Student Spotlight, Part 4: Sustainability Award winners reflect on their college careers
this Sustainability Undergraduate Program Proud to celebrate the hard work and outstanding dedication of our recent graduates.six student Class of 2023 Receives Departmental Honors, two Students received the Stuart Gaffin Award for Leadership and Engagement, and four students were inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. We interviewed them about their post-graduation plans, their understanding of sustainability, and their advice to current students.
Graduating seniors Frederique Fyhr, Sophie Grant, Vida Han and Bea Urofsky have been named Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society honor society. Students are selected on the basis of the breadth, depth, and rigor of their academic achievements, as well as faculty recommendations for their intellectual commitment, character, and achievement both in and out of the classroom.
Q&A with Frederique Fyhr
What advice do you have for students looking to complete a sustainability project?
The sustainability profession is very broad and covers many topics. I encourage prospective majors to explore all of their interests early so you can learn about areas that really interest you and take courses that you enjoy. In addition, take advantage of graduate courses offered by the SIPA and SUMA/SUSCI programs that meet your professional requirements and often explore unique topics not covered in undergraduate courses.
What are your plans after graduation from this program?
I will be joining Barclays Investment Bank in the fall as an Analyst in the Sustainability and Impact Banking Group.
What drew you to the Sustainability major or specialization?
Like many eager freshmen, I arrived at Columbia University with plans to pursue pre-med studies. However, when I realized what it meant to me, I decided that studying physics again wasn’t something I really wanted to do. I have always loved science, and a Sustainability major will provide me with an opportunity to take science-based courses from a humanities perspective. I would like the opportunity to take courses that focus on current social, political and environmental issues.
What is your favorite course in the Sustainability Program? Why?
My favorite course in the Sustainability Program is “Earth Resources and Sustainability” taught by Peter Caleman. This was one of my first classes in the Sustainability Department, and Professor Kellemen shaped my views on many sustainability issues. Growing up in Texas, everyone knew someone who worked in oil and gas. It is an industry in which many people make a living. In the course, Professor Caleman introduced the history of fossil fuels and the future of the clean energy transition, highlighting the potential challenges of renewable energy that many tend to overlook. I had the opportunity to write a thesis on the impact of hydraulic fracturing in the Permian Basin and the rise of lithium-ion batteries on lithium and cobalt mining. I found the papers to be very interesting and informative to write, making this course my favorite in the program.
What was your greatest achievement while at Columbia University?
I would say my greatest achievement at Columbia was being a student-athlete for four years. Being an athlete can be physically and mentally exhausting. With 4-5 classes per semester in addition to practice/travel, it’s hard to manage at times. I am proud of all the work I do in my classroom and on the hockey team. Otherwise, my experience at Columbia has not been the same, and I feel very fulfilled by what I have accomplished as a student and as an athlete.
Sophie Grant Q&A
What advice do you have for students looking to complete a sustainability project?
Explore all your interests. Sustainability is everywhere!
What are your plans after graduation from this program?
I was awarded a full scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in nursing at Emory University.
What drew you to the Sustainability major or specialization?
I want to understand and confront the most pressing issues of our time. The program taught me how to critically evaluate problems and design equitable solutions.
What is your favorite course in the Sustainability Program? Why?
I like Lisa Dale’s “Qualitative Research Methods for Sustainability” in which I completed my own original research project on the effects of eco-anxiety. It was so satisfying to present my work to colleagues and faculty at the end of the term.
How has the program shaped your understanding of sustainability?
I gradually realized that the issue of sustainable development permeates every aspect of society. In everything I do going forward, I will bring a sustainability lens.
Vida Han Q&A
What advice do you have for students looking to complete a sustainability project?
- Diversify your skills with different courses (i.e. technical and non-technical) that you can take – especially if you are not sure which part of sustainable development you are interested in.
- Do your best to build a relationship with your professors by scheduling office hours with them. Their guidance and support is rewarding and you can learn a lot from them!
- Find more opportunities to explore and develop your passion for sustainability outside of the classroom and school. There are tons of opportunities to network with and learn from professionals in the field, especially when you’re in New York!
What are your plans after graduation from this program?
Worked at a fintech company, then ended up going back to grad school (at some point).
What drew you to the Sustainability major or specialization?
I grew up surrounded by nature and witnessed the changes brought about by rapid urbanization, which profoundly influenced my view of the world. I’ve always been drawn to different aspects of sustainable development, whether environmental, business-related or developmental, and this specialization also seemed a natural extension of my study of Economics and Sociology in France as part of a double bachelor’s degree. It was through the SDEV project that I was really able to explore and hone my passion for sustainability and learn about various schools of thought and their real-world applications.
What is your favorite course in the Sustainability Program? Why?
I really like the Advanced Capstone Seminar course because it is an opportunity to apply the knowledge from our courses to real-life situations, while also being able to experience real-world situations in fields related to sustainable development. I also really enjoyed it because as a dual bachelors student I didn’t and wouldn’t have the opportunity to complete the four year program and meet more of my peers, but I was able to do so through the course and working closely Work with others to develop a satisfying project. I also like Energy Law, because of the amount and applicability of the course content, I was able to better understand the energy landscape in the US and the world.
What was your greatest achievement while at Columbia University?
I would say that my greatest accomplishments revolve around the transition period in my academic career and being able to overcome the challenges that came my way. For example, in the double bachelor’s program at Sciences Po, I was personally daunted by the thought of spending my junior year in a new city, a new country, and a new school. Coupled with having to deal with some unexpected obstacles and unplanned events on the eve of graduation, I am so grateful to my family, friends, colleagues, and teachers for their support during my most difficult times.
Besides the classroom, what extracurricular activities did you participate in?
During the summer of my junior year, I had the opportunity to work at a climate technology startup in New York that focused on demand response management systems. I also previously worked part-time at a UK-based community interest company called Force of Nature, which was working on the mental health and climate crises. Through my work there, the company took me to COP26 in Glasgow, where I was able to engage with my team at the New York Times Climate Center and speak on various panels with business leaders and youth activists about youth The topic of power to speak is engagement and community within the climate space.
Bia Urowski Q&A
What advice do you have for students looking to complete a sustainability project?
If you don’t already have a hobby, preferably one that requires your hands. The information you will learn is harrowing, to say the least. It’s frustrating and scary. You’ll learn about the widespread but unjust immense suffering and massive destruction. I believe finding a way to ground yourself physically and emotionally is as important as any class. I also strongly recommend that you set boundaries on how much time you spend directly dealing with the work in front of you, and go all out to control them. You can never “solve” climate change alone, and to be an effective team player, you have to be kind to yourself. Rest is complete.
What are your plans after graduation from this program?
I want to work in GIS in New York and am looking for a position! If anyone who sees this has any job opportunities, please don’t be shy to contact us.
What drew you to the Sustainability major or specialization?
I was attracted to the Sustainability major because of the practicality of the program and its interdisciplinary nature, as I aim to graduate with technical skills and a multidimensional understanding of the climate crisis.
What is your favorite course in the Sustainability Program? Why?
Ana Navas-Acien teaches “Environmental Health and Justice” in the School of Public Health. Not only is the professor incredible, but she also employs experts in each specialty covered in the course so you can learn from the staff who work in the field. Most importantly, however, the course does expand one’s definition of what an environment actually means. This course has changed the way I see the world around me.
What was your greatest achievement while at Columbia University?
My greatest achievement at Columbia was learning how to set and maintain boundaries around labor, prioritizing my mental and physical health over my sense of productivity.
For more information on the program and upcoming events, visit the Undergraduate Program in Sustainability website.
