Photo credit: Brian Yurasits, NH Sea Grant
More than 120 people gathered at the 2026 NH Coastal Climate Summit to learn, connect, and explore how communities can build resilience in the face of climate change. Yet when attendees reflected on the day, Elizabeth Rush’s keynote presentation about her expedition to Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier emerged repeatedly as one thing participants will remember from the event.
Elizabeth Rush’s presentation featured her journey to the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica and what she learned from this experience. She shared powerful visuals of a changing landscape and stories about the crew, research projects, and the tumultuous voyage. But what seemed to resonate most was her ability to connect deeply personal experiences to complex climate challenges as she wove in stories of becoming a mother and other personal relationships. One participant appreciated how Rush’s presentation brought “motherhood into climate change” connecting it to transitions in nature, while another reflected on the way personal vulnerability was integrated into her story. Together, these elements created what one attendee described as a “softness” that is rarely present at technical conferences. Rather than focusing solely on science and data, Rush reminded attendees that climate change is also a human story – one about relationships, responsibility, uncertainty, and care. She may have transported attendees to one of the most remote places on Earth, but participants left thinking about something much closer to home. That is, how we respond to change together.
Additionally, Rush’s presentation underscored the importance of care, connections, and collaborations. As Rush described life aboard an Antarctic research expedition, where scientists, crew members, communicators, and support staff worked together toward a common goal, many attendees related to collaborations that are needed to advance resilience efforts in their communities. As communities across coastal New Hampshire continue preparing for a changing climate, participants left with a renewed sense that resilience is not something we build alone. It emerges through shared stories, shared purpose, and a willingness to face challenges together.
And perhaps that is what attendees will remember most from Elizabeth Rush’s visit: not simply a glacier, but a reminder of what is possible when people come together to meet an uncertain future with curiosity, courage, and hope.