Shira Goldman ’25

In 2024, I spent the summer working on climate change communications for the Office of Protected Resources in National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries. With guidance from my mentors in the office, I got to research and write about emerging topics of my choice. My focus was drafting stories in a more accessible way, synthesizing a lot of information that has been peer-reviewed and selected by NOAA for publication. Throughout the summer and fall, NOAA Fisheries published my articles on climate threats to black abalone, the "Species in the Spotlight" initiative and climate change, and the agency’s partnership with the Penobscot Nation to boost Atlantic salmon resilience.

“I have a newfound knowledge about how to effectively communicate very dense scientific information to a broad audience.”

Through the experience, I learned how to translate dense scientific information for consumption by an audience with diverse interests. Before my internship, I had no idea about the intricacies of climate change communications. Now, I feel comfortable sharing these stories in everyday conversations. It was really interesting getting to discover the breadth, diversity, and passion within NOAA Fisheries’ conservation networks and beyond. Plus, I developed a deep appreciation for just how charismatic black abalone are!