EVST News August 21, 2023 Welcome back to Yale!Welcome Back Events!EVST Senior Reception | Wednesday, August 30th in the Kroon Lounge (third floor), 7:00-8:30pm | Please join your EVST 496 Team Leaders for a reception and first class meeting. This is the first class meeting for all seniors enrolled in EVST 496 in the fall, but seniors planning to write their essays in the spring are also strongly encouraged to attend to learn more about the EVST senior-essay process. We hope every EVST senior will be there! RSVP here. Join us for the annual EVST picnic on Thursday, September 7th from 5:00-7pm! Meet EVST faculty and students in the major, play games, pick up EVST swag, and enjoy pizza, gelato, and gourmet ice pops. Gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options available. Meet our canine support team: Handsome Dan, Heidi, and EVST’s Stella. Please RSVP here. YSE Community Day Expo | Tuesday, August 29th from 10:30am-12:30pm on the Kroon Courtyard. This is a great opportunity to learn about YSE student jobs and community volunteering opportunities! Meet the EVST Program StaffThe Environmental Studies Program staff and Peer Mentors welcome you back to campus! Please reach out to us with any questions about EVST. All interested students are welcome to join us at the Academic Fair on August 28th from 12:30-2:00 in the Schwarzman Center. Professor Wargo is the Chair of Environmental Studies, Professor of Environmental Health and Politics at YSE, and a visiting and consulting Professor at Yale-NUS College. His research explores threats to human health posed by environmental hazards, including exposures to pesticides, vehicle emissions, toxins in foods, plastics, flame-retardants, metals, and chemicals released outdoors and indoors. He is on sabbatical this fall and will teach EVST 255 Environmental Law and Politics and EVST 496 Senior Research Project and Colloquium this spring. Professor Fotos is the EVST DUS and Lecturer in Political Science. He studies the relationship between political theory and policy analysis. This year he will teach EVST 212 Democracy and Sustainability, PLSC 256 American Political Institutions, EVST 060 Topics in Environmental Justice, and EVST 496 Senior Research Project and Colloquium. Fall office hours: Tuesdays, 11:30-12:30, drop-in at Berkeley Dining Hall and Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 and 3:30-5:00 at Beinecke Plaza when the weather is nice. At 53 Wall Street, Room 218, in case of rain. Professor Freidenburg is the EVST Associate DUS, BS Program, and Lecturer at YSE. She is an ecologist who conducts research in freshwater ecosystems with a particular focus on amphibians. This fall she will teach EVST 234L Field Science: Environment and Sustainability, EVST 323 Wetlands Ecology, Conservation & Management, and EVST 496 Senior Research Project and Colloquium. Fall office hours: Tuesdays 2:30-4 and Wednesdays 9:30-11AM. In person in Sage 3A or on Zoom. Sign up here. Linda Evenson is the EVST Program Manager. Linda can answer questions about the EVST major, course registration, choosing a concentration, concentration courses, fellowship and internship opportunities, details in this newsletter, connecting with EVST alumni, the YSE 5-Year Program, and EVST opportunities. Email Linda or drop by her office in Kroon G-01 to introduce yourself and learn more about Environmental Studies! Rachel Sperling is the Librarian for Environmental Studies. She provides research support to students in the forms of consultations, course-integrated bibliographic instruction, and workshops on topics such as citation management and how to write a literature review. She creates and maintains useful digital research guides. Check the Yale Library Instruction calendar for upcoming workshops. Meet the 2023-2024 EVST Peer Mentors!Environmental Studies Peer Mentors meet with prospective and current majors to provide advice and information regarding EVST. They can answer questions about what it’s like to major in EVST, what classes you may wish to take in the major, and how to find concentration courses. First-year and sophomore students are encouraged to contact EVST Mentors with questions about EVST. Peer mentors can be a great resource for advice about classes and various EVST research, extracurricular, or job opportunities. The DUS's can answer questions about receiving credit for a course or counting it toward the major, getting summer credits for a program, the senior essay process, and other schedule-related questions. The EVST website and FAQs have a lot of program information as well. The important thing to remember is that, if you have a question and you don't know the answer, feel free to ask. Selin Goren Energy and Climate BS’24, Timothy Dwight College | Selin is pursuing certificates in Energy Studies and Spanish. She’s from Turkey and is engaged in climate activism in her hometown, Istanbul, with the Fridays for Future movement. She’s passionate about the green energy transition of companies and cities, carbon containment, and youth participation in