Climate Career: Computer Science & Communications
by Izzy Tilles (Data Science & Communications Extern, Summer/Fall 2024)
From a young age, I have been passionate about the environment. Growing up in San Francisco, my family helped plant trees and shrubs on the sidewalks in our neighborhood, and we biked to get around the city. Going into college, I thought about pursuing a climate career through environmental science. But that major required so many science classes, and I wasn’t interested in taking multiple chemistry and physics classes. Instead, I chose computer science, putting my climate justice goals on hold.
Environmental Statistics & Data Analysis
However, this semester I have gotten the chance to intern at 350 Sacramento. And now I see how to apply what I’m learning at school to my passion for saving the environment. Since choosing data science as my primary focus, I’ve learned that data analysts have a lot of power in their hands. This is especially true when it comes to how facts are framed.
In terms of the environment, everyone is constantly throwing around statistics about climate change. We hear about the rate at which the ice caps melt, how many degrees hotter the planet is, what year climate change will become irreversible, etc. Policy makers, corporations, and even everyday citizens use these statistics as they make important decisions.
Data Science Project: Food Transportation & Climate
This semester, I focused primarily on collecting data about where food comes from, with the intention of analyzing how our current food habits impact the environment. The only problem with that is there is very little data available in this area. I had to create my own dataset and then think of ways to represent my findings in a meaningful way, despite not having much data. This forced me to think outside of the box in a way I hadn’t had to do in school.
I’d found an opportunity to grow my data analysis skills while working on projects I was passionate about.
This experience showed me how my computer science skills can contribute to climate justice. It taught me how data can shape narratives and drive action, even when there’s limited information available. I’m now determined to use my skills to impact environmental issues, combining my technical knowledge with my passion for sustainability.
