OPEN ENVIRONMENTAL DATA PROJECT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Civic Science Fellow & Data Inclusion Specialist
- Data Inclusion Specialist
- Environmental Data Analyst
Aaron Ellis (he/him) is the Data Inclusion Specialist at the Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP), where he leverages his expertise in environmental data analysis, research, and stakeholder engagement to promote inclusivity, transparency, and equity in environmental governance.
Aaron Ellis (he/him) is an anthropologist and environmental data analyst with particular interests in food, water, and forestry. He is the Data Inclusion Specialist at the Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP), where he leverages his expertise in environmental data analysis, research, and stakeholder engagement to promote inclusivity, transparency, and equity in environmental governance. He fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing among stakeholders, contributes to research projects, and leads initiatives to innovate and drive positive change in environmental data practices. Aaron has a PhD in Anthropology with a concentration in Food Studies and substantial coursework in Information and Library Science from Indiana University. He completed his Bachelor's degree at Dartmouth College with a modified major that drew from anthropology, computer science, photography, and linguistics. His past research has focused on online citizen science within the Craft Beer Revolution, climate change's impact on Midwestern maple syrup production, supporting efforts to maintain traditional manoomin (wild rice) harvesting knowledge in Northern Minnesota and creating foraging maps for local communities.
Job Titles:
- Fellow at the Forefront
- OEDP Research Fellow
- Research Fellow
Alayna Jenkins (she/her) was a Harvard University Fellow at the Forefront with OEDP during Summer 2023.
Alayna is an OEDP research fellow and recently graduated from Harvard College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy. Her fellowship is part of the Harvard College Center for Public Service and Engaged Scholarship Fellows at the Forefront Program. Throughout college, her research focused on solutions to Environmental Injustice through Environmental Laws and Policies.
At Harvard, Alayna co-led Harvard's Office for Sustainability Resource Efficiency Program, educating the student body on environmental issues such as energy, water, and food waste. Her role also included working with Harvard's administration to help make facilities and operations more sustainable.
Alayna was also Harvard's delegate at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. At COP27, she actively participated in multiple working groups as a United Nations Youth Constituency member. Her involvement in these groups allowed her to contribute to various discussions and initiatives related to climate change and sustainable development. Additionally, she plans to continue her engagement and efforts at COP28.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Coordinator of the Open Climate Collective at OEDP
- Open Climate Coordinator
Andres (he/him) is the Coordinator of the Open Climate collective at OEDP. He is a Latin American strategist and creative foresight consultant based in Barcelona. His work is guided by the encouragement and practice of critical hope and collective imagination, and a firm belief in the transformational power of collaborative learning. For over a decade, he has been using futures as design tools to help organisations make better decisions in fields such as media, tech, public policy, education and culture, while creating networks and conferences to open conversations about the socio-ecological impacts of digital technologies and their role in addressing the environmental emergency.
Andres is also co-founder of the creative research lab IAM, co-director of the Billion Seconds Institute and leads a new Master in Design for Responsible Artificial Intelligence systems at ELISAVA. Find him on Twitter @colmenares.
Angela was the Director of Data Inclusion with OEDP from 2021-22.
Anne-Charlotte (she/her) was a summer fellow at the OEDP from Houston, Texas. She has a strong commitment to creative thinking and collaboration as it relates to promoting climate resilience and envisioning climate solutions that support a sustainable and equitable global energy transition. Interested in cultural ecology and the intersection of history of science, anthropology and studio art, Anne-Charlotte is a rising sophomore at Harvard College where she is involved with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard. Outside of academics, she enjoys making tiny art for friends, hoarding paper scraps, and taking long night walks.
Anne-Charlotte was a Harvard University "Fellow at the Forefront" with OEDP during Summer 2022.
Brittany Janis is an advocate for open environmental data, driving equitable climate solutions and empowering frontline communities in the face of environmental change.
Prior to joining OEDP Brittany was the Associate Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program and the Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center, where she led research on the green transition, energy technology, and climate resilience, building partnerships across academia, government, and civil society. Previously, she was the Associate Director of the Arctic Initiative, leading a team focused on climate-driven transformations in the Arctic and their global impact.
Brittany co-founded Harvard Alumni for Climate and the Environment, fostering climate action and collaboration across Harvard's global community. She holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School, specializing in environmental policy.
With a background in nonprofit leadership, Brittany served as a Major Gifts Officer at the Environmental Defense Fund and as President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Golden Gate Chapter. She is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) and also holds an M.A. in Philanthropy and Development from St. Mary's University of Minnesota, and a B.A. in History, Political Science, and Theater from Case Western Reserve University.
