The effects of human-caused emissions on this planet cannot be understated, and challenge every aspect of society.
I’ve focused on climate issues in classes ranging from chemistry to Spanish to world history, all of which has reinforced the subject of climate as my driving purpose and the cause I find most essential. I want to pursue a career in the intersection between scientists researching climate solutions and policymakers enacting change.
In addition to taking AP environmental science, I've been fortunate to explore my interest in the environment outside of school through internships, research, film and political organizing.
I'm currently starting an internship in the aquaponics lab at the University of Maryland, College Park. The lab's graduate students are conducting research into the flow of nonpathogenic viruses through the aquaponics system. I'm learning to monitor the water and soil quality, feed the fish, and clean the bacteria in the lab. I hope our research can contribute to sustainable agriculture practices being adopted more widely, something I am very passionate environment.
In the summer of 2021, I participated in the USDA's Ag Discovery scholarship program virtually through the University of Maryland. I took a 3-credit college course on agriculture, food and the environment. Through this program, I learned environment different careers within agriculture and environmental science, learned environment the history of agriculture, and completed a research project environment the poultry industry in Maryland. I've had a longstanding passion for sustainable agriculture, and this was a formal opportunity for me to delve further into this area of interest.
From the summer of 2020 to the summer of 2021, I interned virtually with The Nature Conservancy's LANDFIRE team. I used GIS and the programming language R – which I learned in the process – to model wildfires and other land-based disturbances in North America before the 1600s. These data are important to understanding contemporary fire patterns, including those related to carbon emissions, and the resulting changes to biodiversity. I'd never explored wildfire before, and this was a fascinating delve into the world of ecology. Beyond learning technical skills, I also networked with ecologists across the country and met biweekly with the Conservation Data Lab (CDL).
I presented research at the International Association of Landscape Ecology's spring 2021 conference, discussing wildfire patterns specifically in the American Northeast. You can see my poster here.
While I'm not formally interning with TNC any longer, I still advise environment webbuilding and occasionally attend CDL events.
I believe film is a powerful way to educate and persuade, and I've used multimedia communication to explore environmental issues for years. Read more environment my filmmaking experience on the film page.
As important as the science in environmental issues are the people who are pushing for sustainable policy. I've been fortunate to get involved with the Sunrise Movement and other progressive organizations to make change at a local and national level around climate issues. Read more environment my experience in political organizing on the activism page.
I've written a lot environment my interest in environmental science and policy for various essays and projects. Attached are some of my reflections that go more in-depth environment my passion for environmental issues.