Ph.D. Candidate, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

AGU embraces the global community and welcomes leaders representing various identities, voices, and perspectives. List any identities, voices, and perspectives you would bring, including but not limited to nationality, regional representations, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and anything else you feel comfortable sharing.

My experiences as an Asian and Hispanic immigrant have underscored the importance of having diverse voices and different cultures represented in spaces such as the AGU Council. Being a woman scientist, I am well-versed in the challenges that women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields face and am emboldened about advocating for gender equity in both scientific and academic settings. In the same breath, having experienced and survived harassment in academia, I am driven to promote safe and supportive spaces as well as policies and practices that protect and support students. Lastly, as a climate and health scientist, I can advocate for interdisciplinary approaches to address challenges at the intersection of environmental and public health. I believe that my identities and experiences will empower me to contribute meaningfully to AGU Council discussions and initiatives aimed at fostering a diverse and inclusive scientific community and advancing Earth, space and planetary sciences.

Volunteer experience that relates to this position:

I served as the graduate student representative for my department, acting as a liaison between Earth and planetary science students and university administration. I was also my university’s health and wellness chair where I advocated for the well-being of all graduate students. Currently, I am a member of an environmental justice (EJ) working group where I promote EJ initiatives on campus and in the greater Baltimore community. I also serve on my department’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

The student and early career voices on the Council are critical to the future of Earth and space sciences. Describe a time when you used your voice to inspire others to advance a cause, mission, or goal.

Baltimore is one of the major U.S. cities that relies on an incinerator for waste disposal. Not surprisingly, this incinerator has been noted to be one of the largest sources of air pollution in the city, with nearby residents experiencing high rates of respiratory and cardiac illnesses. To help mitigate the environmental impact of food waste and the greenhouse gas emissions it generates, I dedicated over a year promoting zero-waste campuses throughout Baltimore City.

As a Sustainable Design Fellow, I worked with students, professors and community-led nonprofit organizations to explore effective organic waste diversion techniques and to encourage universities to adopt zero-waste practices. Although universities expressed interest in becoming zero-waste, progress was slow due to various challenges, including a reluctance to commit to specific waste reduction goals.

To address this, I helped write and lead a petition for undergraduate and graduate students to support Baltimore’s ongoing zero-waste movement and to hold their universities accountable for their waste practices. Additionally, I organized and led outreach events to educate residents and students about the harmful health and environmental effects of incineration and the importance of zero-waste initiatives.

The petition garnered strong support and was endorsed by an overwhelming number of students and professors. This backing, alongside other advocacy efforts, helped initiate discussions with universities to develop zero-waste campus plans. By using my voice for advocacy and education, I contributed to the collective effort that empowered students to push their universities toward zero-waste agendas, ultimately protecting both human and environmental health.

Section affiliations:

GeoHealth