In her free time, Brittany enjoys hiking, biking, and cooking vegetarian feasts with her family and dog in San Francisco and western Massachusetts.
Job Titles:
- Technologist
- Civic Science Fellow & Data Inclusion Specialist
Cathy Richards (she/her) is a technologist and a Civic Science Fellow/Data Inclusion Specialist at OEDP. Focused on harnessing technology for environmental and social justice, she brings a strong commitment to ethical tech practices, data-driven solutions, and resilience in the face of emerging global challenges. Previously, Cathy worked at The Engine Room as the Associate for Digital Resilience and Emerging Technology, where she focused on integrating cutting-edge tools to support vulnerable communities. Cathy was also a 2023-2024 Green Web Foundation Fellow, investigating the use of GIS for environmental justice and addressing its ethical and security risks.
In addition, Cathy has also taught Metrics & Data Visualization at SVA and contributed to various organizations such as Keystone Accountability and Helen Keller International, working on issues from climate entrepreneurship that tackled youth unemployment to immigrant rights and international health.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Boston University and an MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. In her spare time, you'll find her playing capoeira, solving puzzles, tracing her family history, hoarding books, or saying hello to every dog she meets. Reach her at cathy@openenvironmentaldata.org.
Chris Loggins is a highly skilled web design and development professional with a passion for leveraging technology to solve business challenges. With 7+ years of experience, Chris excels in strategic leadership and project management, focusing on efficient and impactful solutions. Known for a "less is more" approach, Chris is committed to helping businesses thrive, particularly in challenging economic conditions. Their expertise is marked by certifications and proficiency in crucial web development tools and platforms.
Christa (she/her) is the Director of the Air Quality Life Index and Air Quality Programs at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago. Her career focuses on efforts that open up information, resources, and networks so that more people in more places can do more socially beneficial work. Previously, she co-founded and was the CEO of OpenAQ, an environmental tech non-profit which fosters a global community around its massive database of open air quality information. Currently, Christa also serves as an elected Trustee at the Pennsylvania State University and on the Board of Directors for the environmental non-profit Berkeley Earth. Christa received a PhD in Atmospheric & Oceanic Sciences from the University of Colorado and a BS in Astronomy & Astrophysics from Penn State.
Christa focuses on efforts that open up information, resources, and networks so that more people in more places can do more socially beneficial work.
Job Titles:
- Research and Policy Manager With the
Emelia (she/they) is the Research and Policy Manager at OEDP, first joining us in 2020 as the Civic Voice Fellow, and then as Research and Policy Associate, to support the initiative through research and prototype design. She is passionate about learning the ways local knowledge and data can confront the climate crisis, and how to build more equitable systems in the process. She is also currently a Civic Science Fellow with the Rita Allen Foundation. In 2020, she completed her master's degree in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, specializing in climate policy. Before OEDP, Emelia worked in research and operations roles in energy access, urban agriculture, and experiential environmental education. Find her at emelia@openenvironmentaldata.org and @emelia_willia.
Emelia is the Research and Policy Manager with the Open Environmental Data Project.
Jett was a Harvard University "Fellow at the Forefront" with OEDP during Summer 2021.
Job Titles:
- Data Inclusion Specialist at OEDP
John Favini (he/him) is the Data Inclusion Specialist at OEDP as part of the American Council of Learned Societies' Leading Edge Fellowship.
John Favini (he/him) is the Data Inclusion Specialist at OEDP and a Leading Edge Fellow with the American Council of Learned Societies from 2023 to 2025. John is passionate about nurturing communities-be they political coalitions, research networks, or weekly potlucks-as an avenue for building social justice movements. He completed his PhD in Sociocultural Anthropology at the University of Virginia, where he studied environmental movements in the US and Caribbean. Since, he has worked as a community organizer, museum educator, and mule tender. He lives in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and will talk your ear off about its environmental history, if you let him. You can find him at john@openenvironmentaldata.org.
