Our Team
Briana Castro
Lab Founder + Director
Brianna Castro is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Sociology and Climate and Environmental Studies at Vanderbilt University. She studies the social effects of climate change in everyday life and leads research projects on climate change adaptation, migration, and governance. Castro also researches how sustainability transitions impact individuals' daily adaptation decisions. Her work can be found in journals such as Global Environmental Change, Ecology and Society, and Qualitative Sociology. In addition to scholarly research, she partners with practitioners and offers technical advising on community engagement and climate communication. When not thinking about climate change, Professor Castro enjoys hiking, camping, gardening and all things outdoors. Her hometown is in rural North Carolina.
Lily York
Majors: Environmental Sociology & Political Science Minor: Human and Organizational Development
Lily is a junior at Vanderbilt from Louisville, KY combining her interests of climate policy and governance by studying Environmental Sociology, Political Science, and Human and Organizational Development. Her passion for climate solutions began in middle school when she first learned about waste in the food and fashion industries. Now her research interests lie in understanding how organizations are adapting to climate change, how this affects communities, and the intersection with policy.
Nina Liu
Majors: Pubic Policy Studies & Sociology
Nina Liu (She/Her) is a junior double majoring in Public Policy Studies and Sociology, with a minor in History of Art. She was born in Beijing, China, and raised in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Beyond academics, she is a ballet dancer, and loves playing the piano!
Alexandra Sheldon
Majors: Environmental Sociology & Economics Minor: Business
Alexandra Sheldon is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University (Class of 2027) from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is passionate about climate issues, focusing on global food systems, innovative green agriculture, and sustainable business practices. Outside of her academic commitments, Alexandra is a student-athlete at Vanderbilt, participates in the Outdoors Club, and serves as a teaching assistant. Last summer, Alex worked as a youth camp counselor at the Cincinnati Nature Center, where she combined her love for the outdoors with her commitment to environmental conservation by educating children and underserved groups in her community. With a strong interest in graphic design and experience building brand identity, Alex serving as the CLIMA Lab web developer.
Anabel Wilson
Majors: Public Policy & Sociology
Anabel Wilson is a sophomore from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Though her interests lie in global studies, the Spanish language, and conflict resolution, she is most driven by her excitement about how intercultural perspectives can better enable real-world problem-solving. She is specifically drawn to understanding how the intersectionality of oppression and cooperation can help us imagine interconnected modes of liberation and progress. This interest in problem-solving and oppressive forces led to an interest in climate migrants and migration policy more generally.
Bob Boyang Chen
Majors: Environmental Engineering & Computer Science
Bob Chen is a freshman majoring in Environmental Engineering and Computer Science. Originally from Qingdao, China, Bob is also an active member of the Vanderbilt Men's Frosh Rowing Team. Beyond his academic pursuits, he enjoys playing soccer, running, and traveling, and has a passion for playing the oboe.