Francesco Fiondella, Author at State of the Planet

Francesco Fiondella

Science communication occupies a lot of my brain space, even when I'm not in the office at the International Research Institute for Climate and Society, where I oversee communications. I take lots of photos, too. Find out more about me at FrancescoFiondella.com.

Recent Posts

Frontline Heroes: Predicting Climate Extremes in Africa

Advanced weather-forecasting tools and techniques, like those developed at Columbia Climate School’s International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI), can help key stakeholders in Africa prepare for the worst.

by |November 14, 2023
people at a table looking at their phones

Crowdsourcing to Build Better Insurance

In order to offer protective insurance to greater numbers of smallholder farmers, in 2021, the ACToday project began testing mobile crowdsourcing apps that tap into the experiences and memories of farmers themselves.

by |April 25, 2022
ACToday’s Ethiopia country lead, Tufa Dinku (middle) stands with officials from the country’s National Meteorological Agency and other agencies during the launch of Ethiopia’s national framework for climate services

ACToday Empowers National Meteorological Services

As part of its goal to increase food security in six countries, the ACToday project has helped develop new climate services that lead to better agricultural decision making.

by |April 20, 2022
girl walking across a dry farm field

The Climate-Nutrition Connection in Food Security

In early 2021, ACToday, Cheikh Anta Diop University and Senegal’s national meteorological service organized a three-hour webinar to launch discussions about connections between climate and nutrition.

by |April 19, 2022

How ACToday Builds a Global Community of Climate-Trained Decision Makers

In the last year, project members trained more than 1,600 professionals and graduate students on integrating climate knowledge into food planning and policy, to help combat hunger.

by |April 13, 2022

Pod of the Planet Episode 17: Mapping Out a Vaccination Strategy in Nigeria

In this episode, we talk to two experts from the GRID3 program, which is providing geospatial data to support Nigeria’s COVID-19 vaccination planning.

by |November 3, 2021
people sitting around a table with food

How Universities Can Support Interdisciplinary Careers for Climate and Sustainability Progress

A webinar on March 17 will explore the issue in-depth.

by |March 12, 2021
collage of four student photos

Students Reflect on New Science Communications Course

Four students share their final projects for the class and talk about their biggest takeaways.

by |March 11, 2021

New System Tracks and Forecasts Outbreak Risk of Dengue and Zika

The system identifies areas where environmental conditions might enhance transmission of dengue, Zika, chikungunya and other diseases carried by Aedes mosquitoes. It could find at-risk areas a month in advance.

by |August 4, 2020
Two field laborers pour harvested rice grains into a specially labeled packet

Climate Risk Insurance for Colombia’s Smallholder Rice Farmers

Insurance payouts based on weather conditions are helping to keep premiums low and enabling millions of farmers access to coverage previously unavailable to them.

by |June 4, 2020