Meet Dasom Shi, Class of 2024 on Climate and Society
Columbia Climate School is pleased to welcome 100 new students Climate and Society Master’s Program this fall. This 12-month interdisciplinary program trains students to understand and respond to the social and environmental impacts of climate change and climate variability. The new cohort of students comes from 24 countries with diverse professional and academic backgrounds.
state of the earth being featured the interview and some of the new students. Below, we interview Dasom Shi, a corporate sustainability professional with a passion for corporate impact and climate action.
Dasom Shi will join the Climate School’s master’s program in climate and society this fall.
Tell us about your background and how you got into the climate field.
Since I was a child, I have had a dream: to contribute to a better world. It’s kind of crazy, but I’m being sincere about it. I even drafted a letter to the president about the environment — though I’m not sure I actually sent it. I hope to continue to make this dream a reality through my work and continuing my educational journey. I joined Samsung Electronics to contribute to society through corporate impact, and I have been working here for almost 12 years. I started my corporate career in the Mobile Business Unit and eventually moved to the Sustainability Center where I could have a bigger impact on the world. Working directly on sustainability has opened my eyes to the urgency and gravity of the climate issue. I want to gain a deeper understanding of climate issues and help businesses make an impact on climate change.
What attracted you to the Climate and Society Program? What do you hope to gain from this program?
I want to study in the US, where there is a strong emphasis on technological innovation and global business. This project stood out to me because it was run by the first climate school in the country. I aim to focus specifically on climate challenges and innovation for sustainable development, which I think is a great fit. I also like that it is an interdisciplinary project. I think multidisciplinary knowledge will be of great help in applying what I have learned in this field. The takeaway I most hope to gain from this program is climate literacy. I hope to be able to explain climate issues myself, analyze risks and understand social impacts, and I hope to bring new perspectives to help address climate issues.
Which courses are you most looking forward to?
I am looking forward to “Climate Variability and Dynamics of Climate Change” and “Quantitative Methods for Climate Applications”. These courses focus on understanding and interpreting the climate system, which is a very important skill for me and a key component of climate literacy that I can bring back to the field.
What role do you see your future playing in addressing the climate crisis?
I don’t think we can really meet the challenges posed by climate change in capitalist society without the active participation of business. My goal is to continue to bridge this gap in the organization to actively advance climate action. My 10 years of experience working in business and as a corporate sustainability manager, combined with what I will be learning in the climate and society program will create synergies and contribute to my continued work in the climate and sustainability space get ready.
what are you doing this summer
First off, I’m wrapping up my current project. I’ve been leading Samsung’s partnership with Patagonia to introduce products that reduce microplastics in the ocean.A recently introduced initiative is the Fewer microfiber filters. It filters out up to 98% of microfibers released during washing. It makes perfect sense to bring this product to market. Also, I will be moving to New York City with my family, which is very exciting. This is my first time living in America. I look forward to the changes ahead and starting my academic journey at the Columbia Climate Institute.
Do you have anything to add?
I’m looking forward to meeting a variety of colleagues who are taking climate seriously through the project and Climate School, as well as in NYC (while NYC Climate Week is running!). There is a Korean proverb: “Two heads are better than one”. Climate change is a huge problem, but I believe that if we all come together and think hard about it, we can take a step forward.
