Elijah Busch
Neuroscience, Biology, and Psychology
About Me
Early Life Advocacy
I grew up in Connecticut with two dads. From between the years 2004-2008 my dads were plaintiffs in the Kerrigan & Mock et al v. Connecticut Department of Public Health, a Connecticut Supreme Court case that declared denying same-sex couples the right to marry unconstitutional under the state's constitution.
​
Their fight for marriage equality not only secured rights for same-sex couples in our state but also taught me the importance of standing up for justice and equality. This pivotal experience during my formative years instilled in me the resolve to use my voice to effect change.
In high school, I channeled this resolve into advocating for LGBTQ+ teens, creating affinity spaces, speaking in front of the student body about the power of language, and working with the school to re-design the sex education class which was better able to foster an environment of inclusion and support. This early advocacy work laid the foundation for my ongoing commitment to social justice and policy reform.
Environmental Advocacy
Continuing this legacy of advocacy, my journey into environmental conservation was marked by a once in a lifetime three-month group expedition through the Northwest Cascade mountains and parts of the Pacific Crest Trail. This trip through terrible but beautiful landscapes scorched and scarred by recent wildfires, where I wore KN95 masks to filter the smoke-laden air, was a stark reminder of the escalating impacts of climate change. Confronting these realities in the wilderness, I learned the vital importance of environmental stewardship.
Following a climate policy internship at Green Umbrella, which included climate justice, local government programs and policy, I joined on a two month research voyage in the Phoenix Islands. Focusing on the biodiversity of zooplankton's Diel Vertical Migration, I explored how these tiny organisms contribute to the marine food web, particularly around underwater sea mountains. Concurrently, I investigated the effectiveness of marine protected areas in sustaining tuna populations, a major economic and cultural resource for many coastal communities. Tuna populations face massive sustainability concerns of over fishing that threaten their long-term viability. These studies expanded my understanding of marine biology and the complex interplay of science, policy, and community engagement in conservation and advocacy efforts.
Reproductive Advocacy
My journey through environmental advocacy naturally evolved into a passion for social justice, leading me to an enriching Winter Term internship at All Families Healthcare in rural Whitefish, Montana, in January 2024. Under the guidance of APRN Helen Weems, the clinic’s practitioner, I dove into the heart of a community-centric reproductive health clinic. There, I gained comprehensive insights into both the administrative and clinical realms of healthcare. I learned about everything from counseling techniques to detailed medical procedures, all through the lens of patient-centered care and advocacy.
​
The experience was eye-opening. Each day I saw the profound impact of the clinic's abortion services—lifesaving for many who walked through its doors. This reinforced my understanding of how crucial patient-centered care is and how deeply reproductive health is tied to human rights. Engaging with vulnerable communities at the clinic broadened my perspective and intensified my resolve to stand up for those marginalized by society. This path has shown me that true advocacy involves more than just speaking out; it's about actively participating in the fight at the crossroads of healthcare, human rights, and community engagement, especially when faced with the complex dynamics of politics and societal pressures.