OST Fellowship Reflection: Anna Guth

Last fall, I found myself in a glass conference room overlooking the San Francisco Bay with a group of ambitious thought leaders. Feet from the blue-green water, the threat of sea level rise felt especially tangible. As OST’s first California Coastal Climate Resilience Science-Policy Communication Fellow, I was there to learn from the leading experts in climate science and adaptation.

OST partnered with the UC Santa Cruz Center for Coastal Climate Resilience (CCCR) and several other groups to host a packed October day of speakers and focused discussions in Sausalito. The event, The Economic Risks for Climate Change for California Communities, zeroed in on the financial risks that governments face from climate change and a variety of risk management strategies.

About the Fellowship

Together, OST and CCCR jointly supported me through this unique fellowship to pursue my M.S. in science communication from UC Santa Cruz. OST and CCCR share the goal of providing evidence-based information to decision makers on strategies for building climate change resilience. With editorial freedom as a fellow, I wrote independent news stories that shed light on insurance and other coastal resiliency measures.

Responsibilities and Achievements

• Took courses at UC Santa Cruz in science news, investigative, data, video, and audio journalism.
• Published around 30 science and science policy articles in regional, national, and international outlets as part of schoolwork.
• Interned with the science desk of KQED, the NPR and PBS member station for Northern California.
• Wrote three articles about insurance innovation after gaining inspiration at the Sausalito event:
  • Published a story in January for the Monterey Herald about the launch of a new parametric flood insurance product for California municipalities, exploring its potential fit for Monterey County.
  • Published a second story for KQED about California’s first community parametric flood insurance program in the small city of Isleton.
  • Completed a profile of an esteemed insurance leader, slated for release this summer, along with several additional stories featuring the work of CCCR.

Background and Experience

When I started the UC Santa Cruz master’s program, I had professional experience in journalism and communications with a focus on the climate crisis. After earning my bachelor’s degree in English and environmental studies from Wesleyan University, I covered the science beat for a weekly newspaper in Northern California, the Point Reyes Light, and later managed communications for a community foundation, West Marin Fund. I pursued my master’s degree to advance my career in science communication.

Next Steps

Now, a month after graduation, I am writing about science for the communications office at Stanford University this summer. In September, I will start as the new climate and science reporter for SFGATE through UC Berkeley Journalism’s two-year California Local News Fellowship.

My gratitude for OST’s investment in me as a science communicator through this fellowship is immense. Special thanks to OST’s Science Officer Heidi Waite for mentorship and support over the past year. My perspective on climate change will forever reflect what I learned about the essential work of OST and CCCR.