S3E5 – Exploring All Things Food, Data, and Climate Tech

In this episode, we meet with Alexa White – Alexa White’s dedication to sustainable agriculture and environmental justice is clearly demonstrated through her Ph.D. candidacy in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. Her work, grounded in agroecology and biology, critically assesses sustainable agriculture’s biophysical indicators and probes the efficacy of international climate governance, particularly in light of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Alexa’s significant contributions were recognized in 2023 with the prestigious Federation of American Scientists Policy Entrepreneurship Award, an honor she shared with notable figures including Director Christopher Nolan, Senator Chuck Schumer, and Dr. Alondra Nelson. This accolade celebrated her pivotal role in establishing the AYA Research Institute, a think tank dedicated to progressive environmental justice policy. In her role as a Senior Harvard Climate Justice Design Fellow, Alexa has been instrumental in developing innovative environmental justice screening and mapping tools for governmental bodies in the Mid-Atlantic United States. Her expertise in this field also led to a collaboration with the White House Council for Environmental Quality, where she played a key role in developing the inaugural Justice40 tracker and report, further cementing her position as a leader in sustainable development and environmental justice.

Alexa’s groundbreaking research in food sovereignty and justice earned her the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Conservation Leadership Award in 2020, underscoring her contributions to the field. Her active participation on the boards of the United Negro College Fund and the Edfu Foundation serves as evidence that her leadership goes beyond research.

Moreover, as a 2022 Columbia Mailman School of Public Health Agents of Change in Environmental Justice Senior Fellow, Alexa has harnessed her skills as a storyteller to eloquently share her experiences and insights, further amplifying her impact in the realms of environmental justice and sustainable agriculture.

• We learn about food sovereignty and the right to have control over your food
• We learn about agricultural and food policy
• We learn about how representation and leadership of people of color in environmental justice work is crucial

Follow and connect with Alexa on socials:

Instagram: @alexabwhite
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-white-a1214987/

Check out Alexa’s website:
alexawhite.co

Check out an opinion piece Alexa wrote: https://www.ehn.org/supporting-small-scale-farmers-2664302999.html