Thirty-One Yale College Environmental Studies graduates received B.S. (12) or B.A. (19) degrees on Monday, May 18th. This year’s class hails from Mexico, Bulgaria, England, and every region of the US. These graduates are highly motivated by their passion to preserve important ecological systems, to right the wrongs of environmental injustices and racism, to reverse the environmental consequences of climate change, to find sustainable solutions for our planet, to make the environment more protective of human health, and to protect vulnerable species. We wish them all the best and thank them for their efforts to make this world a better place. Congratulations to this incredibly talented group of scholars!
The Gaylord Donnelley Prize was awarded to four of these seniors for excellent interdisciplinary scholarship demonstrated in their senior essays and outstanding academic achievement. Congratulations to the following seniors:
· Addison Luck (Pierson College) Upholding Nature’s Rights in Ecuador: Identifying Problems and Providing Solutions. Advisor: Doug Kysar, Team Leader: Robert Klee
· Tristan Furnary (Davenport College) Potential Role of Acetaminophen and Pesticides in the Developmental Origins of Autism Spectrum Disorder via In Silico and Stem Cell Models. Advisor: Vasilis Vasiliou, Team Leader: John Wargo
· Gemma Shepherd (Jonathan Edwards College) Using chitosan for future food packaging: An investigation into the effect of metal crosslinking on chitosan films’ mechanical, water barrier, and antimicrobial properties. Advisor: Julie Zimmerman, Team Leader: John Wargo
· Jordan Schmolka (Silliman College) What’s Under the City? Constructing and Contesting the Natural in Settler Colonial New York. Advisor: Laura Barraclough, Team Leader: Kealoha Freidenburg