climate politics. At Yale, she’s working as a Research Assistant in the Yale Carbon Containment Lab and the Student Director for EVST. She previously worked as a content producer with YPCCC and as a sustainability liaison with the Yale Office of Sustainability. This summer, she spent 6 weeks in Iceland joining a study abroad program on renewable energy and resource economics with funding from Yale's International Summer Award. Ben Everett-Lane Energy & Climate BS ‘24, Berkeley College | Ben is pursuing certificates in Chinese and Statistics & Data Science with specific interests in climate science, communication, and policy. Ben currently works as a research assistant for the YPCCC and is a co-founder of GreenCheck, a youth climate action organization. Through the Summer Environmental Fellowship, Thomas C Barry Travel Fellowship, Leitner International Research and Internship Fellowship, the Class of 1960 John Heinz Government Service Fellowship, he has worked for NOAA’s Climate Program Office and WildRoots-India. He has been an assistant editor, reviewer, and co-author for YSE Professor Florencia Montagnini on her conservation book, the sustainability liaison for Berkeley College, research assistant for YCELP, conference planner for the IUCN, and wilderness trips leader for Overland. Emily Horgen Sustainability and Natural Resources BA '24 and East Asian Studies, Silliman College| Emily is interested in the intersection between finance and the clean energy sector. She started her environmental journey working for a nonprofit called the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach, Florida. She wrote and illustrated a children’s book called Lee the Sea Turtle Swims Free in English and Chinese to spread awareness about sea turtle conservation in Southern China, where sea turtles are poached for their meat and shells. Last summer, Emily interned in the office of Senator Blumenthal in Washington, D.C., where she wrote policy memorandums to inform staffers on important environmental issues. This past summer, Emily interned in New York at Decarbonization Partners, a joint-venture between Blackrock and Singapore-based Temasek, where she helped the team invest in private firms developing technologies that drive decarbonization. Grace Cajski Marine Conservation BA '24 and English, prospective Yale Journalism Scholar | Grace is from New Orleans, and is passionate about leveraging storytelling and education as tools for conservation and food systems and aquaculture. As a NOAA Hollings Scholar, she analyzed how aquaculture gear affects fish behavior in the Long Island Sound. She has done conservation reporting in Hawaii as a YPCCC x Pulitzer Center Climate Reporting Fellow with support from the Yale Sustainable Food Program’s Global Food Fellowship, the CIPE Summer Journalism Fellowship, LEAP Student Grant Program, the Benjamin Franklin Richter Fellowship, and the Yale Environmental Humanities Program Student Grant. She has worked in the carbon offset industry, the Yale Sustainable Food Program, YPCCC, and the Fellowships Office. Kezia Levy Sustainability and Natural Resources BA '24 | Kezia is pursuing a certificate in Energy Studies, and an advanced language certificate in Spanish. She's from London, and is interested in the intersection of environmental progress and business. Last summer, Kezia worked as an ESG consultant, helping some of the world’s largest companies with their emission reduction plans. This summer, she worked as a consultant with one of North America’s largest oil and gas companies, working on their decarbonization plans. On campus, Kezia has been working with other Yale students to code an app focused on reducing fast fashion on college campuses. Saskia Braden B.A.'24.5 and Global Affairs | Saskia is passionate about climate policy. This summer, she supported domestic climate priorities as an intern in the White House Climate Policy Office. Over the past few years, she has had the opportunity to look at corporate climate action, international climate risk assessment, and grassroots organizing through internships with the World Wildlife Fund, the Woodwell Climate Research Center, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and the Conservation Law Foundation. During a gap semester, Saskia spent three months monitoring wildlife and excavating sea turtle nests as a volunteer at Osa Conservation, a remote research station in Costa Rica. On campus, she leads YSEC’s UN COP delegation and serves as Dwight Hall’s Yale Engagement Coordinator. Meet the YSE 5-Year Program Graduate Liaisons!Alexandra Weyerhaeuser YSE MEM’24 EVST BA ‘20| Alex is a MEM candidate at the School of the Environment specializing in People, Equity and the Environment. She received her BA in Environmental Studies with a concentration in environmental justice and a certificate in Education Studies and has been pursuing her interests at the intersection of environment and education ever since. Alex worked for Green City Market, a nonprofit in Chicago focused on sustainable food and agriculture, food justice, and