Every year, TerraFuture's Climate Fellowship selects a cohort of young leaders between the ages of 16 and 22 to participate in an intensive nine-month program combining environmental science, data literacy, community organizing, and hands-on project work. This year's cohort of eight fellows represents one of our strongest and most diverse classes to date.
The fellowship is more than an educational program. It is an investment in the leadership pipeline that our movement needs. Alumni from previous cohorts have gone on to staff positions at environmental organizations, graduate programs in climate science, and elected leadership in local government.
Meet the 2026 Fellows
Daniela Moreno, 19, Hillsboro brings a background in computer science and a passion for environmental data visualization. Her fellowship project focuses on building an interactive web dashboard that maps air quality data against school locations across Washington County. She wants communities to see the data that affects their children every day.
James Clearwater, 21, Warm Springs is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and studies natural resource management at Oregon State University. His project explores the integration of traditional ecological knowledge with modern watershed monitoring techniques along the Deschutes River.
Priya Sharma, 17, Portland is a high school junior who organized her school's first climate strike and subsequently launched a student-led energy audit program that has been adopted by three Portland Public Schools. Her fellowship project centers on developing a replicable toolkit for student-led building efficiency assessments.
These young people are not waiting for permission to act on climate. They are building the tools, gathering the data, and organizing the communities that will define the next chapter of environmental action.
Terrence Washington, 22, Eugene recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in environmental justice. His fellowship project examines how urban tree planting initiatives can be redesigned to center community input and avoid the displacement effects that sometimes accompany neighborhood greening efforts.
Sofia Chen, 18, Beaverton is an aspiring environmental engineer who has already earned recognition for designing a low-cost water filtration system using locally sourced biochar. Her fellowship project scales this design for community garden water reclamation systems.
Aiden O'Brien, 20, Medford grew up on a family farm in the Rogue Valley and has witnessed firsthand how changing fire seasons affect agricultural communities. His project documents climate adaptation strategies among small-scale farmers in Southern Oregon and builds a peer learning network.
Fatima Al-Rashid, 16, Salem is the youngest fellow in this year's cohort and one of the youngest in program history. A skilled science communicator, her project creates a podcast series interviewing Oregon climate scientists, translating complex research into accessible narratives for teen audiences.
River Nakamura, 21, Corvallis studies ecological engineering and has worked as a research assistant in Oregon State's stream ecology lab. Their fellowship project develops a citizen science protocol for monitoring urban stream health that can be deployed by community volunteers with minimal training.
What the Fellowship Provides
Each fellow receives a stipend of $4,500 for the nine-month program, along with mentorship from professionals in environmental science, policy, and community organizing. Fellows participate in monthly cohort gatherings, a week-long summer intensive at TerraFuture's field station, and present their project findings at our annual Community Climate Summit in November.
The program also provides each fellow with access to TerraFuture's sensor network data, GIS tools, and laboratory facilities. Several past fellows have published their project findings in peer-reviewed journals or presented at regional conferences.
A Growing Network
Since its launch in 2021, the Climate Fellowship has supported 34 young leaders. Today, that network spans six states, with alumni working at organizations including the Environmental Defense Fund, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability.
The 2026 cohort officially begins in March. We look forward to sharing their progress and findings throughout the year.
Applications for the 2027 cohort will open in October. If you know a young person who is passionate about climate action and data-driven problem solving, encourage them to apply.
