Savannah Byron is a doctoral student in engineering, and a member of the PhD Innovation Program with the Thayer School of Engineering. Byron was one of four Guarini students who traveled to Washington, D.C. for the AAAS CASE 2026 conference, which introduces graduate students to federal policymaking and advocacy for scientific research.
Where do you call home, and what’s one thing about that place that still shapes how you think or work today?
I am originally from Niantic, Connecticut. I grew up near the beach and my dad and I would clean up trash on the beach. It taught me that every action has an impact and we should leave a place better than we found it.
Where did you complete your undergraduate studies and what did you study? Was there a moment that pointed you toward graduate school?
I studied environmental science (major) and optics (minor) at University of Rochester. Then I went and lived and worked in New Mexico for 4 years. I spent two years at CVI Laser Optics and 2 years at Los Alamos National Labs (LANL). At LANL I had a wonderful advisor (Mark Petersen) and I had known I loved learning, but I worried a PhD would be too niche. However, he told me that a PhD was really a way to “learn how to learn” and that once I did that I could learn whatever I wanted. This would enable me to eventually work on global-scale problems. That view changed a lot for me.
What program are you in at Dartmouth, and what specifically drew you here?
I am also a member of the PhD Innovation Program with the Thayer School of Engineering. I have supplemental support as an Irving Seed Grant recipient. I was drawn here because of the interdisciplinary nature of research and my world renowned PIs / advisors (Don Perovich and Chris Polashenksi).
Tell us about your research—what big questions are you tackling, and what inspired you to dive into this field?
I study polar sea ice. Currently I am looking at ephemeral weather events and their relationship with albedo. This means isolated rain on snow events that change the proportion of light that the surface of the ice reflects and absorbs. I started studying sea ice because it allowed me to do fieldwork, data analysis, as well as modeling.
What drew you to apply for the AAAS CASE workshop, and what’s one concrete skill or connection you hoped to leave Washington with?
I have always been interested in the intersection of science and policy. It is hard to be an environmental scientist and not be concerned with policy. At the same time the US has some of the best preservation of land in the world. I hoped to leave Washington knowing how to speak the language of policymakers in order to effectively communicate.
Is there a science policy issue you feel isn’t getting enough attention? How does your research connect to it, even indirectly?
I am a big advocate for continued research in the Arctic. It has been challenging with the recent cuts to funding within the environmental sciences.
If you could give one piece of advice to incoming graduate students, what would it be?
Dartmouth has so many resources, clubs, and opportunities. I would say, “within reason, say yes to as many things as you can.” I have met so many people from artists to engineers to medical professionals and often find myself using their nuggets of wisdom.
What’s your favorite spot or activity in the Hanover/Upper Valley area that helps you recharge outside of research?
I absolutely love being in nature. So, during winter it’s the top of Killington looking down over the Upper Valley, a bit of frost on my goggles and feeling thrilled to live so close to a mountain. In the summer, it is renting a paddleboard and paddling along the Connecticut river – it feels so peaceful and grounding.