educationduring her two gap years, then spent some time getting herhands dirty on a regenerative farm on Maui and traveled teaching yoga before coming to YSE. Feel free to email Alex with questions. Victoria Dombrowik YSE MEM’25 EVST BA ‘21 | Victoria is a MEM candidate specializing in Business and the Environment. Initially part of the Human Health and the Environment concentration, she became interested in atmospheric carbon reduction and removal strategies during her internship at the Yale Carbon Containment Lab. After receiving her BS in Environmental Studies, she spent two years working for the London-based climate intelligence startup Sylvera. Victoria is passionate about nature-based solutions, carbon offsets and trading, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Feel free to reach out to her with any questions you have! Fall Course RegistrationEVST Concentration Spreadsheets | Updated EVST Concentration Lists are available on the EVST website Concentration pages. These lists are prepared only to provide some example courses; they don't limit the scope of the concentrations. Students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with their DUS when selecting their specific concentration courses. Enrolling in Fall YSE Courses | You can add YSE courses to your worksheets during add/drop. Please check the FAQ page on the EVST website for answers to some common registration questions, including how to register for graduate and professional school courses. EVST 2023-24 BA Checklist and 2023-24 BS Checklist | The new, slightly revised checklists reflect updates to major requirements as recently posted in the Yale College Program of Study. Fall 2023 Environmental Humanities Courses A list of courses approved for credit in Energy Studies for the 2023-24 Academic Year can be found here. Fall Job OpportunitiesCoordinator, Planetary Innovator Speaker Series | The CBEY and Tsai CITY speaker series is designed to spotlight innovators who are crafting and executing planetary solutions to some of the world's most intricate environmental issues. This series aims to showcase a wide array of innovators, ranging from entrepreneurs, researchers, and activists, to investors. Your role would entail planning and executing the series from inception to completion under the guidance of CBEY and Tsai CITY staff. Specifically, your responsibilities would include researching innovators who are doing remarkable work in the environmental space and assisting in creating a list of potential speakers. More details and apply here. Ucross High Plains Stewardship Initiative (UHPSI) Research Assistants | UHPSI at YSE focuses on conservation and stewardship in the American West. They will be hiring research assistants this fall. Watch for details in next week's newsletter. Yale Program on Climate Change Communication Work Opportunities| YPCCC conducts scientific research on public climate change knowledge, attitudes, policy preferences, and behavior, and the underlying psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence them. They engage the public in climate change science and solutions, in partnership with governments, media organizations, companies, and civil society, and with a daily, national radio program, Yale Climate Connections. Students interested in the following positions should send a cover letter and resume to mallika.talwar@yale.edu by September 5th:
YSE Research Assistants in Agriculture, Land Management, and Climate in the Global South. Two undergraduate positions available. Details here. Yale Sustainable Food Program typically hires students for fall, spring, and summer positions. You can subscribe to their newsletter for updates and opportunities. The Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) hires students for a wide variety of positions over the course of the year. Read the opportunities posted here, ask questions, and then apply by September 6th. GreenSkills Apprentice Urban Foresters | URI offers paid Greenspace and GreenSkills internships for Yale students. Enriched through group discussion, these urban and community forestry internships provide job training and real-world practice while making positive changes in New Haven communities. Check their website in the coming weeks for fall opportunities The Yale Office of Sustainability Undergraduate Job Opportunities
More Opportunities!Check out the links below for concentration specific opportunities. Biodiversity & Conservation OpportunitiesEnergy and ClimateStudents interested in the study of energy—be it from a climate, engineering, entrepreneurial, political, or financial perspective—are encouraged to check out the following resources below:
Other Opportunities
