Lauren Gibson

Lauren has dedicated herself to community-engaged conservation throughout her time at Stanford. For the past four years, she has studied the conservation of the endangered Hispaniolan solenodon, one of the most unique and highly threatened species on the planet. Her research work involves close collaboration with Dominican scientists, educators, and conservation organizations in an effort to answer scientific questions that are useful for on-the-ground management. Lauren is also currently writing a conservation-themed children’s book about the solenodon to encourage positive environmental attitudes in young people. The book, written in partnership with Dominican collaborators, will be translated into Spanish and delivered to conservation partners to be used as an educational tool. In addition to her work in conservation, Lauren was the lead editor for the first-ever Chief Scientist’s Annual Report at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which works to demonstrate the value that NOAA research adds to American lives. Editing this report involved translating heavily scientific concepts for a lay audience, including both the general public and Congress. Lauren also advocates for young change-makers. In high school, she founded a nonprofit called the Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program, which funds youth-led environmental projects in her hometown in Indiana. While at Stanford, she created a handbook walking other young people through the process of creating similar programs in their own communities. She has also spoken about the power of youth environmentalism to visiting policymakers, including past Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and the President’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.