About the ThinkLab
The CECJ ThinkLab at CU Denver serves as a research forum and creative space where students engage in critical investigations and discussions centered on the social and cross-cutting dimensions of climate (impacts, vulnerability, disaster risk reduction, global health, adaptation, education, ethics, equity, and action). Using climate justice and civic engagement as integrative themes, the CECJ ThinkLab seeks to attract students from all cultural backgrounds and academic interests, including the STEM disciplines, social sciences, urban planning, humanities, and arts, and spark their interests to learn across disciplinary knowledges for collective action in Colorado and beyond. Moreover, the ThinkLab is commited to supporting and encouraging students from underrepresented groups (broadly defined) in their pursuit of cross-disciplinary climate and society scholarship and creative activities.
The CECJ ThinkLab addresses the need for: a) interdisciplinary and equity-minded STEM training to address the multifactorial causes and impacts of climate change; and b) a diverse workforce that reflects the changing demographics and climate resilience needs of Colorado. Through cross-disciplinary thinking, hands-on research, collaborative activities, and peer-to-peer learning, the CECJ initiative builds undergraduate research capacities, fosters community, and cultivates leadership and networks.
CECJ Fellows
With support from the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (EURēCA! Student Assistants program), the Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, and a CU Denver Inclusive Excellence grant, the CECJ ThinkLab supports a 2024-25 undergraduate cohort that includes (student name [major and topic]): Sarah Le (Climate and Food Justice), Steven Ocana (Public Health, El Niño and dengue), Farah Sanginova (Public Health, El Niño and global food security), Yuting Xiang (Communications and Public Health, El Niño and disaster risk reduction), and Laila Zeid (Biology, Climate change and brain health). In addition, the ThinkLab is supporting several graduate students (Carolina Jaime-Anson, Gabriella Mayne, Melissa Porrey, and Marianna White) in their pursuit of original research presentations at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting in 2025.
The previous CECJ ThinkLab cohort (2023-24) included Ruth Hundi, Luis Vargas, and Stefanie Varghese, all public health majors. Their research which examined how the 2023-24 El Niño evolved across four countries (Australia, Ecuador, Peru, and the U.S.) won the President’s Sustainable Solutions Challenge (Sustainability in our Environment & Technology Award) at the 2024 Research and Creative Activities Symposium (RaCAS) at CU Denver.
CECJ Events
In-person Event - Monday, November 11, 2024
Climate Justice Cafe: Elevating Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research.
Join us for a celebration of CU Denver undergraduate students and climate justice research. Learn about their experiences, including presenting at a major conference and lessons learned for interdisciplinary STEM initiatives for social and health equity.
Panelists Line-up:
- Fahiima Abdullahi (Biology) – Climate Misinformation
- Steven Barela-Ocana (Public Health) – Climate and Dengue
- Ruth Hundie (Public Health, Alum ’24) – Climate Disaster Risk Reduction
- Sarah Le (Public Health) – Climate and Food justice
- Farahnoz Sanginova (Public Health) - Climate and Food Security
- Luis Vargas (Public Health, Alum ’24) - Climate Disaster Risk Reduction
- Stefanie Varghese (Public Health, Alum ‘24) - Climate Disaster Risk Reduction
- Laila Zeid (Biology) – Climate and Brain Health
Dr. Ivan J. Ramírez, CU Denver Department of Health & Behavioral Sciences, will moderate the discussion. The event is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) DEI Council, CU Denver programs in Undergraduate Public Health and Climate Change Studies (new), Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (EURēCA!), the TRIO McNair Scholars, and the Civic Engagement and Climate Justice (CECJ) ThinkLab.
Food by Los Molinos Restaurant will be served.
When: Nov. 11, 1:30pm to 2:45pm
Where: Tivoli Student Union, Room 329 (Senate Chambers)
For more information, please contact me, Dr. Ivan J. Ramírez (PI and Director), at ivan.ramirez@ucdenver.edu and/or visit our webpage (https://climatehealthjustice.wordpress.com/cecj-thinklab/).