This year was full of new challenges, opportunities, and valuable learning experiences that not only changed the way I view the issues I am most passionate about, but my own future career and academic goals. Perhaps the most obvious example of this is my study abroad experience in Denmark and Greenland. While it may seem cliche to say that it 'changed my life' it genuinely did, leading me to pursue a new foreign language (and minor in it!), as well as opportunities to engage in further research with the Arctic as an Undergraduate Arctic Scholar for the International Policy Institute at UW. My study abroad experience has broadened my understanding of climate change, environmental policy, and what a truly equitable future looks like, among the growing climate crisis. While I have always been most passionate about striving for an environmentally healthy, and socially equitable society, this year allowed me to further focus on environmental injustices within my community, and is something I am proud to have had the opportunity to do. I was able to assist with a research project in the UW School of Public Health, focusing on education around the public health risks of contaminated water, targeted towards the Latinx community within the Yakima Valley. I also began my capstone research this year, where I was provided with the chance to propose, and lead my own project at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. I chose to focus on recreation equity, and strived to address existing inequities that exist regarding access to Washington State public lands, and historically underserved communities.
If I could sum up the main takeaways from this year, I would say that I have truly learned the value of interdisciplinary engagement, and the importance of pursuing things outside of my comfort zone. I have also further realized that in order to have a healthy planet, we must also have equitable, healthy communities, and I hope to further engage in experiences regarding environmental equity in my future career.
If I could sum up the main takeaways from this year, I would say that I have truly learned the value of interdisciplinary engagement, and the importance of pursuing things outside of my comfort zone. I have also further realized that in order to have a healthy planet, we must also have equitable, healthy communities, and I hope to further engage in experiences regarding environmental equity in my future career.
Autumn 2018: Ess 490
During this quarter, one of the classes I took was ESS 490, a seminar class that was a followup to my previous study abroad course. This class focused on reflecting on the trip, and discussing major issues like climate change, with our new experience. This seminar not only helped bring me closer to those I got to spend time with on my study abroad, but it also allowed me to gain a better understanding of how to better communicate environmental issues. As a part of the study abroad, we were required to write a final research paper by the end of this Autumn quarter, and much of this seminar focused on the process of writing these papers. This paper was very time consuming and difficult at times, but ultimately something I am happy to have had the opportunity to create.
Urban Planning as a Solution to Climate Change?
This paper is an extensive research paper I wrote inspired by the landscape and cultural shifts, rooting from climate change, that I was able to see in Greenland. In Seattle, I often get frustrated as it sometimes seems there is very little that can be done here that actually could help make a change in parts of the world, like Greenland, that are already facing the consequences of anthropogenic warming. For this paper, being inspired by the urban planning of Copenhagen, I analyzed the ways in which our societal infrastructure impacts our individual carbon footprints. I compared Seattle and Copenhagen, and continued, by analyzing Seattle's future infrastructure investment plans, to determine how the city may become "greener" in the future.
Winter 2019: Honors 391
This quarter, I got to take an excellent class that allowed me to integrate my understanding of Danish language and policy, with my experience in Greenland and understanding of Arctic climate change. Through this class, I was able to create a research paper analyzing Greenlandic natural resource policy and Greenland's potential natural resource market among climate change and growing economic independence. This quarter I was also given the opportunity to continue as an Undergraduate Arctic Scholar for the Jackson School of International Studies.
Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Concerns: An Analysis of Greenland’s Resource Extraction Policies
Climate change poses both potential economic benefits and societal costs to Greenland, and the issue of natural resource extraction in the country has become more complex, as the nation gains political independence from Denmark. In this paper, I analyzed Greenland's central policies around natural resource extraction and environmental regulations, to determine what the environmental/climate consequences would be in Greenland due to increased extraction. I also determined future mining policy suggestions based on the work of other Arctic states, to create a sustainable economic and environmental policy model for Greenland.
Urbdp 300
Earthquake Risk And Potential Benefits Of Retrofitting Unreinforced Masonry Buildings In Seattle
Earthquakes are inevitable, but by being prepared, we can greatly reduce potential damage, helping to protect our communities' social and economic well being. Earthquake risk is very high in the Seattle Area, and despite the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake being nearly 20 years in the past, hundreds of buildings in Seattle remain to pose serious safety risk in a similar earthquake scenario. A severe earthquake in the future is not only a potential risk, but a guarantee in Western Washington, and retrofitting unreinforced masonry buildings is a central argument in earthquake preparedness discussions. But with the high associated financial costs, is retrofitting actually worth it? The answer of course, is complicated.
This project entails a rough benefit-cost analysis I created to determine the potential social and economic losses in a Nisqually Earthquake scenario for several high risk structures in Seattle's Pioneer Square Neighborhood, and compare these losses to the potential benefits, and cost of retrofitting the structures. From my analysis, I determined that retrofitting is beneficial financially, but only under specific modeling scenarios, ultimately remaining to be largely influenced by community values around preventing risk, and limiting social costs.
This project entails a rough benefit-cost analysis I created to determine the potential social and economic losses in a Nisqually Earthquake scenario for several high risk structures in Seattle's Pioneer Square Neighborhood, and compare these losses to the potential benefits, and cost of retrofitting the structures. From my analysis, I determined that retrofitting is beneficial financially, but only under specific modeling scenarios, ultimately remaining to be largely influenced by community values around preventing risk, and limiting social costs.