Laurel Abowd

Bio

Laurel is a Land Use Data Scientist specializing in the connection between land management decisions and climate outcomes. At emLab, she often leverages her expertise in ecosystem service valuation and forest systems to investigate these types of research questions. Laurel graduated with a master’s degree in environmental science and management from the Bren School where she assessed the forest benefits of California’s Tahoe Central Sierra for her thesis client, Blue Forest Conservation. As an intern with the Public Policy Institute of California, she analyzed the impacts of smoke from extreme wildfires on children’s education and health outcomes. Prior to graduate school, Laurel worked for the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office and earned a B.S. in environmental science and B.A. in public policy and leadership from the University of Virginia. Outside of work, Laurel enjoys running, hiking, yoga, exploring farmers’ markets, and trying out new recipes.