Hey there. I'm Aara'L Yarber (pronounced air-uh-el). I'm an atmospheric scientist, science writer, and visual storyteller who uses words, data, and art to explore the connections between people and the planet.

My research focuses on air pollution, especially in Africa and the African diaspora. I earned my Ph.D. in Meteorology and Atmospheric Science from Penn State, where I studied how Saharan dust, agricultural burning, and city emissions shape air quality in West African cities. Now, as an Assistant Research Scientist at Howard University, I study biases in U.S. air quality forecasts (you can find my Google Scholar here).

I'm also a science communicator passionate about making science accessible and inspiring for all. I've written for Capital B Atlanta, Eos, the American Physical Society, and the American Geophysical Union, and I was a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at The Washington Post and a 2025 Uproot Project Fellow. Now, I'm the Science Communication Specialist for the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M).

After finishing my Ph.D., I began building a visual art practice rooted in love and advocacy. Through art and storytelling, I hope to spark wonder and introspection, expand representation, and connect people to the beauty of the world around them, in pursuit of a more just world. Come along for the journey.