Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment

Greetings new Bluesky followers! Get to know us a little better by checking out recent stories, videos and event coverage from our 20th anniversary celebration. It's encouraging to see what kind of progress can be made over the long haul. stanford.io/4f11sMp

“We are living one of those moments in the history of transformative technological change that will impact the very fabric of society.” Woods director Inês Azevedo joined @climateone.org to talk AI, data centers, and the public good. Watch the full panel: bit.ly/4Bpaa3h

Please join us in welcoming Edgar Virgüez, the Stanford Woods Institute’s new director of research. An energy systems researcher, Virgüez will help catalyze interdisciplinary collaborations that connect Stanford research with decision-makers.

How does cooking with gas affect the air at home? Join researchers, physicians, policymakers, and community leaders for Breathing Room, a half-day summit on indoor air quality, health, and stoves. Friday, Oct. 23, at Stanford Redwood City. 🔗 hph.stanford.edu/BRS

Last week, California added microplastics to its Candidate Chemicals List — the step before it can regulate specific products. A Stanford-led paper traces a decade of incremental state laws, and argues others can make progress while the UN plastics treaty stalls. 🔗 stanford.io/3TB68DB

Action Labs offer something most courses don’t: a chance to test theory against reality. From the health impacts of fossil fuels to coffee farming, these courses pair students with partner organizations facing real-world sustainability challenges. 🔗 Learn more: stanford.io/4yxN3kC

Stanford researchers out in Monterey Bay, tracking critically endangered sea stars. By using environmental DNA (traces of DNA in water), they can map populations to aid kelp forest restoration, helping managers locate remaining stars and track future reintroductions. ⭐🔎

Last week, the Woods community celebrated director @chrfield.bsky.social "passing the baton" to new director Inês Azevedo. Over the past ten years, his leadership anchored the institute through a period of remarkable change while fostering essential climate research. Thank you, Chris and Inês!

After four years, the GEF 7 IW project on strengthening the Micronesia Challenge 2030 is complete. With partners across Micronesia, we helped advance the MC2030’s goals, including effectively managing 50% of marine & 30% of terrestrial resources by 2030. ➡️ Impact Report: bit.ly/4zC0Wj3

In Lowndes County, Alabama, 34% of residents test positive for hookworm due to faulty septic systems. Backed by a 2026 Woods REIP grant, researchers William Tarpeh and Khalid Osman will work with residents to design better infrastructure. Learn more about the 2026 REIP awards: stanford.io/4zG5ANa

A new federal rule redefined what "harm" means under the Endangered Species Act, no longer including habitat destruction. Stanford scholars Deborah Sivas and Rodolfo Dirzo explain what's at stake for vulnerable species. 🔗 stanford.io/454RDKC

Inês Azevedo has been named the next director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, succeeding Chris Field on Sept. 1. A Woods senior fellow since 2019, her research spans climate change, air pollution and energy. Full announcement: stanford.io/4hGJ67W

The US has ~500,000 dams, many of which are obsolete & pose safety risks as they age. But removal is expensive, so how do we decide whether to remove, rebuild, or leave them alone? 🔗 stanford.io/4pO8afw @feliciamarcus.bsky.social

Ken Bagstad spent decades pushing the world to value nature economically. As a USGS economist, he led a 27-agency effort to track America's natural assets. He came to Stanford as a Woods Policy Fellow to explore similar opportunities in California. 🔗 stanford.io/44NH1zF @natcapalliance.bsky.social

Tropical forests can recover quickly in some ways, like canopy size. But regaining their original mix of species composition is trickier, according to a new Stanford study. "Restoring full biodiversity may require actively replanting them." – Rodolfo Dirzo, study co-author. 🔗 bit.ly/4yEQFlG

Climate change could nearly double water bills in some U.S. cities by mid-century, according to a new modeling framework from Stanford researchers. The model could be adapted to assess water affordability risks in cities like L.A., San Diego, S.F., Cape Town, and Melbourne. 🔗 bit.ly/4wgewGV

Rice farmers in Senegal's River Valley face high risk of schistosomiasis, spread by freshwater snails. NPR reports on a fix researchers are testing: adding fish to paddies to fertilize crops & prey on snails, part of Stanford's DECO project. 🐟 🔗 bit.ly/4w5oIlr

We're excited to share the launch of ⚡️Electrification for Health (E4H)⚡️, a new program based at the Stanford Center for Human and Planetary Health with a vision of clean air and power for all. 🔋 Read and watch more about the program: woods.stanford.edu/news/clean-a...

