Meet our graduates and hear about why they chose Environmental Studies (ENST) minor and what they enjoyed about it!

Jake Krauss, Class of 2017

“I decided to pursue the environmental studies minor at first because it seemed like a nice supplement to my Ecology & Evolutionary Biology major. I enjoyed exploring environmental issues from a different perspective, and I really appreciated how they challenged me to think beyond the conventional dogma of environmentalism overall.
“My favorite class I took for the ENST minor would have to be Art & Environment: Making Alongside Coral Reefs. In line with mixing science with art, I helped develop an artistic video while on a research fellowship in Peru after graduation. The short film mixed footage of the mating ritual of the Andean cock-of-the-rock, the species that I was studying, with dancers found around Cuzco. “

Jake is now working at the National Environmental Education Foundation in Washington D.C., writing articles on issues related to water resources in order to improve environmental literacy.

Elaine Shen, Class of 2018

“I think that our relationship to the environment is one of, if not the most pressing issue(s) we face as a society. As an EBIO major, I was learning fundamental biological theories that drive our scientific research and understanding of the natural world, however I wanted a more interdisciplinary perspective. The Environmental Studies minor gave me the direction and flexibility to critically explore environmental problems from different viewpoints and apply them to my broader impacts in research and conservation philosophy.

“One of the hallmarks of the ENST minor at Rice is its flexibility in accepted coursework. I especially appreciated how we could examine environmental justice in my hometown of Houston through field trips and projects. These courses helped me envision my hometown in completely new and complicated ways that I took for granted or did not notice in the past, despite spending my entire life here. One of my favorite classes I took was a coral reefs art course taught by my FWIS professor, Dr. Lina Dib, and my research advisor, Dr. Adrienne Correa. We merged the fields of coral reef ecology and environmental art and were encouraged to think outside of the box for our final art piece that was displayed at the Solar Studios on campus. It was incredibly rewarding to collaborate with students from different academic disciplines and talents to put on an art show that highlighted the importance of coral reef conservation.”

Elaine will be pursuing a Ph.D. in Biological and Environmental Sciences at the University of Rhode Island this fall, working on projects related to coral reef fisheries in Indonesia.

David Cirillo, Class of 2018

“I studied environmental studies because I wanted a cross-disciplinary approach to environmental education. The environment, specifically issues of sustainability and climate change mitigation, are very important to me, specifically from a policy point of view. As a political science major, I wanted to find a program that could fit within my interests.

“Environmental studies provides a solid background in more scientific aspects of environmental issues in the United States and around the world, balanced with the humanities and social sciences. In this, it expanded my horizons and reinforced my passions for environmental policy. Due to its cross-disciplinary nature, I was able to experience a diversity of courses.

“One of my favorites was US Conservation History, a class taught by Dr. Brinkley where I was able to learn about earlier forms of environmental advocacy and delve into its American origins through literature ranging from Henry Beston to Edward Abbey. On the other side of this theoretical backing, I heavily enjoyed Professor Johnson’s Environmental Issues at Rice in the Future course, where I was able to more from theory to realistic practice. We broke into teams to take on transformative projects regarding different parts of Rice University’s operation. This was an experience in realistic change and hands-on sustainability. The varied nature of this minor has allowed to me to explore the theory, the history, the science, the art, and the real-life applicability of environmentalism. In the future, I’m excited to delve further into the policy and law world as I prep for a law school experience devoted to further advocacy.”

Emmy Funk, Class of 2016

“My dad came from a farming family in central Illinois, so agriculture was an interest of mine when I was in high school. I spent part of my summer at a Dole banana plantation in Costa Rica helping a local researcher look at safer and more sustainable alternatives to pesticides. The potential solutions not only impacted the health of the land, but also the physical and social health of the farmers, local communities, and consumers. This introduced me to the broad implications of sustainability and inspired me to pursue Environmental Studies at Rice.

“The ENST program at Rice looked at sustainability through a multi-disciplinary lens, which was really important to me. My favorite ENST class at Rice was Professor Johnson’s Environmental Issues: Rice into the Future course. We had the opportunity to design our own sustainability project; one that we could implement on Rice campus. My team’s project introduced me to the green building industry, which is the industry I work in today.”

After graduating from Rice, Emmy worked as a fellow at the US EPA’s Office of Strategic Programs. She now works as a Sustainability Coordinator for a manufacturer in NYC.

Brittany Cavazos, Class of 2016

“During my time at Rice, I was an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major and the bulk of my course-load was very much focused around that. When the ENST minor was officially offered around my third or fourth year, I already had some of the required courses and thought it would be a great way to get a more holistic perspective of my field.

“One of the ENST classes I enjoyed the most was actually the intro class, ENST 100. Having three instructors from very different fields brought a unique and sometimes challenging experience to the classroom.”

After graduating from Rice in 2016, Brittany went on to start a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Iowa State University. She is currently finishing up her second year in the program, studying how plants adapt to changes in their biotic environment.