Hidden voices: Why inclusive storytelling is critical to accelerating climate solutions

Skylar Knight

As communications manager, Skylar aims to increase awareness of and engagement with Project Drawdown; its major initiatives, such as Drawdown Stories and Drawdown Labs; and the solutions it is working to advance to stop climate change as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible. His responsibilities include increasing the media presence of Project Drawdown’s experts and products, writing and editing a variety of content for web and email, and helping develop and execute the organization’s broader communications strategy. 

Skylar previously worked at the California Academy of Sciences, a world-class natural history museum and biodiversity research center, where he led science communication efforts. He also served as managing editor for bioGraphic, an independent online magazine about nature and regeneration. His writing has been published in bioGraphic, Sierra Magazine, Hakai Magazine, and more. He holds a B.S. in biology from the University of San Francisco and an M.S. in science communication from Imperial College London. 

Skylar is passionate about how solutions-focused science communication can inspire people to connect with and protect the natural world. Outside of work, Skylar enjoys challenging himself in the kitchen with recipes for which he rarely has the skills or ingredients and spending time with his partner hiking, kayaking, and visiting national parks in their homemade camper van.

Title: 
Communications Manager
Email address: 
skylar.knight@drawdown.org
Photo: 

Capitalism and climate change: Moving toward solutions

Drawdown Science Profile: Tina Swanson

Christina (Tina) Swanson, Ph.D.

Tina Swanson, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with a background of cross-disciplinary research, multi-faceted engagement at the interface of science and policy, and an enduring passion to turn science into action to solve environmental problems and benefit society. A biologist by training but an analyst, synthesist, strategist, and advocate by inclination and interest, Tina works with the Drawdown Science and Labs teams to develop, accelerate, and scale effective solutions for climate, ecosystems, and people.

Tina comes to Project Drawdown with more than two decades experience in the environmental non-profit arena, first as a scientist and expert advocate and then as a programmatic and executive director focused on strategically building and leading teams to advance knowledge creation and application, community engagement, action on the ground, and impact assessment. At The Bay Institute, an environmental research, education, and advocacy organization focused on protecting California’s San Francisco Bay watershed, she served as fisheries/senior scientist and, from 2008 to 2011, as executive director and chief scientist. At the Natural Resources Defense Council, she directed the Science Center, working to expand the organization’s scientific capabilities and support its legal and policy work on a much wider, global array of issues, including fossil fuels, energy, natural climate solutions, regenerative agriculture, public health, and climate adaptation. During these years, Tina authored or co-authored both peer-reviewed journal articles and technical and policy reports, represented scientific and environmental interests in a variety of public fora, provided expert testimony in legal proceedings, trained and mentored early career scientist advocates, and served on numerous scientific and technical advisory committees and working groups.

Tina received her B.A. from Cornell University and her doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles, and conducted post-doctoral research at University of California, Davis. She spent a year in the Philippines as a Fulbright scholar and served as president of the western division and governing board member of the American Fisheries Society.

Tina balances and complements her scientific and technical activities with art and outdoor activities. She is a ceramic sculptor and woodworker, an avid hiker and horseback rider, and a volunteer cowhand for her niece and nephew’s growing regenerative grazing operation.

Title: 
Visiting Scholar
Email address: 
christina.swanson@drawdown.org
Photo: 

Christina (Tina) Swanson, Ph.D.

Tina Swanson, Ph.D., is an environmental scientist with a background of cross-disciplinary research, multi-faceted engagement at the interface of science and policy, and an enduring passion to turn science into action to solve environmental problems and benefit society. A biologist by training but an analyst, synthesist, strategist, and advocate by inclination and interest, Tina works with the Drawdown Science and Labs teams to develop, accelerate, and scale effective solutions for climate, ecosystems, and people.

Tina comes to Project Drawdown with more than two decades experience in the environmental non-profit arena, first as a scientist and expert advocate and then as a programmatic and executive director focused on strategically building and leading teams to advance knowledge creation and application, community engagement, action on the ground, and impact assessment. At The Bay Institute, an environmental research, education, and advocacy organization focused on protecting California’s San Francisco Bay watershed, she served as fisheries/senior scientist and, from 2008 to 2011, as executive director and chief scientist. At the Natural Resources Defense Council, she directed the Science Center, working to expand the organization’s scientific capabilities and support its legal and policy work on a much wider, global array of issues, including fossil fuels, energy, natural climate solutions, regenerative agriculture, public health, and climate adaptation. During these years, Tina authored or co-authored both peer-reviewed journal articles and technical and policy reports, represented scientific and environmental interests in a variety of public fora, provided expert testimony in legal proceedings, trained and mentored early career scientist advocates, and served on numerous scientific and technical advisory committees and working groups.

Tina received her B.A. from Cornell University and her doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles, and conducted post-doctoral research at University of California, Davis. She spent a year in the Philippines as a Fulbright scholar and served as president of the western division and governing board member of the American Fisheries Society.

Tina balances and complements her scientific and technical activities with art and outdoor activities. She is a ceramic sculptor and woodworker, an avid hiker and horseback rider, and a volunteer cowhand for her niece and nephew’s growing regenerative grazing operation.

Title: 
Senior Scientist, Policy and Private Sector Partnerships
Email address: 
christina.swanson@drawdown.org
Photo: 

Hannah Jurist-Schoen

Hannah is a creative strategist and designer. As the digital communications strategist at Project Drawdown, Hannah brings a unique blend of creativity and strategic thinking to drive impactful change in the field of climate solutions. With a passion for sustainability and a keen eye for design, Hannah leverages her expertise in digital communication to effectively convey the mission and goals of Project Drawdown to an international audience.

Prior to her work at Project Drawdown, Hannah worked in global fashion and has experience throughout the supply chain from footwear design and factory sourcing to art direction and social media. She helped launch Tumi’s first sustainable collection, served as a professional fellow at the Nest Organization, and worked with many fine artisan brands and emerging tech platforms. 

Her passion for people and the environment eventually led her to the climate space. As an art director at Potential Energy Coalition, a marketing agency focused on climate awareness, she led efforts to increase the presence of the Science Moms brand on social media and national media campaigns. Hannah works closely with the Climate Designers organization to promote design and regenerative thinking in the climate space.

Hannah holds degrees in communications, graphic design, and sustainable design from UMass Amherst, Boston University, and Fashion Institute of Technology, respectively. 

In her free time Hannah enjoys exploring Brooklyn, New York, where she lives with her family, dancing to live music, traveling to wild spaces, attempting to surf (!) and sharing the world with her young daughter.

Title: 
Digital Communications Strategist
Email address: 
hannah.juristschoen@drawdown.org
Photo: 

Drawdown’s Neighborhood video series “passes the mic” to New Orleans’ climate heroes

Net Zero is bigger than any one building, but every building can help us get there

Hidden voices: Why inclusive storytelling is critical to climate solutions

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