Latest
Environment
interviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·21·26
Margie Turrin of Columbia’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory discusses climate literacy, Hudson River fieldwork, polar science, youth engagement, and the emerging environmental challenges of AI and data centers.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·16·26
Lamont-Doherty geophysicist Dr. Michael Steckler has spent 25 years studying Bangladesh, where a locked subduction zone beneath the world's largest delta could one day produce an M8.2 earthquake. He explains how soft sediments amplify shaking, why Bangladesh escaped the 2004 tsunami, and why 2026's deadly quakes reflect where people live rather than a change in […]
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·15·26
Columbia atmospheric chemist Dr Roisin Commane measures greenhouse gases everywhere from Arctic permafrost to the streets of New York. She explains what changed when the city banned high-sulfur fuel oil, why the 2023 Canadian wildfire smoke was so dangerous to breathe, and why electrifying heating matters more for clean air than electrifying cars.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·11·26
Biological oceanographer Sheean Haley explores the hidden importance of marine phytoplankton, the effects of climate change and pollution, and how art, citizen science and ecological stewardship can deepen our connection with the natural world.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
08·07·26
From a 500-million-year-old magma chamber in southwest Nigeria to the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Dr Folarin Kolawole has built a career studying how continents pull apart. We spoke about the mentors who shaped his path, the hidden 200-million-year-old faults that produced the 4.8 magnitude New York/New Jersey earthquake, and whether a warming planet means a shakier […]
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
05·26·26
Dr. Michael Kaplan — Lamont Research Professor at Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and newly named 2026 Guggenheim Fellow — reflects on his journey through CU Boulder, decades reconstructing past glacial change from Patagonia to the Laurentide ice sheet, and what accelerating glacier retreat across the Americas means for the climate fight ahead.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
05·07·26
Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US and United Nations liaison, shares how the organization's "floating university" connects people across borders to advance peace, ocean conservation, and climate action. She discusses the upcoming 123rd Global Voyage, the Ocean Gala in New York City on June 10, 2026, the Youth for the SDGs scholarship, and the […]
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
03·17·26
Pioneering marine geologist Bill Ryan recounts a career spent overturning geological assumptions — from his first expedition with Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1961 to the discovery that the Mediterranean Sea once dried up entirely. He reflects on the hunt for the Titanic, the controversy surrounding the Black Sea Flood hypothesis, and what it takes to defend […]
BiodiversityinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
03·09·26
From fixing fences at 40 below on a Montana cattle ranch to photographing bison in Yellowstone's winter wilderness for over four decades, Tom Murphy has built a career telling stories of survival and natural beauty. Ahead of his new book Yellowstone Bison: The Return of the Last Wild Herd and a rare U.S. postage stamp […]
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
02·28·26
Dr. Edward R. Cook, world-renowned paleoclimatologist and Director of LDEO's Tree-Ring Laboratory, discusses his groundbreaking "drought atlases." Discover how ancient tree rings help scientists understand prehistoric megadroughts and their lessons for modern climate change and intensifying wildfires.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
02·06·26
Maya Lilly has spent over two decades at the intersection of storytelling and environmentalism. From training at Juilliard to producing Emmy-associated climate content, she now leads original production at The Years Project — the go-to creative agency for the climate movement. In this interview, Maya shares how her team is rewriting Hollywood's playbook by putting […]
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
02·02·26
Dr. Dorothy Peteet has spent four decades decoding climate history from wetland sediments at NASA GISS and Columbia's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. In this interview, she explains why northern peatlands store over 1,000 gigatonnes of carbon, what 45 feet of Hudson River peat reveals about Medieval warming and industrial pollution, and how restoring sediment-starved marshes like […]
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
12·16·25
Aline Carvalho, Head of UNICAMP's Centre for Environmental Studies and leader of ICOMOS Brazil's Climate Change and Heritage Board, discusses why culture must be central to climate policy and shares insights from COP30 in Belém.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
12·11·25
Brazilian architect Celso Almeida shares how Candomblé terreiros—sacred spaces where nature itself is divine—serve as vital guardians of biodiversity and cultural heritage. As a GCA Champions Award winner and coordinator for Preserving Legacies in Bahia, he's bridging ancestral wisdom with climate science to protect Salvador's sacred territories and amplify Afro-Brazilian voices at COP30.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
12·01·25
Alison Tickell founded Julie's Bicycle in 2007 to mobilize the arts and culture sector on climate action. In this interview, she shares insights from London Climate Action Week 2025 and the historic inclusion of culture in COP30's key objectives—a milestone she calls "a signal that culture's power to unlock climate action is finally being recognized."
