The students are the greatest strength of the Environmental Science program. Hailing from South America to Siberia and Provo to Accra, our students are seeking to understand environmental issues and develop creative and inclusive solutions. Check out the selection of student profiles below. Then come join our community of uplifting and insightful students to help us literally change the world.
STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS
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Cecilia Foster
I want to be a science journalist, more specifically an environmental reporter. By studying Environmental Science here at BYU, I can learn about the scientific basis for a lot of environmental issues and work on communicating those to a non-scientific audience. Studying Environmental Science also teaches me how to think like a scientist, while learning to talk and communicate like an activist.
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Derrek Wilson
I chose to study environmental science to understand how the natural world functions and how our interactions are affecting natural systems. I plan on going into the field of environmental law with the ultimate goal of creating environmental policy at a state or federal level. The environmental science major has provided me with scientific literacy to help me make more evidence based policy regarding environmental issues.
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Abigail Banks
I realized that I could make the difference I wanted to make in the world through majoring in Environmental Science. I'm minoring in Business and ultimately I want to do environmental nonprofit work. Studying at BYU gave me the opportunity to do my first internship at a nonprofit which made me realize how much I love it.
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Mitchell Greenhalgh
I’m very interested in how the environment is impacted by humans and how the environment impacts humans. I do research with a public health professor in addition to my main research in the environmental science program. Although my primary interests within environmental science (landscape and spatial ecology, ecological data science) aren’t really taught in the program, it’s providing me with a solid baseline that I would need to go into those fields later on.
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Isabella Errigo
I am an Environmental Science Major and International Development Minor. The ESci program has taught me a lot about environmental science, obviously, but it has also allowed me to connect my passion for environmental issues with my passions for other social injustices. I want to help nations create and enforce effective policies that reduce their emissions and promote sustainable development. I would also like to be a professor in environmental science and international development. After I retire, I want to be a park ranger.
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Sierra Curtis
I am an Environmental Science major and International Development minor.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
I want to teach environmental science at community college to under represented minorities and first generation college students. I started in eco-business and while I still help with sustainable development initiatives I switched to an international development minor to better understand refugees or first generation Americans that I hope to teach someday.
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PHD STUDENTS
Sara Sayedi is a Ph.D. student working on combining expert opinions to assess risk of dangerous change in Earth systems (permafrost collapse, global wildfire, and water security).
Rebekah Stanton is a PhD student from Sheffield, England. She graduated with a BSc in Coastal Marine Biology in 2012 and has now made the switch to studying deserts.
Qiwen Zhang is a Ph.D. student working on using Arctic river networks as multi-scale sensors to reveal terrestrial and aquatic signals of ecosystem change.
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MS STUDENTS
Sam Bratsman is an M.S. student working on eutrophication in Utah Lake and the effects of climate change in the Abbott and Aanderud labs.
Brian Brown is a Master’s Student in Environmental Science. His undergraduate degree (BYU ‘19) was in Bioinformatics with a minor in Computer Science.
Hanna Burgin is an Environmental Science master’s student conducting research about water conservation through sustainable landscaping in Utah.
Isabella Errigo is an M.S. student studying the effects of wildfire on aquatic biodiversity in the Frandsen and Abbott labs. She is interested in the interactions between human policy and ecosystem sustainability.
Leslie Lange is an Environmental Science MS student from Modesto,California. She is studying different approaches to increasing science literacy in the public and reducing waterborne pathogens.
Madeleine Malmfeldt is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Cumming, Georgia.
Madeline McLaughlin is a Master’s student in Environmental Science from Houston, Texas.
Adam Norris is an M.S student studying soil fire responses and nutrient cycling following the Mt. Nebo Megafire of 2018.
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UNDERGRAD STUDENTS
Kallin is a junior at BYU studying exercise science and preparing to apply to medical school. He is a member of the BYU Army ROTC and is planning on commissioning as a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Army in the spring of 2022.
Sarah is a first year undergraduate at BYU interested in the connections between environmental health and human health.