#Wildfires are making CA home ownership even harder to afford. New research shows premiums are up 84% since 2020. "More than one in 17 new home loans is now being written with the most limited, most expensive coverage as the only available choice." - @michaelwara.bsky.social 🔗 bit.ly/4pevRgR

"Spillover is really a systems problem, not just a medical problem." Stanford and CSU researchers recently gathered to discuss the environmental forces driving zoonotic disease outbreaks. Read the recap and watch the full webinar discussion: stanford.io/44uvJQx @stanfordcigh.bsky.social

Pregnant women are exposed to an average of 45 widely used chemicals — some of which are linked to adverse birth outcomes, like preterm births — but a combination of individual action and systemic change can help reduce chemical exposure. Learn more: stanford.io/44f6pOf

Stanford human and planetary health experts are heading across the pond for London Climate Action Week! 🔥 🔌 From Fire to Wire: Electrifying Homes for Health & Climate 📅 Wednesday, June 24 | 4–6 p.m. 📍 Shoreditch, London Register here: bit.ly/4ejtILD

California homeowners’ insurance premiums have gone up 84% since 2020 and FAIR enrollment has tripled, new Stanford research finds. The state’s insurance crisis is spreading beyond wildfire country and into the broader housing market. Learn more: stanford.io/44h044W

Rice fields harbor the snails that spread schistosomiasis, putting farmers at constant risk. But new research shows that introducing native fish — which suppress snail populations — could reduce disease risk and increase farmer income. Learn more: stanford.io/3S5lT4K

California's home insurance market is in crisis. As wildfire risk grows, premiums are surging and coverage is shrinking. Join a panel of experts as they discuss recent trends and policy responses. 🗓️Thursday, June 18 at 1:00pm - 2:00pm PST. Register: bit.ly/49SF3AX

This #WorldOceansDay, we're reflecting on our work with partners to advance sustainable blue foods, strengthen marine conservation, and create greater equity in ocean benefits. 🌊 See some of the milestones we're celebrating: stanford.io/3RX8mMz 📸 Damocean / iStock

From hantavirus to Ebola, climate change is reshaping infectious disease risk. In this webinar, Stanford experts examine what that means for global health. 📅 June 5 | 11am PST | Virtual 🔗 shorturl.at/DwVVY

Can electricity reverse aging? Scientists used brief electrical pulses to dramatically extend the lifespans of sea squirts, whose rapid stem cell regeneration makes them useful for understanding human aging. 📹 Watch the video: bit.ly/4u4w1b3 📖 Read the article: bit.ly/4eatzdx

Allison Burwell spent her 2025 MUIR fellowship in California's Eastern Sierra, interviewing members of the Bishop Paiute and Washoe Tribes about cultural values and the impacts of climate change on pinyon-juniper woodlands. Learn more Allison's work and Woods student programs: bit.ly/3R9EbBr

"We've got to get this right." @robbwiller.bsky.social and co-author @nmalhotra.bsky.social discuss their ~13,500-person megastudy in this episode of #UncommonCollaborators 🎥: bit.ly/4oxIe62 Read more in 🧵 below

In the American West, managing water supply is increasingly challenging. Last month, water experts gathered at Stanford to take stock of a precious — and precarious — resource. Read the full recap: lnkd.in/gbV3ZQKy

Last week, energy expert Michael Jordan wrapped up his time as one of the inaugural Woods Visiting Policy Fellows. "This fellowship came at a very interesting inflection point — in terms of policy, in terms of changing government structures." Read about his time at Stanford: stanford.io/4t1xsHV

We are thrilled to introduce the 2026 Rising Environmental Leaders Program (RELP) cohort. Through policy “boot camps” in Washington, D.C., and Sacramento, RELP fellows engage directly with policymakers on pressing environmental issues. Meet the fellows: stanford.io/4sJlXnI

Former White House resilience director @alice-c-hill.bsky.social, now one of the inaugural Woods Visiting Policy Fellows, on the collision of AI data centers, aging infrastructure, and climate extremes straining America's power grid. Read more: stanford.io/4b1YOHe

