I would be thrilled to attend NMBU’s program in International Environmental Studies in order to explore an interdisciplinary approach to questions that have motivated my formal and informal education for the past decade. My goal is to continue on to a PhD or begin working as a researcher or policy analyst concerned with the intersection of international studies and environmental sustainability.
During my time at university I focused my studies on music, anthropology and neuroscience, combining these seemingly disparate topics into a cohesive study of the way music and different musical practices interact with the brain and other social phenomena. This culminated in an independent research project I carried out while studying in Ecuador on the role of music in indigenous ceremonies with a focus on the social and environmental impacts of economic development in the region.
While completing my research in Ecuador I gained experience conducting interviews and archival research in a different culture and language, and then had the opportunity to present my findings to peers and academic supervisors. In addition, I used my study abroad as an opportunity to further my language skills, graduating from the advanced level Spanish language course at PUCE University.
The following summer I visited a coal mine in the Guajira region of northern Colombia with a Witness for Peace delegation. In this rural arid region the mine is forcing communities of subsistence farmers and herders from their land and restricting their usufruct rights to water and grazing areas. In this manner, the mine accumulated water rights, land rights, and the rights to pollute, while the indigenous community was dispossessed of their home and means of production. Governmental policies acting in accordance with international business interests are prioritizing economic growth, and costs to the environment and local communities are often overlooked. I was subsequently able to host a union organizer from the Colombian mine at my school in California to raise awareness about these important issues.
In Green Illusions, Ozzie Zehner argues that climate change cannot be remedied merely by increasing the availability of alternative energy, but instead require a fundamental restructuring of society to reconcile economic development and environmental sustainability. My interest in this approach led me to enroll in a course entitled The Physics of Energy Policy, where I had the opportunity to lead a class focusing on this decoupling of corporate monetary incentives from what is best for society and the planet, drawing on case studies from the US, Europe, and Latin America.
While working with exchange students at my university I was inspired to apply for a Fulbright grant to serve as a Cultural Ambassador and English Teaching Assistant in South Korea. Teaching at a public school gave me the opportunity to design my own classes, which allowed me to grow as an educator, developing skills in lesson planning and presenting on a variety of topics. Living on Jeju Island I was inspired by organizations protesting the construction of a new military base, which was ousting local communities and destroying natural heritage sites.
Last October I began a Masters program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona studying Political Ecology, Degrowth, and Environmental Justice. Here we are examining many of the subjects discussed above, and also delving into the theory that permeates the majority of the academic literature in this field. A grounding in these subjects will be beneficial while I continue on to pursue a degree in International Environmental Studies. During the summer months I plan to conduct my fieldwork and thesis on issues related to hydroelectric dams in the Sikkim region of Northern India, working with Joan Martínez-Alier to contribute to the Environmental Justice Atlas.
In a diverse variety of contexts across the globe, structural policies promoting economic development are having disastrous effects on both the environment and local communities. However it can also be argued that this development is vitally important to improve the quality of life for millions of people living in poverty. This dichotomy leads me back to questions which I began to explore during my time researching in Ecuador: “Can developing countries achieve prosperity and well-being while avoiding environmental and social harm? How can the global north contribute to this effort in order to mitigate the damage already caused through the burning of these finite resources for our own development?”
I believe that my wealth of intercultural explorations, combined with my researching and teaching experience make me an excellent candidate for the International Environmental Studies program. In particular, the socio-ecological focus of the program, taking into account the roles of governments, international organizations and the market with the goal of promoting human well-being in conjunction with sustainability for the planet directly align with my own study interests. I look forward to pursuing this unique opportunity to deepen my theoretical knowledge and practical experience by studying at NMBU.
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