Living Cities and Dead Bees: An Exploration of Climate Change

“I remember after the wildfires in 2020, the sky and air were gray and orange for days and there was a thin coating of ash on everything,” said Ada, who enrolled at Kimball Union Academy as a first-year student in 2021. “When the air quality would get so bad from a fire, we’d be advised to wear masks outside.”

It wasn’t until she arrived on The Hilltop, however, that Ada began to realize just how much of a positive impact she could make in combating climate change. Ada joined the Farm Team as a sophomore, helping feed scraps from the dining hall to the school’s pigs, and is a KUA Eco-Representative helping to promote sustainable practices throughout campus.

“Being on Farm Team these past three years has made me realize that there’s something I can do about these issues,” said Ada, who plans to study biology in college. “I really feel like I’ve made an impact in my time here.”

This past summer, Ada utilized a Cullman Scholarship to further her knowledge in sustainability, participating in five-weeks of courses focused on best practices in both urban and rural settings.

Considered among KUA’s highest honors, the Cullman Scholarship Program was established in 1983 with a gift from Hugh Cullman ’42 and supports students in off-campus study opportunities. In 2024, Ada and nine other students were awarded scholarships to pursue areas of study of their choosing that develop leadership skills, global and environmental awareness, and service to others.

“I’ve enjoyed trying new things and I think KUA does a really great job of encouraging students to put themselves out there,” said Ada, a member of the school’s varsity cross country and track & field teams. “I don’t think I would have been as eager to try something like this if it wasn’t for KUA.”

Ada’s Cullman experience began with a virtual program hosted by Cornell University called, “Green Cities: Creating the Living City.” Ada said instructors used real-life examples such as urban sprawl in Los Angeles and Singapore’s vertical gardens to emphasize the importance of incorporating nature in cityscapes, and the human, economic, and environmental impact these ideas can provide. Ada said these examples held added impact with classmates, who were Zooming in from both Los Angeles and Singapore, offering their unique, personal perspectives on the issues at hand.

From there, Ada attended a two-week seminar on the University of California, Davis campus on environmental toxicology — which she described as her favorite part of her Cullman experience. Aside from exploring local museums and visiting amusement parks, Ada said one of her most memorable days in the area involved tracking toxin levels in deceased bees. She and her peers used a blender to liquify bees that had been exposed to pesticides to determine the level of toxins contained in the insects. Ada said the lab-based programing taught her the importance of gathering evidence that supports the ideas of urban planners and added that the in-person experience drove home the importance of collaboration.