New Orleans: Culture of Climate Resilience
with Jeanna Bryner
Highlights
Join Scientific American Travel for an immersive five-day journey into the heart of the Crescent City, where you’ll explore complex ecological and infrastructure challenges and local sustainability initiatives rising to meet the moment. This educational experience blends cultural exploration with hands-on learning, offering a unique perspective on how communities adapt to climate change while striving for resilience.
From the cypress swamps of Bayou Sauvage to the levees that protect the city, you’ll engage in citizen science, meet local leaders advocating for environmental justice and witness groundbreaking sustainability initiatives—from green infrastructure to glass recycling for coastal restoration. Along the way, savor the flavors of New Orleans, explore its vibrant neighborhoods and enjoy insider access to experts and activists working at the intersection of ecology and community. Deepen your understanding of climate adaptation and leave inspired by the ingenuity and spirit of a city that sits below sea level.
Expert Guide: Jeanna Bryner
Jeanna Bryner is executive editor of Scientific American. Previously she was editor in chief of Live Science and, before that, an editor at Scholastic’s Science World magazine. Bryner has an English degree from Salisbury University, a master’s degree in biogeochemistry and environmental sciences from the University of Maryland and a graduate science journalism degree from New York University. She has worked as a biologist in Florida, where she monitored wetlands and did field surveys for endangered species, including the gorgeous Florida Scrub Jay. She also received an ocean sciences journalism fellowship from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She is a firm believer that science is for everyone and that just about everything can be viewed through the lens of science.
Scientific American has partnered with Academic Travel Abroad (ATA). Links from this brochure allow you to directly access websites operated by ATA. By clicking on these links, you will be leaving scientificamerican.com and directed to ATA. You can review their privacy policy here. Due to GDPR policies, ATA cannot accept customers from the EU, UK and Switzerland.
Itinerary
Sunday, November 14: Big Easy Beginnings
Begin your journey with a welcome dinner at a New Orleans institution. Your Scientific American expert will introduce pressing global climate challenges and how they intersect with New Orleans’ unique geography. This conversation sets the stage for exploring strategies that balance reversing climate change with adapting to its impacts — critical for a city built on water.
Included Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: The Eliza Jane
Monday, November 15: Biodiversity in the Bayou
Your day begins with coffee and pastries in Little Vietnam at Dong Phuong Bakery. Here you will meet with the Project Director of the local Community Development Corporation and learn about their fight for environmental justice. Then, head to Bayou Sauvage Wildlife Refuge for a wetlands walk with a local scientist and community educator. Learn about how the Coastal Education and Research Facility (CERF) monitors marsh health and support these efforts by testing salinity and water quality on the historic waterway. Embark on a boat tour to explore the systems of flood protection and coastal restoration implemented since Hurricane Katrina in the Central Wetlands. Return to the docks of Bayou Bienvenue for a picnic lunch. Later, meet the founder of the local nonprofit Glass Half Full and learn about innovative efforts to repurpose glass for coastal restoration. Return to your hotel for an evening to explore the city on your own. nDinner is at leisure.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Eliza Jane
Tuesday, November 16: Living with Levees
Visit City Park with a local naturalist and observe green infrastructure innovations that reduce flooding and enhance biodiversity. Stroll through the sculpture garden and savor beignets at Café Du Monde. Continue to the London Avenue Canal Levee, which was breached during Hurricane Katrina. Learn about the catastrophic effects of this historic engineering failure and explore Katrina’s legacy and modern flood defenses. Enjoy lunch at Dooky Chase, a gathering place for musicians, civil rights leaders and politicians, including Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Later, meet with leaders from an innovative neighborhood water management initiative that empowers communities to manage localized stormwater and flooding. Return to the hotel to refresh and enjoy dinner on your own before a guided jazz crawl on Frenchmen Street, immersing yourself in the city’s vibrant music scene.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Drinks
Accommodation: The Eliza Jane
Wednesday, November 17: Delta Dining and Discoveries
Travel through historic neighborhoods to the Lower Ninth Ward, stopping en route at Jackson Square and the colorful neighborhoods of Marigny and Bywater, with their historic architecture and bohemian vibe. Then, meet with the CEO of a local nonprofit that is committed ton community empowerment. Hear from a legacy fisherman about the growing threat of climate change to oyster harvesting, and enjoy a “Gulf-to-Table” seafood lunch on the family dock. Continue to Docville Farm, where you’ll learn how regenerative agriculture and education foster resilience along the Mississippi River. You’ll also meet with the Farm’s Environmental Director, who will share stories about their efforts to build a more resilient and sustainable region and join your Scientific American expert in a discussion about restoring wetlands and protecting coastal communities from rising seas. Enjoy a final dinner as a group overlooking the farm.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: The Eliza Jane
Thursday, November 18: French Quarter Farewell
Depart hotel for individual flights home
Included Meal: Breakfast
Scientific American has partnered with Academic Travel Abroad (ATA). Links from this brochure allow you to directly access websites operated by ATA. By clicking on these links, you will be leaving scientificamerican.com and directed to ATA. You can review their privacy policy here. Due to GDPR policies, ATA cannot accept customers from the EU, UK and Switzerland.
Accommodations
The Eliza Jane
The Eliza Jane is a historic property that has been reimagined as a modern boutique hotel just two blocks from the vibrant French Quarter, allowing easy access to the city’s highlights without the noise. This boutique hotel is a charming oasis in the heart of New Orleans’ Business District, with a lush interior courtyard and a well-equipped fitness center. On-site dining options include a French brasserie (“Couvant”) and cozy lounge (“The Press Room”) with locally inspired cocktails. (4 nights)
What's Included
All accommodations for the duration of the tour
Meals as noted in the itinerary
All sightseeing and visits as noted in each itinerary
Expertise of a Scientific American editor, travel director and local guides throughout the program
All gratuities for on-tour guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff as part of the group program
All on-tour transportation, unless otherwise noted
The assistance of an ATA professional travel team to assist with pre-trip questions, travel arrangements, including flights, extra hotel nights and other services
Comprehensive pre-departure mailings and materials with information about the destination and what to expect on tour, including a suggested reading list
Emergency evacuation insurance
Scientific American has partnered with Academic Travel Abroad (ATA). Links from this brochure allow you to directly access websites operated by ATA. By clicking on these links, you will be leaving scientificamerican.com and directed to ATA. You can review their privacy policy here. Due to GDPR policies, ATA cannot accept customers from the EU, UK and Switzerland.