STUDENT COMMUNITY

Chandler Precht, a program manager, uniquely blends her roles as a Columbia graduate and current MS Sustainability Science student, facilitating a connection between student aspirations and institutional objectives. She prioritizes recruiting diverse sustainability practitioners and enhancing program visibility, leveraging her background to strengthen recruitment strategies and organize impactful sustainability webinars. Transitioning from intern to mentor, Precht values Columbia's campus as an oasis within NYC's hustle, anticipating a flexible "new normal" post-COVID-19. Despite pandemic challenges, she finds solace in family time, outdoor pursuits, and home workouts. Chandler's journey exemplifies a commitment to sustainability advocacy, embodying the Earth Institute's mission of guiding the world towards more sustainable pathways.

This article presents findings from a Sustainability Science Capstone project focused on studying microplastic pollution in the Hudson River. Led by a team of students, the study aimed to address critical data gaps regarding the prevalence, sources, and potential impacts of microplastics in the river ecosystem. Collaborating with Riverkeeper, the team identified New York City's combined sewage overflows and wastewater treatment plants as significant sources of microplastic pollution. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the team developed accessible methodologies for citizen scientists to collect and analyze microplastic samples. Their work underscores the importance of community engagement in addressing environmental challenges and invites further participation in ongoing research efforts to mitigate microplastic pollution in the Hudson River.

Convinced that science should be the basis for major decision and policy making, Jeffrey Fralick spends his time researching how to better address climate challenges.

Before joining the Sustainability Science program, Fralick graduated from Cornell University. In the past, he has conducted research on water quality of streams and rivers across the Delaware-River Watershed, helped to organize a state-wide environmental lobby day at the Pennsylvania capital, and served as a research assistant for Steven Cohen, director of the Earth Institute's Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management.

Kevin Webb comes from a career of more than 8 years in early-stage venture capital and is now an alumnus of the Sustainability Science Program. He moved to New York with his dog Chewie, having lived in San Francisco and the broader Bay Area most of his life. Kevin is the founder of Sustainability Science's student organization, RESCUE.

Tyler Ellis graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2008 with a degree in environmental science. He researched in an analytical mercury laboratory during his undergraduate career and learned invaluable lab skills from his mentors. After college, he held numerous jobs ranging from environmental consulting to instrument manufacturing.