Meet Victoria Hamilton from the Climate and Society Class of 2023
Victoria Hamilton joined the Masters in Climate and Society this fall. She looks forward to exploring policies and legislation to protect people who are often underestimated in climate discussions.
Columbia Climate School welcomes new class of students this fall MSc in Climate and Society. This 12-month interdisciplinary program trains students to understand and address the social and environmental impacts of climate change and climate variability.
The upcoming Class of 2023 includes 80 students with diverse backgrounds and career paths, impressive skills, and ambitious plans to help protect people and the environment.
Planetary Condition will be featured interview Join several of these extraordinary students over the next few weeks. In the Q&A below, you can meet Victoria Hamilton, whose Aboriginal heritage inspires her to preserve nature and give a voice to marginalized communities.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background and how you got interested in studying climate?
My decision to major in environmental science and geography at college was driven by a desire to study and eventually work in a field that aligns with my heritage. I am a proud member of the Montaukt tribe of New York. My Aboriginal grandmother, Yellow Bird, taught me, Little Yellow Bird, a love of nature and a respect for the gifts the earth provides. Growing up in a small coastal town in Southern California, I developed a keen interest in the ocean and the surrounding natural environment.
However, as a local, I’ve learned that the California coast doesn’t always live up to the fantasy of pristine white sand. I turned my disappointment into action and started working with a local marine biology program in high school to mitigate damage to our beaches. Volunteering to take time out to pick up litter and organize my peers to take part in big clean-ups makes me feel like I’m making a positive contribution. My upbringing and those experiences have strengthened my commitment to protecting the planet for future generations.
What drew you to the Climate and Society program in particular?
The Columbia Climate School offers this unique opportunity to combine the Earth Institute and the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.This Environmental Justice and Climate Justice Cities Network Working with dedicated faculty can help guide me in a career that will most effectively contribute to social change. Being surrounded and challenged by talented professors and talented students will prepare me to conduct and defend research to the most rigorous academic standards. Again, these ideas will challenge me to devise original policy approaches to long-standing problems in neglected communities.
How does the program align with your career goals?
When applying to graduate programs, I was looking for a school where I could learn about the physical and social sciences behind the coming climate crisis. When I found the Climate and Society program, I was excited because I knew I could be coached on how to carry this cross-cutting lens into my career. I want to work in the field of environmental policy and want to be a voice for marginalized communities.
What are you most excited about while you are here?
I want to dive into how we can create equitable environmental legislation for all groups of people—more specifically, for those who are underrepresented in climate change discussions. I look forward to exploring these specific interests more through electives.
