[10] She was raised Jewish and has cited her grandparents’ experience as Holocaust survivors as the inspiration of her research and advocacy on the impacts of climate change on disenfranchised communities.
[29][30] She traveled across the country interviewing 350 local leaders to identify what's needed most to safeguard coastal communities against the unavoidable impacts of climate change.
[31] In partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and with support from a JMK Innovation Prize, a follow-up project to Eroding Edges is bringing technical assistance directly to small and medium-sized towns that are geographically remote and socioeconomically vulnerable.
[34][35] Herrmann developed the 700+ member international network to facilitate open communication, foster cross-disciplinary exchange, and build new collaboration teams of scientists, stakeholders, and practitioners to investigate the ways in which the drivers and consequences of Arctic coastal migrations intersect and interact with one another and identify the implications for society.
[36] Her research focuses on how images used in mass media construct values, identities, and ideas of power about climate change displacement, vulnerable communities, and Arctic policy.
Her talks from National Geographic Society's stage include a Choose Your Own Adventure inspired presentation for CreativeMornings[44] and a keynote panel at the Explorers Festival, where she was featured in conversation with Andrew Revkin, Emma Marris, Leland Melvin, and Ian Stewart to discuss a planet in peril.
[46] Herrmann is passionate about youth empowerment, and has worked closely with National Geographic Education to increase climate awareness and opportunities for local action.
[49][50] In 2021, Herrmann was a featured Explorer in ABC Owned Television Stations Our America: Climate of Hope in partnership with National Geographic Partners.
In 2019 Herrmann was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) IF/THEN Ambassador,[4] and is an advocate for women's visibility in climate change research[63][64] and girls engaging in STEM.