Climate Change and the Impacts on Vulnerable Populations

University of Iowa College of Public Health

Lauren's guest this week is Dr. Tamara Marcus. Dr. Marcus is a climate scientist and activist co-founding Empowered Solutions Collective, a sustainability consulting group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Her journey began in undergraduate studies, where she pivoted from pre-med to climate research, working in diverse ecosystems around the world. As an activist, Dr. Marcus is committed to creating accessible, equitable sustainability projects that address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities. Her work with Empowered Solutions Collective focuses on providing tailored solutions and community-informed initiatives, from resilience hubs to food access projects. Dr. Marcus emphasizes the importance of self-care and staying encouraged in this challenging work, stressing that solutions require collective, relationship-building efforts rather than just data or infrastructure alone. She advocates for more activist approaches in local government to drive urgent climate action. A transcript of this episode will be available soon. Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [e-mail] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks.