Science communication has always been close to my heart. Education is important, but sharing knowledge is even more powerful. This belief has shaped my career, from my early tutoring days to my work in climate science. However, nothing has demonstrated the impact of science communication more than my experience with the Legion 44 documentary.

From Carbon Management Research to Public Engagement

In April 2020, I began the research that would become my PhD thesis, focused on carbon capture and removal. These topics aren’t intuitive to most people, and the academic literature can be dense. One of my first tasks was tackling the National Academies’ 500+ page Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration report. It’s exactly the “beach read” it sounds like.

During this time, I was also active in climate-focused Slack groups like AirMiners and Work on Climate, where I met a diverse group of people—students, career changers, and industry professionals—all eager to learn about carbon removal. But while they were interested, many felt overwhelmed by the technical literature. I started answering questions using the insights from my readings and hosting informal Zoom discussions to break things down. Eventually, this grew into a structured paper-reading group where we analyzed key reports and research together.

Around the same time, I became fascinated by the EN-ROADS climate simulator and shared it with my new network. That sparked an idea: what if we could create a game that distilled the National Academies report into an interactive experience? This led to nearly nine months of evenings and weekends spent developing the Road to 10 Gigatons game—an effort that reinforced my belief in the power of making science accessible.

Enter Paulina & Fabian: A Student Film That Became a Movement

Amid the success of Road to 10 Gigatons, two undergraduate students—Paulina Villalonga (Berkeley) and Fabian Nilsson (London)—reached out to me. They had an idea for a student film about carbon removal. I was intrigued but skeptical. They were working remotely, during lockdown, on opposite sides of the world. Could they really get this project off the ground?

Still, I took the call. I explained the science and engineering behind carbon removal and shared advice on connecting with experts in the field. Over the next few months, they kept me updated, sharing their progress and refining their vision.

Then, in July 2021, Fabian told me something unexpected: their “student film” had gained serious traction. They had formed a board of directors, secured investors, and brought on renowned climate documentary director Leila Conners. Suddenly, this was really happening.

Legion 44: A Documentary with a Mission

Paulina and Fabian weren’t just making a film—they were building a movement. Their vision was to create a documentary that would not only educate audiences about carbon removal but also inspire real action. That idea has shaped Legion 44 into what it is today, and over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to its growth in even bigger ways.

Since its premiere at New York Climate Week 2024, I’ve had the privilege of attending the Yellowknife International Film Festival and the first university screening at Stanford. The film has been recognized globally, including a nomination for the International Green Film Award, presented by Cinema for Peace.

Beyond screenings, I’ve worked closely with the Legion 44 team to expand the film’s reach and impact. I helped develop educational materials, including discussion guides, lesson plans, and curated DIY carbon removal projects to make climate science more accessible. I also played a key role in shaping the Watch + Remove framework—a unique distribution model that allows viewers to take direct climate action while engaging with the film.

Legion 44 is no longer just a documentary—it’s a catalyst for change. Looking back, I never expected that a few Zoom calls would lead to a global movement, but that’s the beauty of science communication. You never know where a conversation might lead.