Climate Change Resources is a digital climate library that is referenced and cross-referenced by subject, source, and solutions. They were created to be a resource for those that research, communicate, and create change in the climate space. They're looking for interns this fall. Contact lena@climatechangeresources.org for more information and check out the flyer below. Environmental HumanitiesThe Yale Environmental Humanities Initiative's Fall 2023 Yale Environmental Humanities guide to undergraduate and graduate course offerings is available here. Yale offers dozens of courses each semester approaching environmental issues from diverse humanities perspectives. Some courses are entirely focused on the environment and the humanities; others approach the environmental humanities as one of several integrated themes. Yale Environmental Humanities newsletter | Students interested in exploring the intersection of environment and culture— including literature, history, anthropology, philosophy, religion, the arts, and other humanities disciplines— are encouraged to sign up for the Yale Environmental Humanities newsletter that circulates every Monday morning during the semester. Other Opportunities Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Joy 4th Annual Global Environmental Justice Conference at YSE | Exploring the transformative solutions of environmental justice communities October 26-28, 2023 | Details here. Other Opportunities
Environmental PolicyStudents in this concentration examine diverse environmental policies through fields including politics, economics, law, and ethics. Environmental Policy as a concentration is inherently interdisciplinary, given the diversity of environmental and natural resource challenges facing humanity. Explore the following related Yale Organizations for opportunities:
Food & AgricultureCheck out Yale's Sustainable Food Program’s Chewing the Fat Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Soundcloud for stories on people and ideas making change in the complex world of food and agriculture. Volunteering Opportunity at Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen: DESK works To serve people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty by providing food assistance and services that promote health, community, and equity. More information about volunteering for DESK here. Other Opportunities
Yale Sustainable Food Program, Undergraduate Course Recommendations Human Health & the EnvironmentBA-BS/MPH Program | Yale College students interested in the five Year BA-BS/ MPH program apply for admission in the fall semester of their junior year. Interviews will be held in late November or early December. Applicants will be notified of decisions prior to winter break. Check here for updates. Other Opportunities
Human Health & the Environment suggested concentration courses Sustainability & Natural Resources
YOUTHOPIA Mini Grants| For the third year on International Youth Day 2023 YOUTHTOPIA is celebrating by supporting young changemakers financially with their Mini Grants Program! 3 mini grants to 3 exceptional youth leaders. Each application has the chance to win USD 1,500. Apply before 10th September through this link. Urban EnvironmentsThe Hixon Conference, “Urban Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate,” will be held in a hybrid format on September 15. Details here. Other Opportunities Other Resources and OpportunitiesOpportunities for Seniors NOAA 2024/25 NERRS/NOAA Margaret A Davidson Graduate Fellowship | Two-year, paid research fellowship for graduate students who want to build a relationship with the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve. Fulbright Program| Here is what EVST alumni Sophie Lieberman says about her Fulbright experience: "For my senior thesis, I investigated the success of an agroforestry restoration project led by an international foundation on pasture land in the Azuero Peninsula of Panama. Through this research, I learned about the importance of gathering farmer input and creating projects that take into account the livelihood needs of local residents during restoration and conservation efforts. I used this experience to guide my Fulbright research fellowship in Ecuador, where I collaborated with Fundación Ecominga to evaluate plant biodiversity and agricultural practices across an agricultural and conservation matrix in a cloud forest ecosystem and small community in Northwestern Ecuador. During my Fulbright Grant, I was able to learn from both conservation leaders in Ecuador and local farmers in very rural areas about the shared and competing needs of these groups. I also explored one of the most biodiverse areas on Earth, spending many days alongside rare and endangered plant and animal species and making meaningful connections with the people who live there!” If you are interested in a Fulbright experience, you can get more information here. The Fulbright deadline is September 5. Environmental Organizations on Campus & Contacts:YSEC: emma.polinsky@yale.edu, rose.hansen@yale.edu Environmental Education Collaborative: norbu.dorji@yale.edu Students for Carbon Dividends: william.coleman@yale.edu, camila.young@yale.edu Yale Student Energy Association: sena.sugiono@yale.edu Dwight Hall Socially Responsible Investment Fund: abhinav.karthikeyan@yale.edu, cindy.li.cl2454@yale.edu Check out the full list of YSE centers, programs and initiatives here. |