Exploring Climate Policy Through Research: A Graduate Student Internship Story
From the archives to the field, we are learning how to apply lessons learned from history to the work we do today.
Ntombizodwa Mpofu, a graduate student in the Department of History, reflects on her one-month internship supporting members from the Natural Capital Project: The Earth-Economy Modelers (NatCap TEEMs) and using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology to synthesize research on transformational adaptation in Africa. From overcoming challenges to discovering how she can apply her unique skills to the frontlines, Mpofu shares how she sees academic research shaping global conversations.
What were your top three job responsibilities?
- Assisted with a systematic review on transformational adaptation in Africa using PRISMA methodology.
- Helped analyze and synthesize literature and stakeholder contributions to drafting a peer-reviewed manuscript.
- Presented research findings to members of NatCap TEEMs, and possibly contributed to communication materials to African climate negotiators debating how transformational adaptation should be considered and treated under the global goal on adaptation at the UN climate talks—COP30 in Brazil, November 2025.
What was challenging? What went well?
One challenge was navigating an interdisciplinary project that required communicating across various fields, including climate science and policy, as well as social science and history. It also demanded synthesizing a vast amount of literature that covered the entire African continent, both geographically and over an extensive time frame. Balancing the technical rigor of the PRISMA methodology with the need to produce findings relevant to climate negotiators added another layer of complexity.
Despite these challenges, our team worked effectively to organize and analyze a large body of research, which will enable us to move forward with drafting a high-quality peer-reviewed manuscript. My background in reading historical sources and my familiarity with African geography and environmental issues proved extremely useful, helping me identify important context and patterns in the literature. Presenting findings to NatCap TEEMs members also went smoothly and sparked productive discussions about how our results could inform policy debates.
What skills did you use and strengthen?
I drew heavily on my ability to critically read and interpret complex material, a skill developed through historical research. My knowledge of African contexts and environmental issues helped me assess sources with greater depth and nuance.
This experience helped me strengthen my ability to conduct systematic reviews using the PRISMA methodology and learned how to integrate academic findings with stakeholder input to develop actionable insights. I also improved my capacity to communicate across disciplines—learning to translate specialized concepts from climate science and policy into terms that resonate with broader audiences.
How did you find your internship?
I discovered the internship through a referral from the Institute on the Environment. I had contacted them to inquire about internship opportunities on their projects, and they referred me to NatCap TEEMs. They believed that the work being done by NatCap closely aligned with my research interests and field of study.
What are some takeaways from this experience?
One of the most interesting aspects was seeing how academic research can directly shape international climate policy conversations. Presenting findings to NatCap TEEMs members and knowing that our work could influence discussions at COP30 was both exciting and humbling.
Because of this experience, I have built a network of individuals who can be future collaborators. The team has been instrumental in helping me explore career possibilities outside of academia and understand the impact of my work on the African continent.
This story was edited by Deborah Sventek, an undergraduate student in CLA.
