Globally, forests have the biggest potential to mitigate climate change. Trees absorb vast amounts of carbon that would otherwise be in the atmosphere exacerbating the climate crises.

Third Prize, $500 – Yarong Cao⁠
Revealing disparities and drivers of compound exposure to urban heat and PM 2.5 pollution using low-cost sensors⁠
Mentor: Alexandra Ponette-González, associate professor, City & Metropolitan Planning, College of Architecture

Second Prize, $1000 – Rylie Gagne⁠
Walking on Thin Ice: Polar Bear Navigation in a Warming Arctic⁠
Mentor: Jody Reimer, assistant professor, School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Mathematics, College of Science

First Prize, $1500 – Nathan Murthy⁠
Satellite-Tracking data reveals migratory pathways of Steppe and Booted Eagles in the African-Eurasian Flyway⁠
Mentor: Cagan Sekercioglu, professor, School of Biological Sciences, College of Science⁠

Congratulations to the research poster contest winners!⁠
⁠
Wilkes Center-funded graduate and undergraduate students showcased their climate-related research projects and competed for cash prizes at the Wilkes Summit. Attendees were invited to vote on their favorite posters throughout the day. ⁠

Gracyn Lia Hinojosa is another one of our spectacular Wilkes Scholars! She is currently researching the impacts of climate induced drought on Ranching Culture in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Navigate here to read all about her! wilkescenter.utah.edu/spotlight/gr...

The finalists will present their solutions during the morning of the upcoming Wilkes Climate Summit on May 15 at the Eccles Alumni House. Register at this link to attend: wilkescenter.utah.edu/summit/

We are thrilled to announce this year’s finalists for the $250,000 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize at the University of Utah!

Bennett Davenport is another one of our incredible undergraduate Wilkes Scholars! He is currently researching small mammal fossils found in caves surrounding the U to learn more about Utah's changing ecology over time.

Melanie Osuna is another one of our incredible undergraduate Wilkes Scholars! She is currently researching a sediment core that potentially has a lot to tell us about the ancient people of the Great Salt Lake Desert.
Navigate to this link to read all about her!
wilkescenter.utah.edu/spotlight/me...

One-U Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative is partnering with AWS and NVIDIA to hold an air quality hackathon in June 2025!

WOW! We received over 1,100 Submissions for the 2025 Wilkes Climate Launch Prize! The amount of innovation and enthusiasm for climate solutions across the world is truly inspiring.

Just today, our very own Wilkes Center Director Dr. William Anderegg was cited in the New York Times!
Read the article here: www.nytimes.com/2024/03/25/w...

Izzy Chick is one of our undergraduate Wilkes Scholars, and she is researching the associations between gender and political ideology, especially with environmental issues.
Navigate to this link to read all about her!
wilkescenter.utah.edu/spotlight/iz...

On Friday, April 4th, Sara Kuebbing from @yaleforestry.bsky.social will visit @utah.edu to share her work with applied science to guide sustainable land management.
RSVP here: forms.gle/6ZSEXPgoobLG...
@yalee360.bsky.social
@uofu-science.bsky.social
@uofubiology.bsky.social
#ecology

Hear from the first place team at this year's Climate Solutions Hackathon! #hackathon #climatesolutions
wilkescenter.utah.edu/podcast/28-c...
@uofu_science
@uofuresearch