Blog: Bridging science and humanitarian action – an internship at the Climate Centre

By Annalena Bacher

(The Climate Centre is happy on New Year’s Day to open its coverage for 2026 with a young voice – that of its latest intern, Annalena Bacher, who worked with us from September to December 2025.)

I have long been fascinated by climate change and extreme-weather events: their impacts on people, how they shape vulnerability, and their implications for humanitarian protection and response. This curiosity drew me to the Climate Centre, where I worked as an intern primarily with the attribution team.

Attribution science plays a vital role in understanding how climate change influences the frequency and intensity of extreme-weather events, and in providing timely, credible evidence that can inform public debate, policy discussions, and humanitarian decision-making.

My role involved contributing to several studies during the placement, all the way through to publication. They addressed a range of hazards and geographic contexts and aimed to inform public debate and decision-making by providing timely, scientifically robust evidence.

A focus of my work was the integration of vulnerability and exposure perspectives into the studies, looking beyond the physical hazard itself to consider how social, economic, and political factors shape the impacts of extreme weather.

Through this lens, I engaged with existing research, collaborated with colleagues and local experts, and supported the development of narratives that link climate science to people’s realities. This work underscored how critical it is to combine thorough scientific analysis with contextual understanding in order to produce knowledge that is both accurate and meaningful for a wide range of actors, including the humanitarian sector.

Moreover, I was involved in broader methodological and strategic efforts within the attribution team. I supported reflections on how vulnerability and exposure are assessed across studies, and how approaches can be refined and strengthened over time. Being part of these discussions provided valuable insight into the continuous learning, critical reflection, and collaboration that underpin high-quality scientific work.

Working with motivated colleagues who are generous with their expertise was inspiring
and instructive

Beyond attribution research, I had the opportunity to engage with the team’s wider portfolio. I supported the preparation of a policy dialogue on extreme heat in Europe and Central Asia, contributing to background research and communications materials designed to bridge science and policy discussions.

I also assisted other teams on a more ad hoc basis, gaining exposure to topics such as urban climate-risk and locally led adaptation. These experiences highlighted the breadth of the Climate Centre’s work and its emphasis on collaboration across disciplines and teams.

Through the internship, I gained a valuable perspective on how climate science, local knowledge, and humanitarian decision-making can be meaningfully connected. The internship offered insight not only into how research is evidenced, but also how it is translated into accessible information that is relevant to policy and can support action in the face of increasing climate risks.

While working remotely shaped the experience, active engagement with colleagues across teams and participation in meetings provided a strong sense of the organization’s culture and its role within the Red Cross Red Crescent and the wider humanitarian ecosystem.

What stood out most was the Climate Centre’s commitment to grounding humanitarian action in robust evidence while remaining attentive to the local context. Working alongside colleagues who are deeply motivated and generous with their expertise was both inspiring and instructive.

The experience strengthened my research and analytical skills and highlighted areas in which I would like to continue developing, particularly in communicating complex scientific insights clearly and concisely to diverse audiences.

Overall, the placement reinforced my interest in working at the intersection of climate change, extreme weather, and humanitarian action, including in relation to conflict and security dynamics.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the Climate Centre’s important work and look forward to building on this experience along my professional path in the future – a special thanks goes out to my supervisors and the WWA team!

Photo of Annalena Bacher: Raffael Hüberli