Hannah Riggins ’27, School of Public and International Affairs

Hannah Riggins ’27

Major

School of Public and International Affairs

Project Title

Climate Stories Incubator

Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Sustainable Energy

As a floating intern for the Blue Lab, an environmental media and science communication group, I assisted in the production of three multimedia podcast projects centering on narratives of climate resilience and adaptation. For Carried by Water, I conducted preliminary interviews with experts in academia, policy and industry about New Jersey’s preventive flooding buyout program, Blue Acres. In Archival Ecologies, I optimized sound design using Adobe Audition and produced nuanced literature reviews on the geopolitical, socioeconomic and anthropocentric dimensions of Svalbard’s mining activities. Finally, for Water Futures, I traveled to Amsterdam to conduct discussions with community leaders, advocates, artists and professors on the Netherlands’ water management in response to rising sea levels. Through these experiences, I learned that the environmental humanities are a key bridge to stakeholder understanding and empathy. I am impassioned to continue working with grassroots organizations to amplify the voices of frontline communities by sharing their stories and educating policymakers and climate deniers alike.