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.
Dartmouth's Environmental Studies Foreign Study Program: Part 2
As our blue overland bus rumbled along the desert roads of Namibia on the southwest coast of Africa, the cool breeze that swept through the open windows signaled that we were close to the ocean. Eight hours of travel later, we were finally nearing Swakopmund, a coastal city where the desert sands meet the Atlantic Ocean. This marked the beginning of the second phase of the ENVS Foreign Study Program (FSP), led by Professor D.G. Webster, focusing on the social and political aspects of development and conservation in Southern Africa.
Instead of camping in tents, as we did throughout the first course, we stayed in a bed and breakfast (B&B) throughout the entirety of ENVS 42. This course emphasized shifting from a passive to an active learner. We debated seal culling and marine phosphate mining with students at the University of Namibia's Sam Nujoma Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre. We engaged in conversations with an expert on green hydrogen while learning about the promotion of and investment in renewable energy around Namibia. We also had the chance to meet and ask questions from senior officials in Namibia's Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources on how they sustainably manage native stocks.
Some of the coolest moments included visiting Cape Cross (one of the world's largest Cape fur seal colonies), touring a longline and trawling fishing vessel, and trying fresh oysters straight out of the saltwater at a local aquaculture farm. I also loved spending an afternoon at the National Marine Aquarium (home to very different fish than those I encountered when I interned at Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut last summer through the Yale Conservation Scholars program).
There were more seals at Cape Cross than I could possibly count!
During our Fisheries & Aquaculture unit, my peers and I enjoyed the underwater glass tunnel at the National Marine Aquarium in Swakopmund, Namibia.
During our Mining & Energy unit, we toured Namibia's Rössing Uranium Mine, one of the largest open-pit uranium mines in the world.
We had the chance to board an afternoon boat cruise from Walvis Bay, Namibia. Look who decided to show up! Graphic courtesy of Professor D.G. Webster.
In place of tests or quizzes, our class performance was primarily assessed through three essays, where we used Professor Webster's Action Cycle/Structural Context (AC/SC) conceptual framework to explore the management and governance histories of environmental issues. I chose to focus on Namibia's orange roughy fishery, marine diamond mining, and charcoal production. Professor Webster was always available during morning breakfasts or afternoon office hours at the B&B to discuss paper ideas, which I found very helpful in my growth as an Environmental Studies scholar and writer.
The three weeks flew by in the blink of an eye! As we bid a temporary farewell to Swakopmund, we carried a deeper understanding of environmental policy and a profound appreciation for the delicate balance between human development and coastal conservation. Stay tuned for my final post in this 3-part series about the final leg of our FSP journey: ENVS 84 (Seminar on Environmental Issues of Southern Africa).
After returning from an enriching study abroad program, I'm diving into a bustling spring semester here at Dartmouth. Here are my four courses I'm taking this term!
Dartmouth's liberal arts curriculum pushes students to explore new departments and draw connections between seemingly disparate disciplines. Come explore my Economics, Physics, and Asian, Societies, Cultures, and Languages classes!
Over half of Dartmouth students study abroad at least once during their undergraduate journeys—quite a high percentage, right? Do you want to know how to best prepare for your own abroad experience? Come check what it was like for me.
