 In 2017, the Center launched a new Fellows program for early-career conservationists called the Safina Center “Kalpana Chawla ‘Launchpad’ Fellowship.Recipients of this award include writers, lawyers, scientists and artists working on various projects across the globe.Notable works from Safina Center “Kalpana Chawla ‘Launchpad’ Fellows” include Erica Cirino’s photojournalism covering the story of plastic pollution and Kate Thompson’s award-winning PhD work on medical anthropology in Africa.