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2009 and 2010 Young scholars

Listed below are the young researchers and their climate related work for the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 2009 and 2010:

In 2009, ten masters students from Columbia University - IRI external went to the developing world to support the work of the Red Cross / Red Crescent Climate Centre. We filmed their insights on how to link climate information with humanitarian decisions in Africa, the Americas and Asia/Pacific. Key lesson: focus on people. Watch the film here . Our gratitude to the NOAA Climate Program Office external for supporting this work. Go here file (pdf, 257 kB) to see where these students were placed in 2009.

In 2010, we were able to place even more interns. Go here to see where these interns were placed (Powerpoint).

Amy HIGGINS Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Global Change Science Researched climate policy issues relevant to humanitarian aid on COP 16 agenda Supervisors: Pablo Suarez, Madeleen Helmer
Amy KIRBYSHIRE King's College London - Disasters Adaptation and Development Assisted two Caribbean National Societies with the Preparedness for Climate Change programme. Supervisors: Keston Flemming, Pablo Suarez, Terry Cannon and David Demeritt
Amy STYPA Columbia University - Climate and Society Assisted in integration of climate information into RC programs in China and Mongolia. Supervisors: Rebecca McNaught, Qinghui Gu, Karen Poon, Bold-Erdene Enkhbold, Zoljargal Gombo Partners: Columbia University, IRI
Ana Karla Perea-Blazquez Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies - Environmental Management Developed draft and translation of the Society Climate Risk Report of Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Translated Red Cross Climate Guide, translated La Niña updates. Supervisors: Lisette Braman, Fleur Monasso, Pablo Suarez
Ben PRITCHETT Open University - Art History Assisted with Caribbean disaster preparedness videos, focus on participatory work. Supervisor of RC work: Pablo Suarez Watch the videos Ben provided camera work for: - Antigua and Barbuda - Bahamas - Cayman Islands
Caitlin KOPCIK Columbia University – Climate and Society . Researched Caribbean and Central America hurricane operations to enhance preparedness. Supervisors: Walter Baethgen (IRI), Marjorie Soto Franco and Krystell Santamaria (Panama Regional Office) and Francisco Maldonado (PADRU )
Carla TAYLOR Royal Roads University – Disaster and Emergency Management Challenges using climate science, early warnings and funding early action Supervisors: Jean Slick, Pablo Suarez
Charlotte ÓLÖF JÓNSDÓTTIR FERRIER University of Iceland - Environment and Natural Resources Researched links between forecast and action in Doune Baba Dieye, Senegal Supervisors: Haukur Ingi Jónasson, Brynhildur Davíðsdóttir, Pablo Suarez
Cherise CHADWICK King's College London - Adaptation and Development Helped plan climate change adaptation with the Yemen Red Crescent and now in Fiji supporting the IFRC with integrating climate change into the VCA process. Supervisors: Mark Pelling, David Demeritt, Pablo Suarez.
Cornelia SCHWENK University of Bayreuth - Global Change Ecology . Climate Change project proposal drafting, disaster databank creation for Caribbean IFRC Trinidad & Tobago. Supervisors: Keston Flemming and Nicole Williams External partner: State of Bavaria, Elitenetzwerk Bayern . Read more
Cynthia THOMSON Columbia University – Climate and Society Examined ENSO effects in Pacific region and how Red Cross can use forecast for risk reduction Supervisors: Rebecca McNaught, Pablo Suarez (Climate Centre), Esther Conrad (IRI), Ruth Land (Red Cross)
Daniel COLLINS University of Wisconsin, Madison – Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment. Provided technical support to Ugandan Red Cross on risk management for Apac district Partner: Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment , David Ebong, MP. Read more
Emma LOVELL King’s College, London - Disasters, Adaptation and Development Provided technical support on the integration of climate change adaptation and DRR in SE Asia Supervisors: Patrick Fox, Seng Samban, Bec McNaught, Terry Cannon and David Demeritt
Erin WNOROWSKI Boston University – Public Health Supported the formulation of a health and climate project proposal for the Kenya and Tanzania Red Cross societies. Supervisor: Lina Nerlander
Fernanda BAUMHARDT Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam – Environment Resources Management . Facilitated participatory video activities in Mphunga village for Malawi Red Cross Supervisors: Ralph Lasage and Frank Washoni. Partner: Malawi Meteorological Service. Watch the IVOH award-winning film: Adaptation to Climate Change by Mphunga Villagers
Francis SOUSA Columbia University – Climate and Society Helped improve understanding of climate information and its potential for the IFRC MENA Supervisor: AbdelQader AbuAwad
Ida BENEDETTO Parsons The New School for Design, Design and Technology Designed and administered Participatory Video training for beneficiaries in Ethiopia Supervisor: Pablo Suarez Read more on the Participatory Video here (pdf, 104 kB) Watch the film here