An interdisciplinary environmental health scientist by training, Karen Andrade (she/her) has expertise in community-based participatory research and a robust track record of engaging diverse communities in science. The breadth and depth of her scientific experience is coupled with a firm conviction in the need for cross-disciplinary approaches, and an enduring interest in exploring the role of science in society. Karen is particularly interested in analyzing the power dynamics of scientific knowledge production from her own positioning as a scientist who occupies multiple axes of minoritization. While in graduate school Karen's interest in exploring new paths to inspire support of, and engagement with, science led her to found and direct the UC Berkeley Science Shop. This student-led organization facilitated research collaborations between students and San Francisco Bay Area communities. Karen completed postdoctoral fellowships at Stanford and the University of California, Davis, where she led biomedical and environmental health research to benefit marginalized and vulnerable communities. Karen earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science, Policy & Management from the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently a Civic Science Fellow at the Science Philanthropy Alliance, and is eager to contribute to OEDP's focus on ensuring data works for communities.
An interdisciplinary environmental health scientist by training, Karen Andrade has expertise in community-based participatory research and a robust track record of engaging diverse communities in science.
Job Titles:
- Communication Fellow
- Communications Fellow
Karen Yang (she/her) is a current student at Harvard University, studying economics and history with a minor in Energy & Environment. Passionate about communication, education, and institutional history, Karen has had experience connecting different stakeholders to contribute to meaningful projects, such as multimedia communication focused on publicizing NASA Langley Research Center's Knowledge Management resources. Through these firsthand experiences working with scientists, engineers and the media, Karen has seen the importance of connecting different scientists and stakeholders with each other to share profound insights. On campus at Harvard, Karen is Media Chair of Tempus, the Historical Review of Harvard History Department and involved with the Harvard Undergraduate Think Tank among other organizations. As a Communication Fellow with OEDP, Karen hopes to create meaningful content and connections!
Karen Yang (she/her) is OEDP's Summer 2024 Communication Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of the Shuttleworth Foundation
Karien (she/her) studied business and emerging market economics at the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town. As a Director of the Shuttleworth Foundation, she partners with individuals who employ openness as a tool to advance equity and social justice. Karien's ability to problem solve with an interdisciplinary approach is invaluable to changemakers and new system builders who are laying the groundwork for meaningful, lasting social transformation. She advises a diverse range of initiatives with an emphasis on the natural environment, including strategic interventions in open environmental data, environmental monitoring, conservation technology, social currencies and the right to repair.
As a Director of the Shuttleworth Foundation, Karien partners with individuals who employ openness as a tool to advance equity and social justice.
Job Titles:
- Director of Policy Initiatives
Katie (she/they) is the Director of Policy Initiatives at OEDP. Dedicated to open and cooperative approaches to science, policy, and organizing, she works to empower communities to cultivate stronger connections to land and each other. Katie previously led the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Science (BITSS) and has worked with the US Forest Service, LA Food Policy Council, and Food Chain Workers Alliance. With roots in California and ties to Southeast Asia, Katie studied agricultural extension, cooperative farm innovation, carbon accounting and offset programs, and food policy at UC Davis and UCLA. In her spare time, you can find her with hands in her garden soil, head in a sci-fi or fantasy book, or crying up a mountain. Reach her at katie@openenvironmentaldata.org.
Dedicated to open and cooperative approaches to science, policy, and organizing, Katie works to empower communities to cultivate stronger connections to land and each other.
Leticia Marques (she/her) is the Data Stewardship Intern. Currently working as a Data Coordinator for DigDeep's Navajo Water Project, Leticia manages project data to guide strategic decisions. Her experience working with vulnerable communities to address water accessibility issues has shaped her passion for water justice. With a background in health science and experience promoting data sovereignty, she has a deep understanding of environmental justice and advocates for sustainable, community-led solutions to combat the impacts of climate change. Leveraging her expertise in data management, Leticia strives to create equitable practices for collecting and sharing environmental data, empowering communities to address pressing climate challenges.
Leticia Marques (she/her) is the Data Stewardship Intern for Fall 2024.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Civic Voice Governance
Lorelei is an expert on building inclusive and informed democratic systems. She founded the Resilient Democracy Coalition and is based at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University where she leads research on modernizing Congress. Her work explores how data, technology and new participation methods can increase civic voice in the lawmaking process. Lorelei attended Grinnell College and Stanford University, where she was mentored by behavioral scientists and peacebuilders . She worked as a national security expert in Congress for a decade and has built several projects on the Hill and off--all of them seeking to strengthen and improve American democracy.
