Rooted Futures Lab Environmental Justice & Technology Fellowship 2026

About the Fellowship

The Environmental Justice & Technology (EJIT) Fellowship is designed for emerging leaders working at the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and environmental justice. Fellows will:

• Lead independent, real-world projects

• Collaborate across disciplines

• Produce tangible outputs advancing environmental justice in technological systems

• Receive mentorship from an interdisciplinary global team

Fellowship Tracks (2026 Cohort)

1️⃣ Data Centers & Environmental Justice – Creative Technologist Fellow

Focus: Investigating environmental/social costs of digital infrastructure using computational methods
Responsibilities:

• Design computational research projects (ML, remote sensing, data scraping)

• Develop datasets, models, or analytical reports

• Contribute to the Data Center Impact Dashboard

• Create accessible visualizations of technical findings
  Ideal for: Data scientists, engineers, GIS specialists, computational researchers

2️⃣ Data Centers & Environmental Justice – Investigative Storyteller Fellow

Focus: Storytelling and investigative research on socio-environmental impacts of data centers
Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent investigations on EJ issues

• Produce multimedia storytelling outputs (written, visual, audio)

• Translate complex data into compelling narratives

• Focus areas: land displacement, water consumption, pollution, energy costs
  Ideal for: Journalists, writers, multimedia creators, communicators

3️⃣ Study Hall – Democratic Governance & Collective Systems Fellow

Focus: Building community-driven systems and participatory governance models
Responsibilities:

• Research democratic governance frameworks (e.g., sociocracy)

• Design tools for collective decision-making

• Support student-led communities in applying these systems

• Document processes for publications and toolkits
  Ideal for: Community organizers, educators, systems designers, policy enthusiasts

4️⃣ GLITCH Zine – Editor & Strategist Fellow

Focus: Editorial leadership and strategic development of a creative publication platform
Responsibilities:

• Define editorial vision and theme for the 2026 zine

• Curate, edit, and manage submissions

• Develop outreach and contributor engagement strategies

• Oversee print/digital production and distribution

• Build long-term platform strategy
  Ideal for: Editors, publishers, creative strategists, content creators

Eligibility Criteria

General Requirements:

• Strong English communication skills

• Ability to work independently and manage projects

• Interest in environmental justice, technology, or related fields

• Interdisciplinary mindset and openness to collaboration

Track-Specific Skills (vary by role):

• Technical: Machine learning, GIS, data science

• Creative: Journalism, storytelling, media production

• Organizational: Community organizing, governance systems

• Editorial: Publishing, content strategy

Applicants from non-technical and interdisciplinary backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Diversity & Inclusion Commitment

Rooted Futures Lab does not discriminate based on:

• Gender or gender identity

• Sexual orientation

• Race or ethnicity

• Religion

• Age or economic background

Applicants from underrepresented and marginalized communities are especially encouraged to apply.

What You'll Receive

• USD $3,000 stipend

• Access to Rooted Futures Lab's interdisciplinary team

• Technical, editorial, and strategic mentorship

• Collaboration with developers, researchers, and storytellers globally

• Integration into a global cohort of EJIT fellows

• Tools and platforms for project development and dissemination