, as well as the logistical aspects of implementation at the international conferences.
Dr. Andrew Ramsey is Head of Environmental Sciences at the University of Derby, UK, and has taught and researched aspects of conservation biology for over 25 years, publishing on species as diverse as brown bears, butterflies, and freshwater mussels. He has been a long-serving member of the Society for Conservation Biology, European and global education committees, and is a member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication. Andrew developed the UK’s first undergraduate program in Conservation Biology in 2000 and has taught curriculum design for Conservation Biology at Society for Conservation Biology conferences in Europe and North America.
Kaydee Barker (YEAH Fellow)
Emma Conrad-Rooney (YEAH Fellow) is the Lab Manager/Senior Research Technician for the Templer Lab in the Biology Department at Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. She is interested in how forest biogeochemistry is affected by climate change and urbanization.
Nicole Cowan (YEAH Fellow) is a student of the Masters of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She has also completed a Bachelor's Degree in Science majoring in zoology and has a strong interest in conservation biology. Nicole also has a background in education and completed a Diploma in Education and taught Science and Maths in secondary schools. Currently, she is working as a Teaching Associate for Monash University in the Education Faculty, with a focus on sustainability in the classroom.
Shane French (YEAH Fellow) is a sustainability educator and enabler who is highly skilled in environmental awareness, education, community engagement and training; including twenty years' experience developing, leading and delivering community and grassroots sustainability programs to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary students, professional audiences and the general public. Shane strives to create empathy and compassion for the Earth in a creative and inclusive way, approaching his work with integrity for the planet and community. Shane loves sharing different perspectives on the natural environments we are a part of with a sense of positivity, and helping people feel more connected to their natural surroundings. Shane is currently studying the Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University, and loves cricket, Australian Rules football and tinkering in his shed.
Brijesh Parmar (YEAH Fellow) Brij is an Industrial Designer and throughout his career has worked on a range of interdisciplinary and creative projects. He has experience working in design and manufacturing companies and educational settings. Brij is a committed student of music and martial arts and has been involved in many community projects. He is currently a casual tutor at the Victorian College of Arts (University of Melbourne). His passion for education and sustainability have led him to study a Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University.
Cody Sanford (YEAH Fellow)
Sarah Whipple (YEAH Fellow) is a 3rd year PhD Student actively working toward doctoral candidacy at the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE) at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Her research aims to track pollinators (bees and butterflies) in protected areas using citizen science tools and historical datasets to better understand the future of biodiversity within conserved spaces.
Jaden Wrightsman (YEAH Fellow) Jaden is an undergraduate at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. He is a senior studying Ecosystem Science and Sustainability with a special interest in urban ecology and sustainable development, hoping to tie them into his future career.
Dr. Gillian Bowser is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability (ESS) at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. She has worked on international environmental assessments as a high-level stakeholder representative on the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO6) produced by the UN Environment. Dr. Bowser incorporated her international negotiation experiences as an AAAS Diplomacy fellow at the U.S. Department of State to train students in science diplomacy. She has led student delegations to international negotiations, such as UNFCCC, Commission on the Status of Women, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Dr. Bowser is the Chair of the YEAH Network's Steering Committee.
Dr. Andrew Ramsey is Head of Environmental Sciences at the University of Derby, UK, and has taught and researched aspects of conservation biology for over 25 years, publishing on species as diverse as brown bears, butterflies, and freshwater mussels. He has been a long-serving member of the Society for Conservation Biology, European and global education committees, and is a member of the IUCN Commission on Education and Communication. Andrew developed the UK’s first undergraduate program in Conservation Biology in 2000 and has taught curriculum design for Conservation Biology at Society for Conservation Biology conferences in Europe and North America.
Dr. Susie Ho is the Associate Dean (International Education) in the Faculty of Science at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, and the Director of the Master of Environment and Sustainability (MES). MES is an interdisciplinary, international and industry-linked program spanning Science, Business, Law, Arts and the Monash Sustainable Development Institute. With a background in freshwater ecology, and over 12 years of experience in curriculum design and scholarly research in ecology and sustainability education, as well as multiple top education awards, Dr Ho contributes a broad relevant expertise, as well as educational excellence as an advisor to the project. She has designed educational programs to cohesively cover all 17 SDGs. She works on enhancing sustainability curriculum by integrating disciplines and teaching in areas, such as scientific literacy, environmental security, leadership, governance, and international development. Dr Ho has led three student delegations to international negotiations, including the UNFCCC as Monash University's Head of Delegation. Dr Ho will contribute to curriculum design and teaching, as well as the logistical aspects of implementation at the international conferences.
Sarah Whipple (YEAH Fellow) is a 3rd year PhD Student actively working toward doctoral candidacy at the Graduate Degree Program in Ecology (GDPE) at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. Her research aims to track pollinators (bees and butterflies) in protected areas using citizen science tools and historical datasets to better understand the future of biodiversity within conserved spaces.
Emma Conrad-Rooney (YEAH Fellow) is the Lab Manager/Senior Research Technician for the Templer Lab in the Biology Department at Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. She is interested in how forest biogeochemistry is affected by climate change and urbanization.
Shane French (YEAH Fellow) is a sustainability educator and enabler who is highly skilled in environmental awareness, education, community engagement and training; including twenty years' experience developing, leading and delivering community and grassroots sustainability programs to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary students, professional audiences and the general public. Shane strives to create empathy and compassion for the Earth in a creative and inclusive way, approaching his work with integrity for the planet and community. Shane loves sharing different perspectives on the natural environments we are a part of with a sense of positivity, and helping people feel more connected to their natural surroundings. Shane is currently studying the Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University, and loves cricket, Australian Rules football and tinkering in his shed.
Nicole Cowan (YEAH Fellow) is a student of the Masters of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. She has also completed a Bachelor's Degree in Science majoring in zoology and has a strong interest in conservation biology. Nicole also has a background in education and completed a Diploma in Education and taught Science and Maths in secondary schools. Currently, she is working as a Teaching Associate for Monash University in the Education Faculty, with a focus on sustainability in the classroom.
Amna Ijaz (YEAH Fellow) is a PhD candidate and Fulbright Scholar from Pakistan in the Department of Chemistry of Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA. Her research focuses on understanding the molecular nature of complex environmental (organic matter) mixtures from soil, water, and air using sophisticated analytical techniques, particularly high-resolution mass spectrometry.
Brijesh Parmar (YEAH Fellow) Brij is an Industrial Designer and throughout his career has worked on a range of interdisciplinary and creative projects. He has experience working in design and manufacturing companies and educational settings. Brij is a committed student of music and martial arts and has been involved in many community projects. He is currently a casual tutor at the Victorian College of Arts (University of Melbourne). His passion for education and sustainability have led him to study a Master of Environment and Sustainability at Monash University.