Smithsonian Voices

From the Smithsonian Museums

Cat Kutz

Cat Kutz is the communications director for Earth Optimism.

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The Tales of Trees and a Conservation Legacy in This Week's Earth Optimism

These stories celebrate success, uncover a spark of hope, share a new idea, or might just make you feel good about Planet Earth.

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A Wild Idea: Earth Optimism Book of the Month

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How to Look Ahead With Hope for Our Planet in 2022 and Beyond

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Swift Fox, Robot Fish, Mycelium Maps, and More in This Week's Earth Optimism

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Climate-Conscious Cooking and a Mission for Manatees in This Week's Earth Optimism

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How Long Have Sea Cows Thrived in the Arabian Gulf? We Literally Stumbled on a Clue

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Elephant Crossings and Wildlife Comedy in This Week's Earth Optimism

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Leftovers and Turkey Takeovers in This Week's Earth Optimism

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Bandicoots, Jaguars, and Half-Earth in This Week's Earth Optimism

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Captive Breeding, Sea Lion Coexistence, and Climate Hope in This Week's Earth Optimism

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The Long Ride to COP26

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Youth Activists, David Attenborough, and What's Next at COP26 in This Week's Earth Optimism: Climate Edition

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Meet the Siblings Fighting Plastic Pollution

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Wolves, Bats, and Parthenogenesis In This Week's Earth Optimism

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Wildlife Solutions and Jane Goodall's Hope in This Week's Earth Optimism

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A Tweeting Tree and Climate Refugia in This Week's Earth Optimism

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Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With These Indigenous-Focused Conservation Reads

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Climate Anxiety Remedies and Fighting Fast Fashion in This Week's Earth Optimism

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A Different Kind of Podcast: The Possibilists From Pelecanus and Earth Optimism

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Blubbery Bears and Indigenous Agroforestry in This Week’s Earth Optimism

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This Texas Teen Is Changing the Climate Change Community

Sara Cognuck (center) shows the Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action.

Nature & Nurture: How Costa Rica's Environmentalism Shaped Sara Cognuck Into a Climate Leader

Oluwaseyi at a Movie screening hosted by her organization in commemoration of Global Recycling Day 2021. Photo courtesy Oluwaseyi Moejoh

How Nigeria's Oluwaseyi Moejoh Is Spreading Conservation Activism Across Africa and Beyond

Paine uses her background in social work and sustainable development to develop solutions that work for both people and the planet.

Empowering Pastoralists and Hunter-Gatherers for Conservation in Tanzania

Vatosoa is an award-winning advocate for protecting Madagascar's coastlines and their wealth of resources for the local communities.

Meet the Community-led Conservation Advocate Working to Protect Madagascar's Coasts

Celebrate Earth Day online again with Earth Optimism.

Earth Day Is Going Digital Again, but Don't Let That Get You Down

Shreya Ramachandran created her own nonprofit, The Grey Water Project, to educate and provide resources to diverse audiences on water recycling both at home and in the workplace.

Meet Shreya Ramachandran, Water Hero and Advocate

Sophia Kianni is the founder of Climate Cardinals, a member of the UN Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change, and hosts her own podcast.

Meet Sophia Kianni: Young Climate Change Changemaker

Meet Sruthi, a National Geographic Young Explorer and aspiring eco-journalist.

Meet Sruthi Gurudev: Aspiring Eco-Journalist and Ocean Conservationist

James Miller has used his personal passion for wildlife to draft other youth to the cause.

Meet James Miller: A Cambridge Student and Aspiring Champion for Biodiversity

Don't forget to give to the planet this holiday season.

5 Ways to Bring Earth Optimism to the Holidays

Rachael Brenneman (left), Julia Smith (center), and Skye Austin (right) pose with supplies for their remote research projects. Photo: Amy Hruska

Three Undergraduate Students Share Their Remote Research Experience

Fred Tutman is the Patuxent Riverkeeper, the longest-serving Waterkeeper in the Chesapeake Bay region, and the only African-American Waterkeeper in the nation

Discerning Blades of Grass in Grassroots Movements: A Riverkeeper's Perspective on Environmental Equity and Diversity

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More Sharks in the Water? That's a Good Thing.

Sahara Conservation Fund ecological monitoring member Habib Ali (next to vehicle) engaging in typical day-to-day monitoring of reintroduced oryx. Photo credit: Tim Wacher, Zoological Society of London.

Continuing Conservation on a Planet on Lockdown

The first #BlackBirdersWeek celebrates Black birders and nature enthusiasts while inspiring more conservation-curious to join their community.

#BlackBirdersWeek: Celebrating and Encouraging Diversity in Conservation

How can the right kind of farming protect our soils and our climate? Find out in Carbon Cowboys. © 2020, carbon nation. Photo by Peter Byck

Saving our Planet Starts in the Soil

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Framing Hope Through A Photographer's Lens

The Smithsonian's Earth Optimism Summit was a 3-day global live-streamed event that took place on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, April 22, 2020, through April 24.

Positivity Has a Voice in Science

Catch Bill's 90-minute special on Saturday April 25, 2020 on CNN.

Bill Weir's Road to Optimism

Scientists from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (including Nick Pyenson, left) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute collect a fossil dolphin from the Caribbean coast of Panama. The fossil is encased in a white plaster jacket, and recovered as the tide rushed in. © Aaron O'Dea / Smithsonian Institution

Digging Into the Past to Find Optimism for the Future

In the Peruvian Amazon, drones like this one are being used to monitor and prevent future destruction of the rainforest from artisanal gold mining. Photo by Guy Loftus for Conservation X Labs.

Innovating Modern Solutions to Conservation Problems

Good news is out there – if you look for it. For instance, just this month scientists announced that we are on our way to recovering oceans by 2050.

Here’s How to Find Optimism in This Moment of Fear and Uncertainty

Dr. Ellen Stofan is John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Photo by Jim Preston, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum

Finding Optimism For The Earth Among The Stars

Purnima Devi Barman is a member of Women in Nature Network (WINN) and is the honorary director of WINN India. Photo by Carla Rhodes.

Building An All-Women Army for Conservation In India

Gary Krupnick, Ph.D., Head of the Plant Conservation Unit at the Smithsonian in the field.

Smithsonian Botanist Finds Hope in Youth Leaders

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The Tales of Trees and a Conservation Legacy in This Week's Earth Optimism

A Wild Idea: Earth Optimism Book of the Month

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