Island Press Field Notes

Late last year I graduated with an environmental science and policy degree, and was looking for jobs. I had already built experience in government and university settings while in school, filling temporary positions such as events outreach coordinator, and field instructor for middle school students. I’ve always been drawn to the sciences, reading, writing, and helping to promote the exchange of important research and environmental ideas.

Climate change is hurting our health — right here and right now. As practicing physicians, we see the impacts on our patients.

In an era rocked by climate change and other disruptions, our cities must be resilient to survive and thrive. But what does that mean, exactly? How can we address the problems facing cities today—poverty, job loss, crumbling infrastructure, pollution—while preparing for an uncertain tomorrow? To help answer those questions, Island Press launched the Urban Resilience Project, with support from The Kresge Foundation and the JPB Foundation. We began by reaching out to a diverse group of thinkers—activists, academics, architects and many others.

We need to understand that nature exists everywhere, including in urban environments, and to understand how natural processes work.