Educating Leaders

Woods leadership and education programs are preparing students, researchers, professionals and decision-makers to forge new pathways to sustainability. A diverse portfolio of programs focuses on developing skills, knowledge and networks to move ideas into action and support informed decision-making. Our programmatic offerings range from an intensive series of workshops and panels introducing emerging researchers to the inner workings of the nation’s capital, to a community-based leadership program preparing local entrepreneurs to steward and benefit from biodiversity in Costa Rica’s Osa and Golfito region.

Highlights

Preparing Indigenous Leaders

The Stanford-based First Nations' Futures Institute is a two-week program that prepares young indigenous leaders to tackle social, economic, environmental and cultural challenges in their communities. In Fall 2015 the program celebrated 10 years of providing participants with skills and strategies to address environmental, economic, social and cultural challenges in their communities. Read more.

Supporting Student Fieldwork

Woods and the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education awarded nine undergraduate students grants to do fieldwork around the through the Mentoring Undergraduates in Interdisciplinary Research (MUIR) program. MUIR supports interdisciplinary environmental research by Stanford faculty by providing summer stipends for undergraduate student researchers. Read more.

Inspiring Environmental Leaders

Woods launched a pilot program, the Forum for Undergraduate Environmental Leadership (FUEL) , which allows Stanford students to investigate environmental careers. Participants visited Sacramento to meet with policymakers and professionals in the field to learn about environmental policymaking and opportunities in the legislative, agency and nongovernmental organization sectors. Read more.

Linking Science and Policy

Government policy decisions guide much of the scientific opportunities in the United States. The 20 graduate scholars who participated in Woods’ Rising Environmental Leadership Program (RELP) underwent an intense week of ‘D.C. Bootcamp’ in the nation’s capital to learn how science is linked to policy. RELP teaches scholars the value of building networks, communicating science effectively and informing policymakers. Participants attend campus workshops and networking events, and are introduced to federal agency and legislative professionals. Read more.

Interdisciplinary Communication

Finding ways for ocean scientists to communicate better with seafood industry workers was among the issues raised by insightful presentations at Woods’ Young Environmental Scholars Conference . The annual event champions interdisciplinary dialogue between environmental researchers from all seven Stanford schools on environmental science, policy and behavior research. The conference, attended by 80 graduate students, is an opportunity for young scholars to present their research and foster collaborations across disciplines. Read more.

Mapping Global Change

Stanford students, guided by Paul S. and Billie Achilles Professor in Environmental Biology Elizabeth Hadly, created an innovative project that uses first person narratives and an interactive map to show how the forces of global environmental change are manifested locally throughout the U.S. Read more.

On Camera

MARINE Ocean Policy Course, Summer 2015

Held over two weeks at the picturesque Hopkins Marine Station in Monterey, the course introduced graduate students to ocean policy and governance, and how science influences public policy decisions at the international, national and state levels. Read more.

First Nations' Futures Institute - 10 Years

The Stanford-based First Nations' Futures Institute is a two-week program that prepares young indigenous leaders to tackle social, economic, environmental and cultural challenges in their communities. Read more.