Attending events that are more tailored to graduate students was not on my undergraduate experience bingo card.  However, serving as the Program on Climate Change (PCC) Undergraduate Assistant has welcomed me to a diverse, yet like-minded community I am thrilled to socialize with whenever the chance arises.

I got this chance last Thursday (10/15/26) at the Third Thursday Event hosted by the PCC Graduate Steering Committee (P-GraSC).  It was my first time attending, and as the sun started inching toward the horizon, I arrived at the UW Biology Greenhouse fresh out of my own microbiology lecture.  I was immediately greeted with a lively room filled with pizza, drinks, nearly 100 faculty and students, and so many plants!  In this crowd, I also saw many familiar faces I was excited to reconnect with after participating in the 2026 Summer Institute that happened in September. 

Although this was a social event, I found it quite educational as well.  My curiosities led me down the long hallways into several greenhouses boasting various ecosystems.  After inspecting the carnivorous pitcher plants and the various cacti species alongside environmental public health graduatestudents and marine biology undergraduates, I also had the chance to speak with ATMOS professors and Biology PhD Candidates regarding their work and academic careers.  

These events grant me insight on Climate-related academia while allowing me to bond with the PCC community.  This bond is integral for me to serve as a bridge between the Undergraduate Climate Cohort (UCo) and Graduate Student Community.  Because of this, a unique learning opportunity is available through collaborations and conversations that inspire generations of students to pursue careers in climate.  It definitelyinspires me to continue finding ways to connect all sectors of the climate community, so more people are exposed to the wonderful camaraderiebuilt through PCC.

One of my favorite things about PCC is the interdisciplinary nature of it that connects you with new ideas and people you may never have interacted with before.  Maybe you’ll come for the pizza, but you’ll probably stay for the community.  See you at the next Third Thursday on November 19! 

Written by Elena Rheingans, PCC Undergraduate Assistant