Hey all! So excited to see you here. My name is Sydney and I'm a '24 passionate about energy, education, the environment, and economic policy. I grew up in Southern California, but have also lived abroad in Gibraltar, Spain, and the Philippines. When not blogging or working at McNutt as a Senior Admissions Fellow, you can catch me involved in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance, Energy Justice Clinic, and Greek Life. I hope my blog can give you a window into Dartmouth from a student's perspective.
Academic Program
Majors in Economics and Environmental Studies, Minor in International Studies
Taught by Professor Tine, this class focused on many interdisciplinary topics within the field of education. I loved learning about the significance of early pre-K interventions on long-term behaviors, the layered complexities of the American public school system, the neuroscience behind how the brain processes new information, and much more!
As someone interested in international studies, this course opened my eyes to the complex world of global health – both the biological and social sides of achieving equity. I found this class especially applicable given the COVID-19 pandemic and often transfer knowledge from Global Health & Society into my everyday life.
Searching for Justice is a perfect blend of studying literature and law. Highlights from this course include an op-ed I produced on anti-Asian hate crimes and a fictional short story adaptation based on Japanese internment camps from Korematsu v. United States. This first-year seminar exposed me to many different court cases, and I’m now strongly considering a future career in law!
SummerClaremont, California
I spent my summer back home in Southern California, working at my high school alma mater as a Summer Fellow for their Junior Scholars program. I had a wonderful time designing curriculum for the Journalism program, planning activities for middle schoolers, and providing support in the dorms. I also spent quality time with my cousins and bonded with family by the beach.
I am an aquaphile, a lover of all things related to the water. This environmental studies course on Marine Policy was perfect for me because it dove into how humans have impacted the oceans. From coastal development to deep sea mining, we explored how to think like a policymaker and consider the many different stakeholders involved in global marine issues.
Wow, the Practice of Science Policy and Diplomacy was a blast! I was eager to get to class early every day for this Public Policy seminar. Professor Burkins introduced me to writing effective policy memos, participating in a Model Arctic Council simulation, and presenting our SDG 7: Affordable & Clean Energy recommendations with a state coalition.
Energy Justice examined issues of culture, power, and inequity in the necessary shift away from fossil fuels. Taught as a Social Impact Practicum, this class deepened my interest in pursuing a career in energy and environmental law. During junior year, I’m excited to continue working with Professor Kelly as a Presidential Scholar researching justice and accountability in corporate energy systems.
During my Sophomore Summer, I really enjoyed studying food systems and accessing Dartmouth’s Organic Farm as our lab for Professor Ong’s Agroecology course. It was an incredible New England summer experience learning to visualize data in R, conducting fieldwork outdoors, and working as a team on scientific research projects. A term highlight was tasting freshly tapped maple syrup from Dartmouth’s very own Sugar Crew!
I was one of six Dartmouth Economics exchange students at University College London this term. All four of my modules—UCL’s equivalent of classes—gave me a new perspective on Economics and Geography through a British lens. Economic History was my favorite as we studied industrialization, the demographic transition, and the East Asian economic miracle after World War II. I grew a deep appreciation for how the events of our past can offer important lessons for us today and into the future.
WinterNew York, New York
Since Dartmouth students typically spend their Sophomore Summer on campus, the D-Plan allows us to take a different term off to develop personally and professionally. I spent my off-term working as a corporate legal assistant intern at a law firm in New York City. It was such a thrill to live and work in the Big Apple! With many fellow Dartmouth '24s also in the NYC area, my days out of the office were full of yummy food, catching up with old friends, and exploring iconic city sights.
Drawing upon disciplines like law, psychology, and popular culture, Writing and Speaking Public Policy was all about becoming more persuasive communicators. Professor Kalish provided us with such thoughtful, detailed feedback on our assignments and arranged for class field trips to the Jones Media Center and Hood Museum of Art. I especially enjoyed the flexibility offered for our small group media campaign project, where I created a children’s book on the benefits of bringing universal pre-K to New Hampshire.
SummerMystic, Connecticut
During my junior summer, I interned as a Yale Conservation Scholar at Mystic Aquarium. Working in the Education & Conservation department, I mentored high school interns about marine science communication and public engagement. Besides attending weekly professional development workshops with the Yale School of the Environment, I also helped out with summer camps, traveling classroom programs, and citizen science projects.
