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 environmental 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:
- understand the full ecosystem of organizations involved with policy work
- complement students' formal education with hands-on, experiential learning
- provide knowledge on ways scientists and advanced degree holders can contribute to policy development
- build a network of peers and partners
- provide exposure to mission-driven and public service career tracks outside academia and tech.
Applications for the 2027 cohort will be accepted from October 2nd until November 6th, 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.
Sacramento Boot Camp
In 2017, the Stanford Woods Institute added a half-week Sacramento Boot Camp to the program. Building upon the cohort’s Washington, D.C. experience, this boot camp introduces program participants to California's leading environmental actors who provide an insider's view of the policy-making process at the sub-national level. Through panel discussions, dinners, and 1:1 meetings, participants learn about the similarities and differences between state and national policymaking, explore a variety of public service career options, and learn how researchers can contribute to policymaking.
Bi-Weekly Workshops
Participants are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to enter the policy space with a series of professional development workshops. Workshops occur every other Wednesday for 2 hours between January and May. Workshop themes include overviews of the environmental policy space in DC and Sacramento, public speaking, networking, and pathways for researchers to contribute to policy development.
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.