about

2025 | director | 3 min

For Critical Ecology Lab in Santa Rosa, California, the redwood forests and urban coastlines of California’s Bay Area are more than a backdrop; they’re a living classroom. Their Field Course is an immersive program for adults that integrates scientific methods with place-based knowledge and experience. The goal isn’t just to learn about data collection techniques, but to build a stronger relationship with the environment, one that connects science with history, culture, and community.

Rather than separating ecological science from its broader context, the Field Course weaves research with conversations about responsibility, access and the many ways people connect to nature. Through shared fieldwork, group discussions and time spent in diverse ecosystems, participants gain scientific skills and develop a deeper understanding of the natural world.

In this video, hear from Suzanne Pierre, founder and executive director of Critical Ecology Lab, as she discusses her mission to make science more accessible, inclusive and rooted in real-world connection.

Critical Ecology Lab joined the Science, Society & Culture community of awardees in 2022.

The Stories of Impact series highlights the real-world influences of Science Sandbox projects through personal narratives, videos and interviews.