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
12·01·25
Larry Moffett, Belgium's European Climate Pact Ambassador, shares how grassroots movements and energy cooperatives like Brupower are driving solar adoption in Brussels. From decades-long passion for renewables to witnessing the COP30 fire firsthand, he discusses citizen engagement in Europe's green transition.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
11·19·25
Climate researcher and youth activist Darius Saviour Ankamah shares his journey from witnessing climate impacts firsthand in northern Ghana to becoming a leading voice at the intersection of cultural heritage and climate action.
BiodiversityinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·07·25
In this interview, acclaimed neo-expressionist Hunt Slonem reflects on his lifelong devotion to painting, the influence of exotic animals and spiritualism, and his fascination with Abraham Lincoln. His vibrant, textured works are celebrated in museums worldwide.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
09·02·25
In this interview, Isaac Eseet, Regional Coordinator for the Climate Heritage Network’s Africa and Arab States Secretariat, shares his journey and vision for integrating culture and heritage into climate action. From the Imagining Futures initiative to programming at Africa Climate Week, he highlights how traditional knowledge and cultural resilience can drive solutions to the climate […]
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
08·08·25
Turkish artist Fatma Kadir transforms avian oil painting into environmental activism. From her Istanbul studio to United Nations exhibitions, her bird paintings raise awareness about air and water pollution's impact on wildlife while earning international recognition and awards.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
08·05·25
Meet Semine Hazar, an internationally acclaimed lighthouse painter. Through her art, Hazar draws attention to ocean conservation, using lighthouses as symbols of hope and guidance while highlighting critical issues like marine dead zones and the need for environmental stewardship. Her work bridges art and activism, always carrying the message that our oceans need protection.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
07·23·25
This Plastic Free July, ClimeCo celebrates a major milestone: 40 metric tonnes of plastic waste removed from Vietnamese waters through their TONTOTON partnership with Road Scholar. That's 2.6 million plastic bottles diverted from oceans and transformed into sustainable fuel alternatives.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
04·23·25
From a 12-year-old inspired by Ancient Egypt to becoming a prominent voice in archaeological heritage preservation, Sofia Fonseca bridges past and future through her work. As Secretary-General of ICOMOS's International Cultural Tourism Committee and founder of Teiduma, she advocates for heritage-based approaches to climate resilience across Africa and the Mediterranean.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
12·23·24
ICOM Director General Medea Ekner outlines how museums are evolving to address climate change and embrace digital transformation. She details ICOM's strategic initiatives, including the new Sustainable Development Practice Award and partnerships with the Climate Heritage Network, while emphasizing museums' vital role in preserving cultural heritage.
Climate ChangeinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
11·13·24
Discover how Kamori Osthananda, a climate advocate, bridges culture and climate action through SEACHA and innovative COP29 programming in Baku. From researching linguistic biodiversity to organizing cultural fashion shows at COP29, this interview explores the intersection of cultural diplomacy and climate action in Southeast Asia.
EnvironmentinterviewBY Selva Ozelli ·
08·28·24
Lydia Adams Davis, an accomplished environmental songwriter, singer, and puppeteer, shares her inspiring journey from childhood performances to becoming a respected eco-activist through music. Influenced by Pete Seeger and her nature-loving family, Davis creates educational songs and puppet shows that engage audiences of all ages, promoting environmental awareness and conservation.