In The Field Aden taking a moment to think on a recent trip to Kenya where she helped organize a meeting for Acumen Fund.
Aden was the Breakthrough Institute's first intern and helped formulate the idea for Breakthrough Generation. Aden is deeply engaged in development issues, particularly at the intersection of energy and poverty. Today, she is a Portfolio Associate at the Acumen Fund, a global venture fund that uses market-oriented approaches to deliver critical goods and services in developing countries.
How did you get involved with the Breakthrough Institute?
As a freshman in college, I read "The Death of Environmentalism" in an Introduction to Environmental Studies course. It really spoke to me so I contacted Michael and Ted. Three notes later Michael explained that they didn't take interns but he was willing to have a short call. On the call, I told him why I wanted to work there and why I thought their framework was so compelling. Michael agreed to give me the opportunity to be an intern and I started in the summer in 2006, researching everything from the relationship between income and happiness to perceptions of teenage pregnancy for the book, Break Through. I came back to Breakthrough for a second summer, this time with Teryn Norris, because the experience was so unique and engaging. We spent most of the summer on "Fast Clean & Cheap: Cutting Global Warming's Gordian Knot" until we had the vision for Breakthrough Generation and convinced Michael and Ted to let us try it.
Thinking back to the difference between now -- when the fellows double the size of the office -- and when I called Michael in 2006, it's great to see the progression of young people contributing to this organization and this field.
Continue reading "Fellow of the Month: Aden Van Noppen" »
Bonding in Asylum Lindsay (left) and Breakthrough Generation Fellows Genevieve Bennett and Zach Arnold on the banks of the Mad River.
A fellow during the 2008 inaugural summer of Breakthrough Generation, Lindsay Meisel continues to use the knowledge of climate and energy issues as well as framing and messaging that she gained during her time here to inform her work as a copywriter at Underground Ads. Aside from being a tireless runner, Lindsay is an avid writer and maintains a blog called, "Different Kind of Human."
What have you been doing since the Breakthrough Generation Fellowship?
After the Breakthrough Generation fellowship was over, I immediately started working as a copywriter at an ad agency called Underground Ads that works exclusively with non profits and government agencies.
How has Breakthrough informed the work you are doing now?
Everyone I work with knows the background I have from Breakthrough and every time we get some sort of global warming or environmental project, they always put me on it. I've had many opportunities to share the Breakthrough perspective on these projects and inform the communication strategy we ultimately take.
With some of our environmental-focused clients, I've been able to push them a little bit to avoid those obvious, overused, antiquated ways of talking about the environment, climate, and energy, and instead find novel ways to communicate about these issues. Sometimes it's a successful, gratifying experience and I'm really thankful for everything I learned at Breakthough. Other times it can be really frustrating.
Continue reading "Fellow of the Month: Lindsay Meisel" »
We are starting a new feature here at Breakthrough where we will be highlighting the accomplishments and thoughts of former Breakthrough Generation Fellows who are still acting as thought leaders and working to realize their visions for social change.
Pretty Thai'd Up? Breakthrough Generation Fellow, Leigh Ewbank, in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Leigh Ewbank was a Fellow during the summer of 2009 and was deeply interested in formulating a narrative of climate change that resonated here in the United States, but also in his home country, Australia. Leigh continues to contribute his insights on Australian climate policy to the Breakthrough blog and has also put much of what he learned at Breakthrough to good use in his efforts to impact the climate and energy discourse back home.
What have you been doing since the Breakthrough Generation Fellowship?
I've been back in Australia for about three months after a bit of travelling around the US and Asia. I've decided to keep on writing about climate politics in Australia. One way of getting my opinion out there has been to start a blog called the "The Real Ewbank" as a place to publish my analysis. Blogging is definitely something I picked up in the US through my experience with Breakthrough. In Australia, we don't really have a strong blogging culture, but I think there's a lot of potential to reach new audiences--especially using Twitter as a method of broadcasting--and contribute to the growth of blogging culture in Australia.
Ed. Note: You can follow Leigh on Twitter: @TheRealEwbank
In addition to blogging, I'm working as an Editor's Assistant at the Australian Institute of Architects on their publication, the Environment Design Guide. The Environment Design Guide is an academic journal for practitioners of the design professions that explores cutting-edge technologies and ideas in the field.
Continue reading "Fellow of the Month: Leigh Ewbank" »
