2025 Environmental Futures Forum Highlights New Research at UVA
2025 Environmental Futures Forum Highlights New Research at UVA
In October, the UVA Environmental Institute hosted the 2025 Environmental Futures Forum, a biannual event that brings together experts, researchers, students and post-docs to explore the intersection between climate science, sustainability and society. Over two days, the forum featured discussions, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative new research from across the University.
Day two in Newcomb Ballroom centered around three key themes: Energy and Infrastructure, Environment and AI, Coasts and People. After each panel discussion, a poster session was held on the topic. These sessions offered a platform for researchers to share insights and foster cross-disciplinary dialogue.
One standout presentation came from Ava Birdwell, a graduate research assistant at the McIntire School of Commerce. Birdwell, part of a team of interdisciplinary researchers, presented her work during the “Environment and AI” poster session. Her project explores a critical question: How can we harness AI’s potential in climate science while ensuring equitable access to innovation? The team developed a methodology that prioritizes engagement with community leaders, fostering a collaborative relationship between climate scientists and the communities most affected by AI-driven solutions.
The Forum gave researchers like Birdwell a platform to communicate their outcomes and understand how other innovative research connects to their focus.
“Future environmental thought and practice depend on our ability to learn from other fields and integrate diverse expertise to create sustainable, equitable solutions to climate change and extreme weather conditions,” Birdwell said.
From student researchers to policy experts, the Forum created a space for diverse voices to come together in pursuit of a resilient environmental future. The event exemplified the UVA Environmental Institute’s mission: to connect researchers and students in building a sustainable, equitable, and resilient world through collaborative environmental research.