Isabelle LEMAIRE University College London - Environment and Sustainable Development . Developed video on climate risks in Jakarta for the Indonesian Red Cross and the IFRC. Supervisors: Adriana Allen and Fiona Ching. Partner: Urban and Regional Development Institute in Jakarta . Watch film: Beyond Response - Adapting to Climate Change at the Red Cross Read more about video and urban design: Climate-Related Disasters: Humanitarian Challenges and Reconstruction Opportunities Video-mediated approaches for community-level climate adaptation
Jeff HENDLER University of Miami – School of Communication. Edited video on climate change for Cayman Islands Red Cross. Supervisors: Sanjeev Chatterjee and Hemant Balgobin. Partners: DIPECHO . Watch 4 minute film and TV-spot .
Jennifer BREAM Brandeis University - The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Sustainable International Development Developed communication tools for the Inter Agency Working Group on DRR/CCA in East Africa. Supervisors: Judy Waruhiu, DRR Officer External Partners: Oxfam, UNISDR
Jessica SHAROFF Columbia University – Climate and Society Helped understand and use climate and weather information for disaster preparedness in Southeast Asia Supervisors: Esther Conrad (IRI), Patrick Fox (IFRC's Southeast Asia Regional Delegation) and Rebecca McNaught (Climate Centre)
Julianne BAKER-GALLEGOS Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies - Environmental Management Developed draft and translation of Chilean Red Cross Society Climate Risk Report, Translated Red Cross Climate Guide Supervisors: Lisette Braman, Fleur Monasso, Pablo Suarez
Krista JANKOWSKI Columbia University - Climate and Society Worked on global resource package on climate risks Supervisors: Bec McNaught, Lisette Braman, HungHa Nguyen, Patrick Fox External Partner: IRI, Columbia University
Mary MWANGI Columbia University – Climate and Society Helped East African Red Cross Societies get comprehensible and useful weather tools tailored for them. Supervisor: Oyundi Nehondo Partner: IFRC Eastern Africa Zone Office, Nairobi, Kenya
Meaghan DALY Columbia University – Climate and Society Helped improve use of forecasts and community-based early warning systems in West and Central Africa. Supervisors: Youcef Ait-Chellouche, Pablo Suarez, Partners: ACMAD , AGRHYMET, Togo Red Cross National Society
Mehdi COMEAU University of Colorado, Boulder - Environmental Studies Program . Facilitated development of climate change video with students for Malawi Red Cross. Supervisors: Maina Mkandawire and Pablo Suarez. Partner: Bambino school (Lilongwe). Watch film: Malawi & Climate Change: Student Voices
Nickleson COOK Linked IFRC Southern Africa Zonal Office with meteorological organizations. Supervisors: Maarten van Aalst, Farid Aiywar Partner: Coleen Vogel (University of the Witwatersrand )
Pragyajan Yalamber RAI Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies Reported on humanitarian aid, disaster preparedness and adaptation agenda at COP16. Supervisors: Pablo Suarez, Madeleen Helmer
Rosana MORGANTI Hunter College - Department of Urban Affairs and Planning Supported the American Red Cross Northeast AreaDisaster Services for the campaign "2011 A Year of Resiliency" Supervisors: Scott Graham, Laxmi Ramasubramanian
Sarah ABDELRAHIM Columbia University – Climate and Society Helped integrate climate science tools at IFRC Zonal office for the Americas, Panama. Supervisors: Walter Baethgen and Krystell Santamaría. Partner: CATHALAC
Scott WOOD Columbia University - Climate and Society Facilitated collaboration between the Tanzania Meteorological Agency and Tanzania RC Supervisors: Lina Nerlander, Simon Mason Partners: Tanzania Meteorological Agency (TMA), Tanzania Red Cross Society (TRCS), International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), Center for Research on Environmental Decisions (CRED)
Toby BELLIS Royal Roads University, Canada – Disaster and Emergency Management. Supported development of a proposal for urban risk management for Senegal Red Cross. Supervisors: Miriam Grant and Youcef Ait-Cellouche. Partners: ACMAD , AGRHYMET, Météo Senegal . Read more
Tom MOAT Kings College London - Carbon, Science, Society and Change Intern at RC/RC Climate Centre Communication of the issues, risks and science of Climate Change Supervisor: Rebecca McNaught
Trevor PAYNE King's College London - Geography: Disasters, Adaptation & Development Integrated climate data through development of two National Climate Change Reports Supervisor: Keston Flemming
Ujala QADIR Columbia University – Climate and Society Identified constraints to the effective use of climate information and forecasts by farming communities and the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. Supervisors: Pablo Suarez, Paul Block, Molly Helmuth

Group projects

Bambino School external , Lilongwe, Malawi: Raising awareness on climate change. Coordinator: Maina Mkandawire. Watch film here .

Malawi Institute of Management : Impact of HIV/AIDS and climate change on disaster management institutions. Coordinator: Prof. Precious Givah. Funded by the World Bank .

Universidad Nacional de La Plata external , Argentina – Dept. of Industrial Design: Prototyping an early warning device for the Mozambican Red Cross. Coordinator: Prof. Guillermo Bauer.

Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina – Dept of Audiovisual Communication: Video tools for climate change awareness in Argentinean shantytowns. Coordinators: Prof. Fabio Benavidez and Andrea Santoro. Funded by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research external .