Emma is an undergraduate student from Gaithersburg, Maryland studying biology. She has a strong interest in animals and veterinary medicine. In her spare time she likes to bake, play basketball, and watch movies. She loves visiting national parks and being in nature.
Kristina Cass is an Ohio native and is pursuing a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in Geospatial Science and Technology.
Taylor is a sophomore in BYU’s wildlife and wildlands conservation major. She has aspirations of becoming a zoo curator and working with manatees.
Vivine is an undergraduate student from upstate New York studying Environmental Science.
Elisabeth is sophomore from Texas majoring in environmental science and minoring in international development. She loves hiking (especially in Great Basin National Park), reading, mountains, and she plans on getting a PhD someday.
Sierra Curtis Nichols is a junior studying environmental science from Midway, UT.
Madalynn is an undergraduate studying Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation. She is from Dallas,Texas and loves hiking in Zion National Park.
Zach is an undergraduate student in Bioinformatics from Provo, UT. He has strong interests in ecology and conservation.
Sterling Fuller is an undergraduate student from St. Louis, Missouri studying Biology.
Mitchell Greenhalgh is a senior studying environmental science and statistics. He is a lab manager in the Abbott Lab. He has experience in R and ArcGIS and introductory experience in Python, SAS, and SQL.
Jacob Gudmundsen is an undergraduate student majoring in Economics and minoring in Environmental Science. He has a strong passion for connecting the interests of economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Margaret is a sophomore from the San Francisco Bay Area majoring in Nutritional Science and minoring in Chemistry. She is planning to go into medicine.
Brigham Jewkes is an undergraduate Biology student with aspirations of becoming a dentist and an advocate for environmental health.
Whitney is an undergraduate student from Orem, Utah and she is studying Biodiversity and Conservation. She has always had a passion for protecting the environment. She enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and roller skating!
Lexanne is an undergraduate from Minnesota studying Environmental Science and Portuguese. She is interested in plants and water ecology, and hopes to help conserve river systems and prevent pollution in Latin America.
Shannon is an undergraduate from Salt Lake City studying environmental science and Spanish.
Justin is an undergraduate student from Los Alamos, New Mexico studying Microbiology. He has a strong infinity for conservation and ecology. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, backpacking, cooking and watching videos of dogs for mental health.
Kylee is a first-year undergraduate from Imperial, California. She’s majoring in Wildlife and Wildlands Conservation, and she’s always had a passion for animals.
Savannah Muise is an Exercise Science major from Alberta, Canada who will be pursuing a medical degree.
Baylie Nusink is an undergraduate studying Environmental Science. She currently studies how wildfires and rodents influence plant invasions in forest and desert ecosystems.
Luke is an undergraduate student from Eagle River, Alaska studying Exercise Science. He is planning on going to medical school and enjoys skiing, backpacking, traveling, and music.
Heather is an Environmental Science major in BYU's Department of Plant and Wildlife Science. She has a strong desire to enhance environmental stewardship, personal accountability, and the application of science and technology.
Mary Proteau is an undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science from Connecticut. She is a lab manager in the Abbott Lab.
Thomas Richards is an undergraduate student studying Wildlife and Wildlands conservation with minors in French and Chinese.
Sarah is a BYU undergraduate student from Orlando, Florida. She studies Environmental Science and hopes to be an advocate for environmental health and sustainable living.
Jacob is a junior majoring in microbiology. He is very interested in the environment and how we can best protect it. He love sports, dogs and family. He look forward to going to dental school in the future.
Dion Tapahe is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and minoring in American Indian Studies.
Carson Thompson is an undergraduate student from eastern Washington studying Environmental Science. He is currently leading a research project investigating how sustainable agriculture incentive programs in Utah can be made more effective.
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Today we are faced with a challenge that calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanity stops threatening its life-support system. We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own—indeed to embrace the whole of creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder. Recognizing that sustainable development, democracy and peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come
WANGARI MAATHAI