I traveled to Southern Africa for the first time with Dartmouth’s Environmental Studies FSP. From conducting research on invertebrate diversity in the Namib Desert to speaking with community members at Uibasen-Twyfelfontein Conservancy, we studied Namibia's socio-ecological systems. Highlights from this incredible trip include experiencing game drives at Etosha National Park, discussing ecotourism at the Cheetah Conservation Fund, and learning about Namibia’s integrated coastal zone management approach with government officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
Econometrics was a pleasant surprise! While I came into this statistics-heavy course without a Stata coding background, Professor Fetter’s amazing explanations helped me feel confident about the new material. I learned so much about the assumptions required for causality and now feel equipped with the analytical tools to evaluate Economic research papers in an entirely different light.
Deep Dive into Dartmouth's Environmental Studies Major
As an undecided first-year, I came into Dartmouth with broad interests in the social sciences, the natural sciences (specifically the ecology side of biology), and the humanities. The beauty of Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum (check out my fellow bloggerChase's post!) is the sheer amount of exploration and self-discovery you are encouraged to embark on as an undergraduate student at the College. I'm so glad that during sophomore fall, Ienrolled in two Environmental Studies (ENVS) classes that totally changed my academic trajectory! Now, midway through my junior year, I am nearly at the finish line to completing my major in Environmental Studies.
Dartmouth's emphasis on academic flexibility has allowed me todouble major in two subjects I am passionate about: Environmental Studies and Economics. Since I introduced Dartmouth's Economics major in myprevious blog post, I thought it would be fitting to dive deep intoDartmouth's Environmental Studies major from the perspective of a junior double majoring in both disciplines.
Engaging in a class experiment on water temperature and currents for ENVS 17: Marine Policy
The Environmental Studies major—made up of three prerequisites and 10 courses—is full of incredibly passionate, knowledgeable, and inspiring faculty. The interdisciplinary ENVS department has housed some of my favorite courses at Dartmouth thus far including Marine Policy, Agroecology, Ecological Economics, and The Practice of Science Policy & Diplomacy, just to name a few. From conducting hands-on labs in Agroecology to learning Excel modeling techniques in Ecological Economics, these courses have equipped me with a variety of tools that I'll carry with me through Dartmouth and beyond. Additionally, if you are looking to take your studies beyond Hanover, the Environmental Studies department offers two study abroad programs—a foreign study program (FSP) to Southern Africa and a domestic study program (DSP) to New England—that allow you to earn three credits for the major.
The learning doesn't stop once class is over; Dartmouth's ENVS department supports tremendous research and co-curricular opportunities for undergraduates. For example, during my sophomore spring, I took up my first ever research assistant position coding through World Bank reports and environmental impact assessments for my ENVS 3: Environment and Society professor, an Applied Policy Scientist at The Nature Conservancy. Taking ENVS courses and ultimately deciding to become an ENVS major has inspired me to become involved withDartmouth Energy Alliance and research withDartmouth's Energy Justice Clinic.
My friend Ningning S. '24 has conducted research about the Arctic since her freshman spring, and as a Stamps Scholar received $20,000 in funding for a 2-year independent project about the perspectives of Arctic Indigenous communities on oil and gas extraction and subsistence livelihoods. She traveled to Arctic Alaska this winterim to engage in fieldwork with local communities and take photos for her project. I think it's so cool that Dartmouth supports undergraduate research in virtually any topic you are interested in!
Ningning and the Arctic Ocean in Utqiagvik, Alaska. She is wearing a balaclava because of the strong winds!
All in all, if you are intrigued by the idea of sustainability or how humans can live well on the planet without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same, this is your sign to consider the Environmental Studies major. No worries if you don't have time to complete the full major; Dartmouth also offers a six-course minor in Environmental Studies, Environmental Science, or ENVS on the Sustainable Energy or Sustainability Tracks. Environmental Studies is becoming increasingly important worldwide in an age of climate change, air pollution, and the transition to renewable energy. Through all Dartmouth's ENVS department has to offer, you will surely gain the knowledge to tackle the most pressing environmental problems of the future. See you next time, blog!
Exploring Dartmouth's very own Organic Farm during Sophomore Summer
In the Winter term of 2024, I composed and performed an hour-long, avant-garde concert as the culmination of the grant award. Here is more on my experiences with research as a musician.
