Institute at Brown for Environment and Society

A decade of discovery: Voss fellowships turn curiosity into climate and sustainability solutions

Ten years of research projects, countless ideas, one shared mission: to build a sustainable future.

Kim Cobb standing alongside Pamela and Peter Voss

 

Through the ongoing leadership and generosity of Peter Voss ’68, P’98 and Pamela Voss P’98, two complementary programs have flourished at IBES, creating unprecedented opportunities for emerging scholars to forge solutions to some of today’s most complex climate and sustainability challenges.

“ Just look at these students and scientists; what they’re doing is remarkable! We’re so appreciative of the time, effort, and dedication you’ve put into your studies and careers. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone here goes on to win a Nobel Prize. So keep at it, keep looking for solutions. I’m very optimistic about what’s ahead. ”

Peter Voss ’68, P’98

About the Voss Fellowships

Celebrating a milestone: The 2025 Voss Symposium 

On Friday, September 19 the IBES community gathered at Andrews House to celebrate a remarkable milestone—a decade of impact made possible by the Voss fellowship programs. Dozens of alumni and friends came together to recognize professional accomplishments that stemmed directly from the Voss fellowships and to honor Peter and Pamela Voss for their steadfast support that has launched careers, advanced knowledge, and strengthened communities.

The day was infused with energy and connection. Alumni presented compelling research that spanned continents and disciplines, from climate adaptation strategies in coastal Indonesia to biodiversity conservation in New England forests. 
 

“ It [can be] hard as a multidisciplinary researcher to find an academic home, and it is so nice to be embraced by this community. I feel very, very fortunate and grateful. It's very rare to be able to study what you love without compromise. ”

Elodie Freymann Current Voss Postdoc

Voss helped me to find my voice, and it was also about increasing the conviction in that voice. It helped me to clarify what I wanted to say, but most importantly, how loudly I want to say it.

Stacy-Ann Robinson Coordinating lead author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report
 
Stacy Ann Robinson

Research making a difference 

The breadth and impact of Voss-supported research yields powerful stories of scholarship. From community-engaged urban planning to paleoclimate reconstruction, from biodiversity science to climate-health research, Voss fellows are asking bold questions and pursuing evidence-based solutions alongside global partners. Here is a sampling:

  • Rafael Ash '26 on rising sea levels
  • Marlena Brown '25 on coral archive reconstruction
  • Sidharth Siddapureddy '25 on New England forest biodiversity
  • Sarah Ivory, a former postdoc and current associate professor at Penn State, on fossil pollen
  • Eric Roy, a former postdoc and current associate professor at the University of Vermont, on nutrient cycling
  • Kate Weinberger, a former postdoc and current lead epidemiologist at ICF, on the hidden health costs of climate change 

As IBES looks towards the next decade, the Voss legacy continues to grow—one curious question, one collaborative project, one transformative fellowship at a time.