The inaugural cohort proves that differences at the same table are a source of strength
Each with their unique area of expertise, a strong dedication to climate justice, and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary collaboration, the first cohort of MISI fellows are proving to be powerful forces for change.
Half of the fellows are Boston University faculty. Some of them are engaged in applied research on technology and public trust. Michelle Amazeen is investigating native advertising by fossil fuel companies, Yi Grace Ji is examining how senior citizens are interacting with AI, and Brooke Williams is exploring the use of satellite imaging for journalists’ to monitor toxic algae blooms in New England waters.
Other faculty are focused on translating their scholarship for public audiences. Joanna Davidson is doing this through a series of interconnected essays that tie her anthropological studies with life experiences, Jodi Cranston is taking inspiration from 16th century Venetian art to find new ways of expressing climate concerns, and James Hill, Jr. is seeking new structures for non-hierarchical education through his “public study collective.” Irit Kleiman is writing essays and planning local events about representations of forest spaces in art and literature, and Roy Grundmann is communicating the intersectionality of the climate crisis by combining his expertise in film & media studies, ocean travel, migration studies, and maritime history.
Also in the fellowship are street-level activists and leaders aiming to expand their approaches and build relationships with community partners. Meera Subramanian is sharing the stories of youth climate activists through a nonfiction graphic novel, Bobbie D Norman is pursuing tangible applications for her environmental social conditioning research, and Mark Araujo is collecting stories of community members who utilize the food-based public infrastructure of EquiTable and the Boston Food Forest Coalition.
As a pastor, farmer, and diver, Rev. Mariama White-Hammond is writing a book to help reimagine Black people’s relationships with the water, and Barbara Espinosa Barrera is seeking to use her skills as a reporter to tell individuals’ stories of faith, health, and natural disasters. Julia Cumes is a photographer starting important climate conversions through portraits of Cape Cod immigrants, and Jaelyn Carr is building a community-based media project to help people understand environmental governance and better navigate everyday systems.
We at MISI are inspired by the incredible projects of our 2025-26 fellows. As they continue to interpret scientific data, rethink how to share humanistic knowledge, and engage with the community to give voice to untold stories, there is no doubt that their hard work will have a lasting positive impact.