Rising Environmental Leaders Program (RELP)
The Stanford Woods Institute is working to develop the next generation of environmental leaders through its Rising Environmental Leaders Program (RELP).
This two-quarter program, initiated in 2011, helps graduate students and postdoctoral scholars hone their communication skills and delve into the policy sphere to maximize the public impact of their research. Participants also are extended professional development and networking opportunities including introductions to global leaders from government, NGOs, think tanks and business to:
- complement students' formal education with hands-on, experiential learning;
- provide knowledge on opportunities to maximize research impact;
- build a network of peers and partners; and
- provide exposure to career tracks outside academia.
Applications for the 2027 cohort will open in Fall 2026.
D.C. Boot Camp
Turning environmental research into world-changing action requires intimate knowledge of how government works. As part of the Rising Environmental Leaders Program, the Stanford Woods Institute hosts graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for a Washington, D.C. Boot Camp. Participants in the one-week leadership program garner first-hand knowledge about national policy development, partnership-building and public service careers. They gain exposure to the realities of policy design and implementation and learn how to connect research to policy and people. Preference is given to scholars actively working on a Stanford Woods Institute-affiliated projects.
Sacramento Boot Camp
In 2017, the Stanford Woods Institute began offering a half-week Sacramento Boot Camp to program participants. This latest enhancement is designed to build upon the cohort's Washington, D.C. experience by introducing them to California's leading environmental actors as well as provide an insider's view of the policy-making process at the sub-national level.
2026 RELP Fellows
- Oceans Focus Area: whale ecology
- Oceans Focus Areas: Domestic seafood resilience
- Stanford Law School, Environmental Law & Policy Program Focus Areas: Energy Law, Climate Law, ESG, Climate Litigation
- Mechanical Engineering Focus Areas: Water treatment; Solar Electricity; Green Ammonia; Fertilizer Production
Environmental challenges, such as preparing for extreme weather and ensuring access to clean water, are too complex for one discipline to solve. As part of a unique program, Stanford students with expertise from fields as diverse as engineering, biology, business, and law are learning how to make policy impacts.