Hi! My name is Em Kohl, and I'm a PhD Candidate at George Mason University researching how people across Appalachia think about the environment, risk, and climate.

Needless to say, it's not the easiest time to be a social science researcher in 2025. With funding being extremely sparse, I (like many others) am having to get creative in order to pay for the research expenses associated with completing my work, especially so I may graduate on time in May 2026.

To do my research justice, I'm embarking on two several-day field research trips so I can put up recruitment flyers across Appalachia and begin conducting interviews. These trips are vital to my work, as part of my research's goal is to reach individuals who live in particularly rural places, and who might not have consistent Internet and/or cellular access.

As important and necessary as these trips are, they are unfortunately costly. While I've taken all steps that I can to reduce expenses*, a financial gap remains between what I can reasonably afford out-of-pocket, what my department is able to help fund, and what I am likely to end up spending to accomplish my goals.

Whether you're a pal with a dollar to spare, or a stranger who's just looking to directly support science/a scientist, know that every cent contributed isn't just serving me, it's going directly towards efforts to serve the region and communities that I have dedicated much of my personal and professional life to. Lastly, while GoFundMe isn't a quid-pro-quo platform, anyone who donates is welcome to send me a message if they're interested in a 30-minute photography session** as a thanks for their donation.

Even if you can't donate, helping me spread the word is super helpful!

Many blessings and thanks in advance,

Em

*What exactly are my current research costs?

At the low end, I'm looking at at least $3K in expenses. $5K is a more realistic and comfortable number in terms of covering all of the following:

**The timeline for photo session scheduling is subject to logistical feasibility! Thank you in advance for your understanding. :)