How do these images make you feel – hopeful? Sad? Ready to reach for your wallet? New Stanford-led research suggests that brain activity can help forecast which wildlife images will inspire people to engage online and donate to conservation causes. 🦜 Learn more: stanford.io/3P1zkRG

Reforestation is a powerful carbon removal strategy, but investment remains limited. In an upcoming webinar, researchers share new findings on what’s holding deals back and what could help unlock the next wave of reforestation investment. 🔗 stanford.io/4b31z9W

Does aquaculture advance global nutrition — or undermine it? While aquaculture can meet major nutrient needs, seafood trade shifts nutrients from vulnerable countries to those with lower deficiency rates. Explore the research: bit.ly/3OYqbcr Image: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Calling all Stanford researchers! Applications for the 2026 Rosenkranz Prize are now open. The prize awards $100,000 over two years to support research improving health in low- or middle-income countries. Open to research associates, postdocs, and faculty across disciplines. 🔗 bit.ly/40gVwtk

The Trump administration has officially repealed the EPA’s 2009 endangerment finding — the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. Stanford research shows evidence of climate-related health, economic & security risks has only strengthened since. 🔗 bit.ly/3ZBS3Ft

New Stanford research reveals millions of Californians behind non-accredited levees paid ~2x more for flood insurance than those behind accredited ones — not due to actual risk, but legacy FEMA mapping that treats non-accredited levees as nonexistent. 🔗 woods.stanford.edu/research/pub...

Heat from deep underground could help power the clean energy transition. A new Stanford study finds that enhanced geothermal systems can provide constant, low-cost clean electricity while reducing land use and the need for wind, solar, and battery infrastructure. 🔗 stanford.io/45CjgeC

Federal climate priorities have shifted rapidly –– creating an urgent need to track new policies and their real-world impacts. Woods has awarded special grants to support research doing exactly that, from humpback whale monitoring to flood protection impacts. 🔗 stanford.io/4t2Bv77

The U.S. has withdrawn from the UNFCCC. What happens next? Join Stanford COP30 delegates and former U.S. climate negotiator Sue Biniaz for an upcoming webinar on the state of global climate cooperation. Register: stanford.io/3LLjZ6A Moderated by Woods Director @chrfield.bsky.social.

For decades, the Environmental Protection Agency has factored public health impacts into pollution limits. Now, the equation is changing. Woods senior fellow Marshall Burke explains what that shift means — and why it matters. Read more: bit.ly/3NridYV

Looking for a job in environment and sustainability? Budgets are tight and competition is fierce – but experts say there’s still reason for optimism if you know where to look and how to prepare. Read more: stanford.io/4qudcNz

Project Unleaded grew out of a successful lead intervention in Bangladesh. Thanks to recent gifts, the initiative is now expanding to address pervasive lead contamination worldwide. 📖 stanford.io/4sGBTrE 🎥 bit.ly/3LEeaYA

"We've got to get this right." Sociologist @robbwiller.bsky.social and political economist @nmalhotra.bsky.social designed a "mega tournament" to compare common strategies for talking about #ClimateChange #UncommonCollaborators episode 🎥 bit.ly/4oxIe62 Read more: stanford.io/4pB7cRX

What role should alternative proteins play in a sustainable food system? As expectations reset, Woods senior fellow David Lobell says they're not a silver bullet – but still an important tool that hasn’t yet gotten the R&D investment needed to succeed. 🔗 bit.ly/4aRAok7 @washingtonpost.com

New name, old friends! Congratulations to the Natural Capital Alliance on 20 years of fighting to incorporate the value of nature into decision-making. Learn more about their new name and membership structure below ⤵️

Meet Alice Heiman, a junior studying computer science. Through a Woods fellowship, she's applying natural capital models and spatial analysis to pinpoint high-impact reforestation sites around São Paulo, Brazil. Learn more about Woods student programs: stanford.io/3N5lE7m

The Woods Institute and the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator are launching a joint post-doctoral fellowship position to advance the use of #biochar as a wildfire mitigation and carbon removal tool in California. Apply here: stanford.io/3KRsFYI #hiring #climatejobs #postdoctoraljobs