Lorelei is an expert on building inclusive and informed democratic systems and is a based at the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation at Georgetown University as a Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Independent Researcher and Writer
Madhuri Karak (she/her) is an independent researcher and writer working at the intersections of climate, technology, and culture. She has supported earth defenders, small-scale fishers and farmers, environmental and climate activists, and digital rights practitioners to secure and manage the commons for collective wellbeing. Her work spans landscape research, podcasts, narrative longform, toolkits, and strategic community engagement. Most recently, she led a project mapping opportunities for coalition building between climate justice and digital rights advocacy efforts across the EU for the European Digital Rights Network (EDRi).Madhuri was a Mellon - American Council of Learned Societies Public Fellow (2019-2021) and has a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Her writing on indigenous sovereignty, design thinking, and AI has appeared in Slate, the Container Magazine, fiftytwo, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Behavioral Scientist, and Public Books. She currently lives between Ankara, Turkey and Kolkata, India. You can find her at madhuri@openenvironmentaldata.org.
Matías F. Milia (he/him) is a sociologist, an OEDP Research Fellow as part of the SEEKcommons project, and a postdoctoral affiliate at the University of Notre Dame. From a translational STS perspective, he studies the entanglements of data infrastructures, environmental challenges, knowledge circulation, and future-oriented research. He has experience working in Argentina, Ecuador, France, and Mexico, where he has served as a professor, policy advisor, and researcher in Universities, NGOs, and various collaborative projects. He has participated in different scientific and advocacy networks devoted to science, technology, innovation, human rights, and socio-environmental knowledge. Currently, he's part of the SEEKCommons initiative, an NSF-funded project exploring Open Science's contribution to socio-environmental research and knowledge dissemination. Reach him at matias@openenvironmentaldata.org.
Job Titles:
- Business and Operations Coordinator
Megan joined Open Environmental Data Project in April 2023 to provide administrative support and comic relief (or at least she likes to think that). Prior to joining OEDP, Megan worked in journalism and media innovation, and before that, the nonprofit sector, as a project manager and producer of large conferences and events. She is also a master of IKEA furniture building, and once got yelled at by Kenny G.
Megan joined OEDP in April 2023 to provide administrative support.
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications & Content Manager
An interdisciplinary media maker passionate about communicating the climate crisis in compelling ways.
Natasha (she/her) serves as Director, AGU Thriving Earth Exchange. In this role, she is nurturing a burgeoning team to support the increasing interest in community science around the world. Natasha has been with the team since 2014 and contributes her over 10 years of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, community engagement and partnership experience. She supports the development of a robust, impactful community science approach that has, to date, enabled hundreds of communities of all types, community scientists and community science fellows to co-create tools and solutions that address community priorities related to AGU's core expertise. In the last couple of years, she has focused on building out Thriving Earth's support to communities, securing strong, mutually beneficial partnerships and assisting the global community in adapting Thriving Earth's community science approach. Her PhD in Environment and Geography specializing in multi-sector partnerships for effective and sustainable community-owned early warning systems is from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. She also makes time to whip up different cuisines in her kitchen, enjoy the local music scene with her husband and go on long bike rides in the DC area. Ultimately, Natasha enjoys being an avid seeker of consciousness.
Natasha supports the development of a robust, impactful community science approach that has, to date, enabled hundreds of communities of all types to co-create tools and solutions that address community priorities.
Sam Dyson (he/him) is an educator and physicist committed to better sharing the power, benefits, and wonder of science with all people. As the Science and Society Funder Collaborative Civic Science Fellow for 18 months, he has supported the collective learning of six philanthropies toward building strong, diverse, and inclusive connections between science and civic life. In prior roles, Sam taught high-school physics for ten years, receiving the Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching. As a non-profit leader, he directed a professional learning network that equipped more than 200 organizations and 500 educators to expand out-of-school learning opportunities for more than 20,000 Chicago youth. Sam earned a B.A. in Physics from Yale and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Physics from UChicago as of the fall of 2021.
Sam Dyson is an educator and physicist committed to better sharing the power, benefits, and wonder of science with all people.
Job Titles:
- Founder
- Senior Fellow
- Senior Fellow / Shannon
Shannon (she/her) is an environmental health advocate, community science champion and enthusiastic about the potential for open systems and technology to support the creation of a more just and equitable future. She has spent the last 20 years working with environment and public health groups to address declining freshwater resources, coastal land loss and building monitoring programs with communities living adjacent to industrial facilities. Shannon is a Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow, co-founder of Public Lab and Executive Director from 2010-20, a steward of the Gathering for Open Science Hardware, and previous Chair of both the U.S. EPA National Advisory Council on Environmental Policy and Technology and the Citizen Science Association. Find her @sdosemagen or shannon@openenvironmentaldata.org