Laura Zwicker has been a cherished part of our extended family for over a decade, ever since she became close friends with my daughter Maya. Long estranged from her biological family, Laura has shown remarkable resilience and determination, supporting herself through undergraduate studies and now pursuing a Ph.D. at Yale in the communications of climate science. Over the years, we have watched her overcome significant trauma and reach ambitious milestones, always driven by her passion to make a difference in the world.

Laura’s research focuses on how to communicate climate science to those who are skeptical, and she has already conducted fieldwork in Appalachia to better understand and bridge these divides. However, with just one year left to complete her degree, Laura experienced a total funding loss due to federal education cuts, preventing her from completing her degree. While she continues to work part-time, without any funding from Yale, she can no longer conduct her research or cover her living expenses, and student loans are not an option at this stage. The academic writing and research work that previously supported her is also drying up due to the rise of AI.

We are asking for your help to ensure Laura can complete her field research in Appalachia and graduate with her doctoral degree. Supporting Laura is an investment in the future of climate science communication, and we believe she is destined to do great work in this field. Any contribution, no matter the size, will help her cross the finish line and continue her journey to make a real impact. Thank you for considering a gift to support Laura at this critical time.