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Sarah Finnie
Director at The 51 Percent Project & Senior Fellow at Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability
Sarah Finnie Robinson is a prominent figure in climate communication and sustainability, currently serving as a Senior Fellow at the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS). She is also the Founding Director of The 51 Percent Project, an initiative focused on enhancing climate communication strategies to engage various stakeholders in the clean energy transition. This project has received recognition, including an award from the Association for Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) in 2022.15
Educational Background and Career
Finnie holds a B.A. from Princeton University and an M.A. from Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English. She was part of the inaugural cohort of Seth Godin’s altMBA program in 2015. Her career began in journalism, working for prestigious publications such as The New Yorker and The Atlantic, and she played a significant role as the launch content director at iVillage.234
Research and Initiatives
Her research focuses on climate mis- and disinformation, stakeholder engagement, and effective communication practices for promoting climate action. Finnie co-directed a focused research program titled "Data and Misinformation in an Era of Sustainability and Climate Change Crises," in collaboration with the Hariri Institute for Computing.13
In addition to her roles at Boston University, she is the founding partner of WeSpire, a B Corp that provides technology solutions to enhance corporate sustainability initiatives. Finnie actively contributes to various organizations, serving on advisory boards for ecoAmerica, the Planetary Health Alliance at Johns Hopkins, and Boston Harbor Now, among others.256
Community Engagement
Finnie is also involved in educational outreach, serving as a judge for the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness contest, which engages thousands of students globally each year. Her commitment to climate action extends to mentoring roles within the Climate Reality Project and supporting environmental organizations like Ceres and the Environmental Defense Fund.13
Publications and Media Presence
Her writings appear in multiple platforms, including HuffPost and mindbodygreen, where she discusses climate communication strategies and public engagement.5
Overall, Sarah Finnie Robinson is recognized for her impactful work in advancing sustainability through effective communication and community engagement.
