On Tuesday, November 4th, the PCC’s undergraduate cohort (UCo) hosted a climate careers panel. UCo’s goal was to provide undergraduate students with varied perspectives and insight into career options that utilize climate education and applications. This panel featured UW alum Taryn Black (Postdoctoral Associate with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center through the University of Maryland), Sam Shugart (Market Analyst at Puget Sound Energy), and Steffen Coenen (Electromobility Engineer/Planner at DSK Associates). 

The panelists began by introducing themselves, their current fields, and the nature of their work. This provided insight into what real careers using climate might look like and the direction students can take from academic research to analysis and planning. They described the teams they work with, including entities like utilities, city and state agencies, and science teams, and how their day-to-day changes. The panelists also elaborated on their educational experiences and what they found useful to carry into their careers. Taryn noted the values of statistics and analysis and how helpful an analysis course would have been in undergrad. Sam mentioned how collaboration and taking advantage of conversations with scientists while in Foster’s master’s program were very beneficial for gaining perspective and personal learning. He noted how he wished he had done more interdisciplinary collaboration while at UW. All panelists shared that building public speaking skills early was very valuable, saying it was less stressful to practice presenting in informal environments. The use of public speaking and strong communication is important in representing their work and ideas in their careers.

Prompted by student interest, panelists discussed what motivates them in their careers. They all mentioned that working on impactful applications or creating practical solutions helped connect their work to a bigger picture. Panelists discussed that they leaned into their preferences for structure, intellectual stimulation, and the use of analysis tools. This helped connect their work styles and skills to a role that played to their strengths. The panelists also mentioned that they derive fulfillment from community outreach, like this panel, and helping to share their work and insights with others. They expressed that connecting their work to the public helps propel the success of their projects, noting the importance of networking and being able to present to many audiences.

All three panelists highlighted that starting at UW was a major shift toward their current roles. Pursuing an education at UW allowed them to dive into their fields and develop the knowledge and skill sets they use in their positions today. They specifically mentioned taking classes on climate and working with other UW campus members helped shape their next steps. The panelists highlighted that being involved on campus and networking were great pathways for building connections and exploring future directions. This helped open doors for job opportunities and collaboration. With a wealth of opportunities at UW, being a student allows exploration of many pathways.

Students found it beneficial that the panelists shared similar insight into helpful career steps and perspectives, despite their unique fields. The panelists encouraged students to seek out connections and conversations, especially while still in an academic setting. They noted that these connections helped shape their interests and even helped them get initial job experience in their field. This advice was a core message of the panel. After the event, students were able to chat one-on-one with panelists for more detailed questions. Students shared how it was helpful to see a real application for their interests. They appreciated the advice and perspectives shared by the panelists as they explore opportunities and plan for their future careers.

A special thanks to our panelists, Taryn Black, Steffen Coenen, and Sam Shugart for contributing their time and perspectives to help students learn more about future careers. An additional thanks to the UCo undergraduate organizers and Lorenzo McCleese for moderating the event.

Written by Elise Herzfeld, PCC Undergraduate Assistant and UCo Leadership Member