JUST
CLIMATE
FUTURES LAB
Collaborative research for climate justice and societal transformation
Through our work alongside youth, educators, activists, community organizations, interdisciplinary scholars, and policy partners, the Just Climate Futures Lab seeks to understand and support collective responses to ecological crisis.
Our mission is to explore how people build agency, sustain climate action, and imagine and enact more just and livable futures.
Carlie D. Trott, PhD |
she/her
Carlie D. Trott, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cincinnati where she heads the Just Climate Futures lab. Trott’s climate justice research agenda aims to bring visibility to, and work against the inequitable impacts of climate change, socially and geographically. As a social-community psychologist, community-engaged researcher, and action-oriented scholar, Trott’s work draws upon theories within and beyond psychology (e.g., social movement, ecological, and feminist theories), employs publicly-engaged and action-oriented research methods, and often integrates the arts and sciences to center the voices and actions of those most affected by environmental injustice and the climate crisis. Dr. Trott teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in social and community psychology and advises students in the Community and Organizational Research for Action (CORA) doctoral program. For more info, see Dr. Trott's research website.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
CURRENT MEMBERS
Stephanie Lam, MA |
she/they
Stephanie is a Community Psychology doctoral student in Community and Organizational Research for Action (CORA) program at the University of Cincinnati. She values interdiciplinary, decolonial, and feminist processes in the work she does and always tries to bring forth her authentic self. As a community psychologist, she truly believes prevention is key. Stephanie’s larger research interest is couched in “exploring the intersection of social issues to create preventive solution with local community members”. As a community psychologist, she also strives to be a methodologist because she believes all issues are interconnected. Stephanie is excited to collaborate on projects that involve people of various backgrounds of knowledge and intersectionalities to work towards positive transformative change that will account for a collective well-being. Stephanie acknowledges that her journey into academia would not be possible without the past influences from mentors of various age groups.
Emma M. Shepherd-Reyes | she/her
​
Emma is a Research Associate in the Just Climate Futures Lab who is passionate about environmental psychology and human-nature connection. Her favorite projects have been the Climate Safe Neighborhoods Partnership, and the Youth Climate Justice Activism study where she has enjoyed conducting interviews and coding the experiences of young activists.
In her free time she enjoys taking long, meandering walks with her partner, getting cozy with her cat and a good book, and junk journaling with friends.
Zachary Hostetter |
he/him
​
Zachary is a Master's student in Clinical Psychology and Public Mental Health at Sigmund Freud University in Berlin, Germany. Born and raised in Ohio, Zachary served in the U.S. Navy and worked in engineering research and development before finding his way to psychology. Those experiences gave him a grounded, systems-oriented perspective that continues to inform how he approaches his work and research. He is drawn to questions at the intersection of environmental justice, structural inequity, and mental health, and believes that meaningful change requires addressing the deeper societal forces that shape people's lives and wellbeing.
When he's not studying or diving into research, you'll likely find him cycling through the city, seeking out live music events, or escaping into nature whenever the opportunity arises. Travel is another one of his great loves; he believes that experiencing the world firsthand is one of the most powerful forms of education there is.
Sofia Adams-Lasse |
she/her
​
Sofia is a third-year undergraduate psychology student at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Arts and Sciences. She is pursuing a certificate in Pre-Art Therapy and is passionate about social and environmental activism. In her free time, she enjoys reading feminist literature and hiking. She plans to pursue a master’s in school psychology to support children with learning and neurocognitive unique abilities.
Raushni Bumrah |
she/her
​
Raushni is a recent graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a B.S. In Health Sciences. She is excited to delve into the lab's research on youth climate activism, and she is interested in exploring the intersections between climate, inequity, and public health. In her free time, she enjoys watching cheesy horror movies, taking care of her houseplants, and exploring local art fairs/markets.
